Training the Afghan National Army: Challenges and Progress

Strategic Insights -

The US-led training effort for the Afghan National Army has made significant progress since November 2009, with the establishment of a core headquarters, five brigade headquarters, and training sites across the country. As the senior enlisted leader of the Army's training branch, the speaker highlights the challenges of leader development and operational concerns, but notes that the training cycle is producing results. The Afghan National Army is expected to graduate approximately 7,000 "basically trained" soldiers per month.

Key Takeaways:

  • The training pipeline has roughly 20,000 soldiers under training, with a ratio of one instructor to 29 trainees.
  • Since November 2009, the US-led training effort has established a core headquarters, five brigade headquarters, and trained 13 kandaks (battalion-size units), three combat service support kandaks, two commando kandaks, and 42 companies.
  • There are currently 13 different branch schools, which are focusing on supporting disciplines for an enduring and sustained force.
  • The training cycle involves concurrent courses, with approximately 95 courses being taught across 27 separate training sites.
  • The Afghan National Army is expected to graduate approximately 7,000 "basically trained" soldiers per month.
  • The training effort faces challenges, including leader development outpacing accelerated force generation, and operational concerns and training requirements presenting a difficult choice.
  • The speaker is proud of the progress made in the training effort and the opportunity to speak about it.

Statistics:

  • 20,000 soldiers are under training in the Afghan National Army training pipeline.
  • The ratio of instructors to trainees is approximately one to 29.
  • 13 kandaks (battalion-size units), three combat service support kandaks, and two commando kandaks have been established since November 2009.
  • 42 companies are currently conducting training.
  • 95 concurrent courses are being taught across 27 training sites.
  • 7,000 "basically trained" soldiers are expected to graduate per month.

Sources:

  • Federal News Service, Inc. (2010). Transcript of a Speech by the Senior Enlisted Leader of the Army's Training Branch.