Assessment of U.S. and Coalition Efforts to Develop Leaders in the Afghan National Army
Abstract
Our purpose was to assess the sufficiency and the effectiveness of the Coalition's programs for developing Afghan National Army (ANA) officers and noncommissioned officers. We conducted interviews with selected leader development subject matter experts in the United States. In Afghanistan, we conducted extensive interviews with U.S. and Coalition advisors, as well as their Afghan principals, at the Ministry of Defense, the General Staff, and ANA training schools and operational units. We found that the Coalition's programs for ANA leader development were generally effective and on track for transition to the Afghans. The establishment of a noncommissioned officer corps, and the roles and responsibilities accompanying this enlisted leadership position, was not completely embraced by senior ANA and General Staff personnel. The lack of a true merit-based personnel promotion and assignment system negatively impacted the further development of a new generation of ANA leaders. We found that among Coalition advisors to the ANA, at both training schools and operational units, there was wide variation in the selection for assignment and specific advisor training preparation. Coalition Command data assessment practices and categories did not appear to have been updated to reflect the change in mission emphasis from building the ANA to improving its quality. Of special note was the ANA literacy program. In a country with a very low national literacy rate, this educational program serves not just as an immediate benefit to the ANA, but also eventually the larger nation of Afghanistan.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 24, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA581043
Entities
People
- Kenneth P. Moorefield
Organizations
- Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Defense