The main challenges for American military trainers in Afghanistan
Colonel Jonathan Chang who heads the group of US military advisers in Helmand province of Afghanistan on education unit of the newly established Afghan army is well aware that time is pressing.
If Washington follow the timetable for the withdrawal of US troops, the NATO training program comes to an end until November.
This possibility is likely to happen despite the struggles of Afghan forces in order to face the spate of attacks carried out by Taliban, resulting in a drastic reduction of the time of their operational training.
"We still have substantial work to do. We must adapt to the requirements, "Chang said speaking to Reuters from the base Soramp in Helmand province, which is at the heart of Taliban attacks.
These attacks are designed to drop the Afghan government and the withdrawal of international forces that support it, while trying deemed particularly successful in recent months.
Corruption issues related to late payment, but also the forced presence on the battlefield to be treated the Taliban attacks have negatively affected the morale and operational effectiveness of the local army. "It is understood that it will not prevent to bring them to the level we want," says Chang who, however, has seen progress in the training of Afghans in the last two months.
In this situation, the US military forces deployed in Afghanistan is expected to fall to 5,500 soldiers in early 2017, from 9,800 currently.
If the decision of reduction achieved, the US military claim that the training program can not continue. However, the pressure holding time becomes stifling, as the new commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan prepare its report on safety issues before proceeding to the presentation of recommendations to Washington in June.
Gen. John Nicholson recently told Reuters that the training program was delayed due to heavy warfare and losses last year. The security risks posed by a possible reduction of the US military presence is unpredictable, given the surge in Taliban violence and soil loss of control to the Afghans recorded in 2015. Last year was the first year that the Afghan forces undertook to guarantee security without NATO support.
For their part, the Afghan army officers say that their military forces lag behind in providing air support, as well as aviation Afghanistan is in initial organization to implement air operations.
Meanwhile, Afghan forces have the necessary experience in technical support and management of their weapons systems. "The capabilities of our forces deployed now, while we have to do meaningful work. We need international assistance ", say senior sources in the Defense Ministry in Kabul.
One of the biggest challenges faced by NATO forces in Afghanistan is changing the way of thinking of the Afghan soldiers which NATO encourages them to become more aggressive in combat operations. "When found in an area of interest, the first thing to do is to set up a military checkpoint.
After this, the soldiers do not want to turn away from the point, "says Chang describing the mentality of Afghan soldiers. They and his team are among 500 soldiers deployed in the region of Helmand to enhance the educational experience of the Afghan forces. The security situation in the province has reported significantly deteriorated in the last quarter.
Essential role in the soldiers training have Afghan officers under the guidance of instructors Americans, while education includes educational items like the survival of the battlefield, regular attacks tackling the cars driving, vehicle maintenance, technical support weapon systems, but and neutralize bombs and landmines.
"Sometime the educational support will end. We are here to help them to build something that will have to manage on their own, "adds Chang.
However, the US military know that their mission is made more difficult by corruption among the Afghan officers which adversely affects the confidence and morale of the soldiers. "When you do not know someone senior officer all the benefits go to the soldiers who know him," complements Afghan soldier.
US troops deployed in Afghanistan as part of the company "Resolute Support" and stressing that Afghan officers have been replaced in order to eliminate cases of theft of military equipment.
General Nicholson for his part, refused to comment on issues related to the US military presence in Afghanistan, and prepares the report and the proposals for political and military leadership of the US.
However, it is estimated that will require the greatest possible (possible) flexibility available forces and means, with emphasis on providing air support to Afghan forces.
NATO concluded the conduct of military operations in late 2014 leaving Afghanistan a small percentage of the military power that retained, which had reached a point in time at 130,000 soldiers.
However, increasing the US military presence depends directly on electoral developments in the US. If American forces in Afghanistan reduced to the lowest level, then we will initiate the change of the nature of warfare. American soldiers will be forced de facto limit the educational work and turn to the organization and implementation of special operations that require small and flexible number of soldiers.
