NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan

The NATO Training Mission–Afghanistan (NTM-A) and the Combined Security Transition Command–Afghanistan (CSTC-A) support the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the U.S. Forces in Afghanistan (USFOR-A) to enable accountable, Afghan-led security not later than 31 December 2014.

- NTM-A mission statement

Overview

The NATO Training Mission–Afghanistan (NTM-A) is an ISAF formation made up of troops from 38 nations whose mission is to provide advice and support to the national security forces of Afghanistan — the Afghanistan National Army (ANA), the Afghan Air Force (AAF) and the Afghan National Police (ANP) — as they move through a phased process of transition to take the lead in security operations.

Transition to Afghan lead

The agreement to transfer control of security operations in Afghanistan from NATO‑ISAF to Afghan leadership was signed at the Kabul International Conference on 20 July 2010.
Based on a transition plan and timeline presented by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the transfer of control over security operations is part of a broader process, called Inteqal — Transition in both Dari and Pashto — in which Afghans are assuming leadership, not only for security, but also for governance and economic development in their own country.
Transition is a conditions-based process initiated with the transfer of lead security responsibility by the end of 2014. The main criteria for transition are as follows:
- Afghan national security forces are capable of shouldering additional security tasks with less assistance from ISAF;
- Security is at a level that allows the people of Afghanistan to conduct their routine daily activities in safety; and
- Local governance is developed to the extent that security will not be undermined as ISAF assistance is reduced.
The transition process requires the Afghan National Army (ANA), the Afghan Air Force (AAF), the Afghan National Police (ANP), and the various component police services of the ANP to grow significantly in strength, professionalism and technical capacity. NTM-A’s mission is to facilitate this development.

NTM-A progress to date

Quantity: Recruiting

In 2002, when the coalition training effort began, the ANA — which then included the ANA Air Corps — had a total strength of about 70,000 all ranks. In September 2009, when NTM-A was formed, combined ANA–AAF strength stood at 97,011.
In September 2010, total ANA–AAF strength stood at 138,164, an increase of 42% achieved during the first year of NTM-A operations.
As of 1 April 2012, the ANA and the AAF, counted together, had grown to more than 194,000 all ranks, nearly meeting their objective of 195,000 all ranks by October 2012.
On 1 April 12, ANP strength stood at more than 149,000 police officers serving in several specialized law-enforcement organizations. The objective for October 2012 is to grow to about 157,000 all ranks.

Quality: Professionalization starts with literacy

NTM-A emphasizes literacy as the basis of professionalism for military and law enforcement personnel. At present (April 2012), more than 11 million Afghan adults (aged 15 and up) are unable to read, write, or perform basic arithmetic.
In 2011, literacy training became a compulsory element of military and police training delivered in Afghanistan with support from NTM-A.
To ensure that military and police recruits receive appropriate literacy training, the induction process includes a placement test. On average, nine out of 10 ANA recruits are illiterate and innumerate
The objective of literacy training programs is to bring participants to Functional Literacy Level 3, defined by UNESCO as “the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate, compute and use printed and written materials associated with varying contexts.”
On 1 April 2012, the Afghan national security forces had 119,707 of their personnel enrolled in literacy programs that employ nearly 2,800 Afghan teachers in 1,551 classrooms.
All literacy instructors are Afghans who have at least completed high school; one to two years of university is preferred. Literacy instructors have also passed a rigorous screening program to verify their credentials and assess their skills, and completed a compulsory teacher-training certification program conducted by the Ministry of Education.
Most literacy training takes place in the fielded force, wherever military and police personnel are serving.

Mass literacy training throughout the Afghan national security forces began in November 2010. By 1 March 2012, nearly 115,000 participants had attained Level 1 proficiency, nearly 40,000 had achieved Level 2, and 26,071 had successfully demonstrated proficiency at Level 3.
On 18 March 2012, the ANA announced the establishment of the Darulaman Literacy Centre at Regional Military Training Centre–Capital to prepare soldiers for their “branch” training — the courses in which they will learn military trades such as signals, artillery and engineering. When completed, the Darulaman Literacy Centre will have 64 permanent classrooms to accommodate up to 1,600 students at a time, for a throughput of about 8,000 students per year. The new facility is expected to open in fall 2012; until then, classes meet in tents.

Future development

In 2012, recruiting and training in Afghanistan is accelerating, and NTM-A is intensifying its efforts to further professionalize the army and police. Programs are increasing their "train the trainer" focus so Afghans can assume responsibility for the development of their soldiers and police in anticipation of Transition.

Origins of NTM-A

Announced by the North Atlantic Council on 12 June 2009, the NATO Training Mission–Afghanistan, or NTM-A, stood up formally on 21 November 2009 with its headquarters at Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan. NTM-A is a formation of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), and its commanding general reports to ISAF Joint Command.

