400 Afghan National Army NCO candidates sworn in

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

07.16.2010

Courtesy Story

ISAF Joint Command

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan National Army non-commissioned officer candidates who were trained at the Ghazi Military Training Center swore in at Camp Ghazni in Kabul, July 15.

Basat Ozturk, Turkish Republic Kabul ambassador, Gen. Sir Mohammad Kerimi, Afghanistan chief of General Staff, Gen. David Petraeus, ISAF commander, Lt. Gen. David Rodriquez, ISAF Joint Command commander, Brig. Gen. Levent Colak, Regional Command Capital commander, and other representatives of ISAF attended the ceremony.

"It's great to be here at this very important training site where Turkey contributes significantly to the development of the NCO corps of the ANA," said Petraeus. "Every military professional knows that the sergeants and the NCO's are the backbones of the respective armies, so this training center and the Turkish training contribution overall is of enormous importance."

Colak said, "Since the 1930's and continuing until today, the strong and deep military cooperation and training between brother Turks and Afghans in social, political and cultural aspects has served as an example. Turkish soldiers, together with allied ISAF officers, assist in the training at the Afghan Command and Staff College, War Academy, Military High School, GMTC, and with newly formed Afghan units. Today, Turkish soldiers assume the responsibility of training the Afghan soldiers who will serve the Afghan Army as NCOs."

"I would like to thank the Turkish Armed Forces and the commander of Regional Command Capital, General Colak," said Kerimi. "With the help of RC-C, one of the biggest problems of Afghanistan will be solved soon. Day-by-day, the number of soldiers and NCO's are increasing."

The 400 new recruits began training, June 19, have completed four weeks of basic training and will undergo another eight weeks of training before they graduate, Sept. 8. Upon successfully completing 12 weeks of training, the recruits will serve as sergeants in engineering, signal, armored and artillery branches of the ANA.

• Date Taken: 07.16.2010
• Date Posted: 07.16.2010 12:03
• Story ID: 52937
• Location: KABUL, AF