Colonel Jonathan Chang who heads the group of US military advisers in Helmand province of Afghanistan on education unit of the newly established Afghan army is well aware that time is pressing.
If Washington follow the timetable for the withdrawal of US troops, the NATO training program comes to an end until November.
This possibility is likely to happen despite the struggles of Afghan forces in order to face the spate of attacks carried out by Taliban, resulting in a drastic reduction of the time of their operational training.
"We still have substantial work to do. We must adapt to the requirements, "Chang said speaking to Reuters from the base Soramp in Helmand province, which is at the heart of Taliban attacks.
These attacks are designed to drop the Afghan government and the withdrawal of international forces that support it, while trying deemed particularly successful in recent months.
Corruption issues related to late payment, but also the forced presence on the battlefield to be treated the Taliban attacks have negatively affected the morale and operational effectiveness of the local army. "It is understood that it will not prevent to bring them to the level we want," says Chang who, however, has seen progress in the training of Afghans in the last two months.
In this situation, the US military forces deployed in Afghanistan is expected to fall to 5,500 soldiers in early 2017, from 9,800 currently.
If the decision of reduction achieved, the US military claim that the training program can not continue. However, the pressure holding time becomes stifling, as the new commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan prepare its report on safety issues before proceeding to the presentation of recommendations to Washington in June.
Gen. John Nicholson recently told Reuters that the training program was delayed due to heavy warfare and losses last year. The security risks posed by a possible reduction of the US military presence is unpredictable, given the surge in Taliban violence and soil loss of control to the Afghans recorded in 2015. Last year was the first year that the Afghan forces undertook to guarantee security without NATO support.
For their part, the Afghan army officers say that their military forces lag behind in providing air support, as well as aviation Afghanistan is in initial organization to implement air operations.
Meanwhile, Afghan forces have the necessary experience in technical support and management of their weapons systems. "The capabilities of our forces deployed now, while we have to do meaningful work. We need international assistance ", say senior sources in the Defense Ministry in Kabul.
One of the biggest challenges faced by NATO forces in Afghanistan is changing the way of thinking of the Afghan soldiers which NATO encourages them to become more aggressive in combat operations. "When found in an area of interest, the first thing to do is to set up a military checkpoint.
After this, the soldiers do not want to turn away from the point, "says Chang describing the mentality of Afghan soldiers. They and his team are among 500 soldiers deployed in the region of Helmand to enhance the educational experience of the Afghan forces. The security situation in the province has reported significantly deteriorated in the last quarter.
Essential role in the soldiers training have Afghan officers under the guidance of instructors Americans, while education includes educational items like the survival of the battlefield, regular attacks tackling the cars driving, vehicle maintenance, technical support weapon systems, but and neutralize bombs and landmines.
"Sometime the educational support will end. We are here to help them to build something that will have to manage on their own, "adds Chang.
However, the US military know that their mission is made more difficult by corruption among the Afghan officers which adversely affects the confidence and morale of the soldiers. "When you do not know someone senior officer all the benefits go to the soldiers who know him," complements Afghan soldier.
US troops deployed in Afghanistan as part of the company "Resolute Support" and stressing that Afghan officers have been replaced in order to eliminate cases of theft of military equipment.
General Nicholson for his part, refused to comment on issues related to the US military presence in Afghanistan, and prepares the report and the proposals for political and military leadership of the US.
However, it is estimated that will require the greatest possible (possible) flexibility available forces and means, with emphasis on providing air support to Afghan forces.
NATO concluded the conduct of military operations in late 2014 leaving Afghanistan a small percentage of the military power that retained, which had reached a point in time at 130,000 soldiers.
However, increasing the US military presence depends directly on electoral developments in the US. If American forces in Afghanistan reduced to the lowest level, then we will initiate the change of the nature of warfare. American soldiers will be forced de facto limit the educational work and turn to the organization and implementation of special operations that require small and flexible number of soldiers.
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