ANA, US logistical partners discuss future success

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan— With the Afghan National Army and U.S. forces training and conducting missions together across eastern Afghanistan, leaders are taking a more in-depth look at battlefield support.

ANA logistic Soldiers and U.S. Army leaders from the 172nd Support Battalion met to discuss training and the needs of the ANA Nov. 2 at Forward Operating Base Lightning.
 
“Having key leader engagements is vital in facilitating our relationship with the ANA,” said U.S. Army Maj. Ebony Lambert, of Cairo, Illinois, the battalion’s executive officer.

Discussions centered on having ANA troops work in the U.S. Army’s tactical operation center, allowing them to see how the American’s receive real-time operational information and process it to meet the needs of the battle space owners.

“It is going to give them a better understanding of our military decision-making process and what each company does to execute the commander’s intent,” said U.S. Army Command Sgt. Major Terry Burton, of Roanoke, Virginia.

Along with the future, they discussed prior training events, focusing on improvements that could be made and how to enhance the training to support the needs of the ANA, as they become more proficient.

The week prior to the meeting, ANA Soldiers participated in joint-medical training and a joint Soldier of the month board. According to Lambert, these events provided them with skills necessary to improve as a fighting force.

“I think we were successful in articulating what the goals are for training and getting an assessment from [the battalion commander], and his way forward for his battalion,” said Lambert.

Meeting and sharing knowledge with their Afghan counterparts helps the Americans strengthen the relationships that they have established, allowing for closer ties and making it easier to communicate and work together.

“These meetings improve our partnerships and increase our ability to do training with them,” said Lambert.

With a rapidly improving ANA poised to take over Regional Command-East’s battle space, face-to-face discussions are vital in the process of transition to ANA taking over command of security for Afghanistan.