Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team Program as a Model for Assisting the Development of an Effective Afghan National Army

摘要

The United Nations established the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in 2001. The ISAF mission is to conduct military operations to assist the Government of Afghanistan in establishing and maintaining a safe and secure environment. ISAF's key military tasks are assisting the Afghan government in extending its authority across the country, conducting stability and security operations in co-ordination with the Afghan national security forces, mentoring and supporting the Afghan National Army (ANA), and supporting Afghan government programs to disarm illegally armed groups. The Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) Program is a key contribution of NATO's ISAF mission towards developing the ANA. The OMLTs are embedded in ANA Battalions (called 'Kandaks' in Pashtu), Brigades, Garrisons, and Corps Headquarters. The OMLTs provide training and mentoring to support ANA units' operational deployments and provide a liaison capability between ANA and ISAF forces, coordinating the planning of operations and ensuring that the ANA units receive enabling support. The Corps Headquarters and Garrison OMLTs do not deploy from their assigned locations. On the other hand, the Brigade and Kandak OMLTs deploy throughout Afghanistan with their ANA partner units. OMLT personnel deploy for periods of at least 6 months to build enduring relationships with the ANA and maximize the mentoring effect. OMLT training is a three-phase process consisting of national training, NATO pre-deployment training, and in-theatre training. The primary research question is: Is the OMLT program the appropriate model for providing assistance in the development of an effective ANA. Six secondary questions address the significance of the OMLT program from various perspectives. The first two of these questions relate to the military skill set a mentor must possess to be an effective ANA mentor.