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PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan — When it comes to the supply and inventory process western Armies have those concepts down, but for the young Afghan national security forces, they're new ideas that must be learned and nurtured.
A recent seminar in eastern Afghanistan has done much to lay the groundwork for the transition to a modern Afghan logistics system.
The three-day Afghan ministry of defense seminar, held Oct. 18-21, at Forward Operating Base Thunder in Gardez District, Paktya province, Afghanistan, brought representatives together from every brigade in the Afghan national army's 203rd Corps. The intent was to establish supply and logistics standards for the 71 participants and their respective units.
"The seminar is to introduce the updated processes; to familiarize troops with the new process rather than the old one," said Col. Ali Shah Kazimi, logistics officer for the ANA 203rd Corps.
The old process that Kazimi referred to is known as Decree 4.0, and it serves as a guide for ordering and tracking supplies, etc. By using the new process, Decree 4.2, it is hoped that forms used will not only be more relevant and save time and money, but also be easier to fill out and complete, said Kazimi. Every Afghan unit, from kandaks [battalions] to brigades, will be able to understand and complete the necessary forms through the seminar participants sharing the updated information.
While simplicity and time saved in completing forms is important for the ANSF, an even more important lesson was learned through the seminar.
"We want to talk about accountability for training and reporting," said U.S. Army Maj. Frank E. Holder, Combined Joint Task Force-82, logistics partner to the ANA's 203rd Corps.
The ANA is all for the training, and the seminar agenda was coordinated and sponsored by them, according to Holder.
"We are here at the request of the ANA. If we can show progress, we walk away feeling like we did something," said Holder. The main goal of the seminar from the U.S. perspective, he said, was to make sure Afghans and coalition partners are in sync, and the U.S. guidance is their baseline and they understand it.
The seminar participants acquired valuable systems knowledge of their logistics organization and also learned the scientific reasons of why they are doing what they are doing.
Seminars like this one are good ways to de-mystify the system so it does not intimidate them, and the format leads to discussions, said Holder.
"The benefit of this seminar is also socialization. Subordinate units are able to socialize and develop contacts. The result of that would be them working laterally to solve problems in addition to the introduction of the MoD system," said U.S. Army Maj. Robert Neave, CJTF-82, logistics partner to the ANA's 203rd Corps.
New ANA logistics personnel who haven't had the training would also be introduced to the new concepts, Neave said. The process wouldn't be official for the fledgling ANA without a training manual to reference.
"We're going to give the manual [ANA Logistics Mentor Training Handbook] to each kandak for the baseline standard," said Holder.
As for what will ultimately define success after logistics standards are incorporated, Holder said the fact that representatives from every 203rd brigade were in attendance and talking to each other was significant.
"Anytime you can gain common consensus, they walk away feeling good," Holder said.
Meaningful success will also come in the form of successful winterization of facilities, vehicle and clothing requests, and making sure the Afghan property book officers know how to track requests, according to Holder.
"We're here to help Afghans make progress, and if we can do it together, that's even better," said Holder.
| Date Taken: | 10.21.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 10.25.2009 16:11 |
| Story ID: | 40659 |
| Location: | PAKTYA PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 199 |
| Downloads: | 177 |
This work, 'MoDern' logistics stressed in Paktya at ANA seminar, by MSgt Evelyn Chavez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
