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    Leading the way: ANA graduates 86 from pre-NCO course

    By Army Sgt. Tony J. Spain
    22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

    CAMP SHIRZAI, Afghanistan - A graduation ceremony was held here for soldiers of the Afghan National Army who successfully completed the Team Leadership Course March 29.

    The TLC is a required developmental course for ANA soldiers to become a non-commissioned officer. Eighty six ANA soldiers serving in the 205th "Hero" Corps received their certificates and took the next step to becoming a NCO in the ANA.

    During the three-week course, U.S. and British troops trained and advised ANA instructors on tactical situations and how to survive in a field environment. The ANA instructors then trained their soldiers under the supervision and evaluation of the U.S. and British.

    ANA Maj. Gen. Rhamullah Rawofi, commander of the 205th "Hero" Corps, was the guest speaker for the ceremony and praised the U.S. and British Soldiers for their efforts.

    "We are thankful for the United States and other countries that are here to teach and support us," said Rawofi. "Your teachers helped you successfully complete the Team Leadership Course and I am very happy that you have done well."

    Rawofi also reminded the graduates they are the future of the ANA. If they work hard, they will be in positions of command in the future.

    "We must be powerful because the people of Afghanistan are counting on us. By graduating this course you help the ANA become more professional," Rawofi said.

    "You are young and your minds are fresh; this is a good time to learn and improve your performance," he said.

    The commander also told the soon-to-be NCOs it is part of their duty to train soldiers using the knowledge they have acquired.

    "It is important that you apply what you have learned to operations in the field and that you teach your fellow soldiers," said Rawofi.

    ANA soldiers receive training in several areas of soldiering throughout the course. They spend the first 10 days learning how to mentor, motivate and discipline soldiers. In that same time frame, they also learn rank structure, customs and courtesies. The rest of the course focuses on battlefield tactics, like moving under fire in buddy teams, moving in battle as a squad, checking for vehicle-borne improvised explosive devises at a check point and cooking in the field.

    ANA Sgt. Sabar, 205th "Hero" Corp, is proud to be a graduate of the course.

    "I learned how to take care of my fellow soldiers," Sabar said. "I was happy to complete the course and hope I will be able to lead the Soldiers working under me."

    Army Staff Sgt. Victor Colon-Rosa, an American adviser serving on the mobile training team, based at the Kabul Military Training Center says the students of the 205th "Hero" Corps did an outstanding job.

    "This was my first class at Shirzai, these soldiers were the best I have seen so far," said Colon-Rosa, who has instructed several classes at KMTC in Kabul. "I see a lot of good leaders already in this group. I see five to seven good leaders that could make a platoon sergeant and there are a lot of good squad leaders here," he said.

    Colon-Rosa also stated that this is the result of three weeks of hard work and training.

    "Today you see the results with eighty-six soldiers graduating. It is unreal to graduate that many from this type of course," he said.

    Colon-Rosa noted most courses start off with 120 - 130 students. Out of those, 25 - 30 students will graduate. Most are kicked out of the course because of discipline problems or for missing more than three days.

    "We started out with 93 students and kicked four out for discipline in the first two days. We kicked three more out for missing more than three days," Colon-Rosa said. "So to actually graduate 86 out of 93 is quite an accomplishment in my book."

    Colon-Rosa also expressed his pride for the new graduates.

    "I am extremely proud of this class. What I came to realize about this group is about 80 percent of them are privates," Colon Rosa said. "So you only have a handful of NCOs and the rest are privates. Those are the ones that will make the future of this army. I hope and pray that they take what they have learned here, apply it to the battle field, and teach other soldiers that have not been through the training."

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 04.13.2007
    Date Posted: 04.13.2007 14:47
    Story ID: 9903
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    Web Views: 513
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