By U.S. Navy Mass Communications Specialist 3rd Class Sean Weir, NTM-A/CSTC-A Public Affairs
KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghanistan’s national security forces opened the Center for Acquisitions and Procurement during a ceremony at the Pohantoon-e-Hawayee military facility in Kabul in late June.
Soldiers, police and civilian employees of the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defense will attend CAP for procurement and resource management training in specialties like budgeting and tracking funds in accordance with Afghan procurement and finance laws.
“The Afghan national security forces have had a difficult time contracting for goods such as food and base services due to a lack of expertise in procurement contracting and budgeting,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Daniel Marticello, the plans and operations chief for NTM-A/CSTC-A’s DCG-Support directorate. “The establishment of this school is an attempt to remedy these problems.”
The CEP has already started running basic and advanced pilot courses. After the holy month of Ramadan, administrators intend to begin the full curriculum – including basic, intermediate and advanced courses as well as special breakout classes in related subjects such as logistics.
“There are very exciting classes being held here,” said Col. Muhamidi Shams, a current student at CEP who manages planning and budget functions for the Afghan National Police. “It is interesting, because unlike many schools in Afghanistan, we are learning with the army, not just police. I think that is a good thing. We are enjoying it and learning a lot from these classes. The lessons are like an ocean, as long as you want to learn, there is knowledge.”
The school will serve in a continuing education capacity, where students can not only earn a basic certificate, but can return after a few years of practical experience to earn an intermediate certificate.
“We know that we have a lot of problems when it comes to these topics, but these classes that are offered here will help move the ANSF forward when it comes to supply and procurement, which will affect the rest of the force,” Shams said.
According to Marticello, members of the Defense Acquisition University, International Defense Acquisition Resource Management Organization and the Defense Resource Management Institute traveled to Afghanistan to partner with Afghans on building up the school’s knowledge base.
“The MoI, MoD and the Ministry of Finance helped build the curriculum. It is in line with Afghan law, but augmented with skills and expertise from the United States,” Marticello said.
| Date Taken: |
06.25.2013 |
| Date Posted: |
07.08.2013 05:40 |
| Story ID: |
109823 |
| Location: |
KABUL, AF |
| Web Views: |
574 |
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0 |
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