Report on Progress Toward Security and Stability in - United States ...

Training efforts continued to develop effective ANA leadership during the reporting period. As
the ANA reaches its target end-strength, the Afghan National Army Officers Academy
(ANAOA), modeled after the UK Sandhurst Military Academy, is expected to replace the
current 20-week OCS course with a one-year course designed to improve the professionalism
and leadership of junior officers. The ANAOA is a joint project of the United Kingdom and
Australia, which are expected to provide the majority of the mentors. The first instructor course
is expected to begin in Spring 2013 and the first OCS course is scheduled to begin in the Fall of
2013.
SPECIAL FORCES
The Afghan National Army Special Forces 15
are the most capable component of the ANSF and
have made impressive strides towards becoming an independent and effective force. Since
activation of the ANA Special Operations Command (ANASOC) headquarters by the Chief of
the General Staff in April 2011, ANASOC has continued to develop and implement its plans for
the manning, training, and equipping of its forces, all while simultaneously achieving effects on
the battlefield. The development of the ANASOC remains a critical component of the overall
force structure and strategy to sustain the transition to Afghan security lead.
Training efforts continued to expand the capacity and capability of the ANA Commandos 16
(ANACDO) and ANASF during the reporting period. The ANASOC currently consists of 7,809
ANACDO and 646 ANASF. Graduation rates for both ANACDO and ANASF operators
remained steady and are on schedule to meet end-strength targets. From October 2011 through
March 2012, the ANASOC’s School of Excellence produced a total of 1,817 new CDO and 183
new SF operators. Based on current recruiting and graduation trends, ANASF are anticipated to
achieve their end-strength force level by March 2013. ANACDO are expected to reach their
end-strength force level by December 2012.
Approval of the SY 1391 tashkil in March 2012 enabled the full establishment of the
headquarters and included two Special Operations brigades containing a mix of ANACDO and
ANASF. Each brigade has five Special Operations kandaks, 17
with one kandak working directly
for the ANASOC Commander.
Additionally, the SY1391 tashkil added one general support kandak and the forward support
companies and military intelligence detachments to each Special Operations kandak, which gives
the ANASOC Commander the ability to provide tactical- and operational-level logistical support
to all ANASOC forces. The restructuring of the forward support company in each of the existing
nine Special Operations kandaks creates support assets at the company-level, which better
sustains operational units whose reach spans multiple provinces. Furthermore, the approved
fielding plan also calls for the creation of a military intelligence capability within ANASOC,
which will increase ANASOC’s capacity to generate its own intelligence-driven operations. The
development and restructuring of the ANASOC headquarters, the continued development and
growth of enablers in the form of logisticians and intelligence personnel, and the establishment
15
ANA Special Forces specialize in foreign internal defense and COIN operations.
16
Similar to U.S. Army Rangers, ANA Commandos specialize in direct action.
17
“Battalion”
24