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# Indiana Guardsmen meet with ANA to discuss NCO development

By Sgt. Andrew ReaganCombined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO

PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Indiana  National Guard Soldiers stationed here at Forward Operating Base Lightning,  along with senior leaders from the Afghan National Army's 203rd Thunder Corps  attended a conference at FOB Vulcan in Ghazni province on the development of  the ANA's noncommissioned officer program, April 14.

The U.S. personnel and their 203rd Corps partners met  with senior enlisted personnel from across the 203rd Corps to discuss ways to  improve the ANA's NCO training program and address related issues, including  unfilled NCO positions in the 203rd Corps and inefficiencies in the promotion  process.

The conference began with the attendees discussing the  importance of sending more Soldiers and NCOs to team and squad leader  development courses, as well as increasing the availability of English and  computer skills courses to Soldiers in the 203rd Corps.

"We have to plan carefully before conducting a  mission. This starts with proper (NCO) training. Good training leads to  successful missions," said ANA Col. Gul Hasan, the NCO personnel manager  for the 203rd Corps.

Another topic brought to the forefront during the forum  was the need to properly fill out promotion paperwork in a timely manner at all  levels. All involved agreed that failure to complete this seemingly mundane  task would have far-reaching negative consequences.

"We must do paperwork on time to get Soldiers to  training. If we don't, then we can't train and we can't promote. With no  promotions, we have unhappy Soldiers," said Army Command Sgt. Maj. Jim  Brown, the command sergeant major for the Indiana National Guard's Regional  Core Training Team 2, who spoke at the conference.

Those attending the conference also discussed ways to  ensure that exceptional Soldiers are rewarded with expedient promotions to fill  vacant NCO positions. 

ANA Sgt. Maj. Mohammed Wazir, the personnel sergeant  major for the 203rd Corps, announced plans to hold regular promotion boards as  well as special boards to promote deserving Soldiers. 

He said that promoting strong Soldiers and NCOs will  provide a solid foundation for the future of the ANA.

"One day our officers will retire and our NATO  partners will leave. As NCOs in our army, we need to think about the  future," said Wazir.

Brown also spoke about the need to promote and retain  good NCOs, not just for the future of the ANA but for the future of  Afghanistan.

"If you don't like the Army, you have to stay in and  change it to the Army you want it to be ... I see it in your eyes that you love  this new army, this idea of a new Afghanistan. When you're old the young people  will say, 'thank you,'" said Brown.

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