NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan

By Capt. Felisa “Farzana” Dyrud, USA

“It should be a little scary to be a leader. The people you lead will become like you—you are responsible.” The 30 or so doctors and nurses in the 14 July leadership class listened intently, though it was just before tea break in the 2-hour, twice weekly lesson. Each of them, mostly Colonels and Generals, holds a position of authority in one of Kabul National Military Hospital’s 23 departments.

Article by Capt. Tamara Gonzales, USA

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Afghans and coalition forces are working together to create even greater medical facilities for the Afghan National Army. The hospital staff not only serves local ANA but also meet emergency medical demands of ANA throughout Helmand Province and local ANA family members.

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Brian Brannon, USN 

Kandahar Province, Afghanistan – With highly trained medical personnel operating a 60-bed facility and intensive care unit, Kandahar Regional Military Hospital has set the standard for hospital care throughout Afghanistan.

Staffed with Afghan doctors and nurses working shoulder-to-shoulder with Coalition advisors, the Hospital is the first choice not only for Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers and Afghan National Police (ANP) personnel and their families, but also for civilians throughout Kandahar province.

ANA Col. Abdul Baseer Elaj, an internal medicine physician, has worked in Kandahar for more than two years and is now the director of the Hospital.

“The success that we have is tremendous, compared to what we had before,” he said.

Col. Baseer attributes much of the hospital’s success to the knowledge and professionalism of the Coalition doctors, nurses and technicians working as advisors to the Afghan personnel.

By Senior Airman Matt Davis, USAF 
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Kabul - Medical personnel from the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police and coalition forces from NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan are currently attending a three-day Medical Leadership Conference.

The 3-day conference, which is being hosted by the Afghan National Security Forces, started April 18 and covers many topics including quality of care and health care standards.

“Every day that passes by you accomplish many things, “said Afghan Gen. Bismillah Khan Mohammad, ANA Chief of Staff.” You are developing the ANA and each of the hospitals is doing their job and being responsible.”

Story by Staff Sgt. Markus M. Maier, USAF
Photo by Matt Davis, USAF
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KABUL, Afghanistan – Fifty-two medical and nursing students graduated from the Kabul Medical University, Armed Forces Academy of Medical Science during a ceremony at the Kabul Military Hospital today.

The faces filling the crowded auditorium were brimming with excitement and pride amongst the graduates and those there to congratulate them.

“I want to help my people and my country,” Siad Mominshah a nursing program graduate said. “This allows me to help take care of the Army and the patients.”

The patriotic sentiment was shared by the many of the graduates.

By MC3 Kirk Putnam, USN
NTM-A

In any battlefield environment the most vital team members are those with the skills necessary to help save the lives of their fellow soldiers and those with the skills necessary to effectively lead their fellow soldiers.

For the past two years, the Medical Sergeants Course has not only trained Afghan National Army non-commissioned officers to be better medics, but to be better leaders as well.

The Medical Sergeants Course is an eight week NCO course at the Military Medical Education Center in Kabul where it is primarily taught by Afghan instructors. In order to be eligible to apply for the course the potential student must have graduated from the Combat Medic Course at MMEC, served at least one year in a Kandak or Troop Treatment Facility, and pass a 50 question literacy test.

Students who qualify then go through the first three weeks of training where their lessons focus entirely on the skills they need to be effective squad leaders out in the battlefield. Communications, topography, leadership techniques, how to keep the values of the ANA, and how to advise soldiers regarding personal issues are some of the topics covered in the first section of the course.