NTM-A in the ISAF chain of command

NTM-A is made up of military and police personnel from 38 nations led by Lieutenant-General Daniel P. Bolger of the U.S. Army, who, as Commanding General NTM-A, reports to the Commander of ISAF through ISAF Joint Command.
NTM-A works hand-in-hand with the Combined Security Transition Command–Afghanistan (CSTC-A), a formation of the U.S. Forces in Afghanistan (USFOR-A).
- USFOR-A is the financial and administrative conduit that delivers U.S. funds to operations in Afghanistan.
- CSTC-A was formed during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM to facilitate the delivery of training, professional development and mentoring support to the government and national security forces of Afghanistan.
- CSTC-A continues as a mentoring organization assisting the strategic levels of the Afghan government, sharing its headquarters and commanding general with NTM-A.

Structure of NTM-A

NTM-A consists of two branches: Operations and Support, each headed by a Deputy Commanding General. Until June 2012, Major-General Michael D. Day of the Canadian Forces is the Deputy Commanding General responsible for Operations.

Operations

The Deputy Commander–Army is responsible for delivering NTM-A support to the Afghan National Army and the Afghan Air Force in partnership with the Ministry of Defence.
The Deputy Commander–Police is responsible for delivering NTM-A support to the Afghan National Police and its subordinate law-enforcement organizations in partnership with the Ministry of the Interior.
In order to deliver competent and capable security forces to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the NTM-A Deputy Commander – Army and Deputy Commander – Police provide the Afghan national security forces with:
- force-generation and sustainment;
- assistance in the development of leaders; and
- guidance in the establishment of enduring institutional capacity.
The Deputy Commander–Support Operations supports the synchronized build of capability in the Afghan national security forces in order to generate the autonomous, accountable security forces that are required by 2014 to ensure a secure environment in Afghanistan.
The Deputy Commander–Special Operations Forces generates and develops Special Operations capacity and capability in the Afghan national security forces by means of training, advising and mentoring to ensure that the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has the capable, sustainable, combat-ready forces it needs.
The Deputy Commander–Air provides force-generation and force-development assistance to set the conditions for the AAF to become professional, operationally capable and fully independent of the Afghan National Army in order to be able to meet Afghanistan’s current and future security requirements with respect to air operations.

Support

The Director, Contract Management and Audit Oversight
- delivers effective and transparent management and stewardship of resources received through the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund, the Congressional financing provided through USFOR-A to pay for building, equipping, training and sustaining Afghan national security forces; and
- facilitates pivotal cooperative partnerships between NTM-A and CSTC-A and other U.S. Department of Defense agencies, enabling senior leadership engagement in support of Transition.
The Director, Comptroller and Programs provides the Commanding General with integrated and coordinated recommendations on budget formulation, execution and analysis that:
- build sustainable capacity and capability in the Afghan national security forces;
- support responsible reform in Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Interior; and
- support related activities and counter insurgency initiatives.
The Deputy Commander–International Security Cooperation works in accordance with the development plan for the Afghan national security forces, and in cooperation with Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the international community, to:
- solicit and obtain donations of equipment, personnel and infrastructure to support the development of professional and effective Afghan national security forces; and
- advise international military assistance leaders in Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Interior to enable them to assume the functions of the Deputy Commander responsible for International Security Cooperation in NTM-A/CSTC-A.
The Security Assistance Office–Afghanistan supports generation of the Afghan national security forces by managing security assistance programs to:
- provide defence materiel and defence-related services, especially training and training support; and
- resource the fielded force to build sustainable capacity and capability to enhance the ability of the Government of Afghanistan to achieve stability and security in the country.

Force lay-down

NTM-A operates alongside the Afghan National Army, the Afghan Air Force and the Afghan National Police in permanent and temporary facilities in every region of Afghanistan.
At the operational level, NTM-A personnel are deployed in Training Advisory Groups attached to the ISAF Regional Support Commands. Each Training Advisory Group is responsible for integrating training, overseeing regional construction, and managing the Afghan Security Forces Fund in its region.
NTM-A also supports ANP training facilities in every region for the Afghan Uniform Police and the Afghan National Civil Order Police. Training for the Afghan Border Police is concentrated in Sherbeghan (North) Spin Boldak (South), Lonestar (East) and Shouz (West). Training sites offering courses to several branches of the ANP are found in Kabul, Jalalabad, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kunduz and Herat.

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Institutional links

Canadian Expeditionary Force Command (CEFCOM)

Proactive Disclosure

NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan

Overview

Transition to Afghan lead

NTM-A progress to date

Quantity: Recruiting

Quality: Professionalization starts with literacy

Future development

Origins of NTM-A

NTM-A in the ISAF chain of command

Structure of NTM-A

Operations

Support

Force lay-down

Related links

Government of Canada

International missions

Pertinent documents