ANA’s 203rd Corps opens renovated NCO Academy

PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Afghan National Army’s 203rd Thunder Corps held a ceremony to mark the opening of its renovated non-commissioned officer academy on Forward Operating Base Thunder, Paktya province, May 23.

The renovated academy features improved classrooms with new desks and chairs as well as upgraded living quarters with new mattresses and bed frames. The refurbished academy is merely one example of the steps the 203rd Corps is taking to expand the scope of its NCO program.

The NCO academy consists of two courses: a team leader course where privates train to be sergeants, and an NCO battle course where existing NCOs learn advanced tactical and leadership skills to prepare them to lead squad and platoon-sized elements, said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Gary E. Smith, a training officer with the Indiana National Guard’s Regional Corps Training Team 2 and a partner to the 203rd Corps on FOB Thunder.

“This academy will provide a bright future for the Soldiers of our Army and it is our hope that they will take the skills they learn here back to their units and pass them on to their Soldiers,” said ANA Brig. Gen. Mohammed Akbar, deputy commander of the 203rd Corps.

The NCO academy was once mixed in with other classrooms and barracks, which distracted the Soldiers from their training, made accountability difficult and limited the number of Soldiers who could attend the two courses. Not only does the new standalone academy increase the capacity of the team leader and battle NCO courses, it provides improved living conditions and a better learning environment for the attendees, added Smith, a native of Kendallville, Ind.

“The corps commander has decided along with the head of the army to not only house the 203rd Corps here but also to build enough facilities to sustain the capability of the Afghan National Army by producing more qualified NCOs,” said U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Jim Brown, a native of Indianapolis and the command sergeant major for RCTT-2.

“We felt a newer, nicer facility would allow us to train a lot more Soldiers and those Soldiers would also go back out into the Corps and say, ‘Hey, this isn’t a bad place, we’re not treated badly here,’” said Smith. “We want to not only give good training but also improve the quality of life for the Soldiers.”

The renovated academy will be used on an interim basis, as construction is scheduled to begin in September on a new NCO academy with at least three classrooms, living quarters for up to 350 Soldiers, a gym and a worship room, said Smith.

He added the refurbished academy is one aspect of the ANA’s increasing commitment to NCO development and Soldier training. The 203rd Corps recently added two live-fire ranges to its training grounds and developed a “shoot house” specifically for the NCO academy, so the Soldiers can practice room entry and clearing techniques. Smith also said 203rd Corps is planning to open a basic training facility on FOB Thunder by March 2012.

“We now have increased capacity to train our Soldiers. This builds morale and will lead to a better future for us,” said ANA Col. Mohammed Asif, the 203rd Corps training kandak commander. “We have good ranges here, and we will continue to train our Soldiers to standard on several weapon systems.”

“The way ahead for the future is that Thunder will become a very important training center for RC-East, which will improve the capacity and capability of the 203rd Corps and the Afghan National Army,” added Smith.