201st Corps hosts 2nd Annual Sergeant Major Symposium

KABUL, Afghanistan – The role of the noncommissioned officer has always been known as the backbone of the Army and the sergeant major has always been known as the head of the NCO corps.  These roles in the Afghan National Army aren’t any different.

Falling in line with the U.S. Army’s Year of the NCO, the 201st Corps most senior enlisted NCOs met to discuss ways to better the corps during the 2nd Annual 201st Corps Sergeant Major Symposium, Nov. 22 and 23.

“Anytime you can get that many sergeants major in one place it’s a good thing,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Capel, command sergeant major of Combined Joint Task Force-82 and 82nd Airborne Division.

Guest speakers at the symposium included the commanding general of the 201st Corps, ANA Maj. Gen. Mohammad Wardak; the command sergeant major of the ANA, Command Sgt. Maj. Roshan Saffi, and the 201st Corps command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Zialhaq Amanzai. Also in attendance were the sergeants major in the 201st Corps and their embedded Training Team U.S. military counter-parts.

Some of the topics discussed were unit personnel issues, equipment issues, training, and retention of ANA soldiers.

“I am just thinking for the Soldiers and trying to find a solution to their problems,” Roshan said.

Another topic Roshan talked about was having the NCO’s build relationships with soldiers’ families.

“Have your NCOs ask about family relationships and what they can do for the family,” he said.

Roshan, who takes great pride in his NCO corps, made a point to make sure that the NCOs are projecting the model of leadership and continuing to build on the relationship with their soldiers by training them.

Overall the symposium went off without a hitch and the sergeants major were happy to be there. Capel commented on how far the 201st Corps has come since it was originally stood up in 2004.

“Without your hard work and the work of your Soldiers in the 201st Corps there would be no Afghanistan,” said Capel, who witnessed the first ANA Sergeant Major Academy graduation in 2007.