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

• In November 2011, Slovenia donated 6,880 AK-47 assault rifles. Bosnia and
Herzegovina donated 52 D-30s (32 in October 2011; 16 in December 2011; 4 in February
2012).
Future solicitations will focus on literacy materials, equipment, infrastructure, and monetary
donations for both the ANA and ANP. Monetary donations are particularly critical due to the
need for contracted institutional training centers, medical facilities, and standardized equipment.
2.8: INFRASTRUCTURE
During the reporting period, NTM-A improved its facilities planning capability to effectively
meet the mission while drawing down the workforce. Processes are in place to ensure that
disciplined planning principles are met for every funded project. For each installation, NTM-A
has a master plan that describes the intended purpose of each facility and its intended location,
and ensures that all facility designs meet ANSF Austere Guidelines. This allows for cost controls
in infrastructure projects and ensures that facilities are sustainable by Afghan facility engineers
in the future.
During the reporting period, NTM-A executed the infrastructure program to support ANSF
fielding with an emphasis on building a sustainable facilities maintenance program. In support
of this effort, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Air Force Center for Engineering and
Environment, and USCENTCOM Contracting Command have awarded program management
contracts. Working with these execution agents, NTM-A has initiated several programs to
improve construction execution, including quarterly conferences that are conducted with
Regional Command engineers and local ANSF leaders to discuss specific issues in the battle
space. Additionally, monthly facilities shuras 20
are held with the MoD and MoI to discuss
national-level concerns and issues.
FACILITIES MAINTENANCE
NTM-A made significant gains with regard to Afghan facility maintenance during the reporting
period. The Infrastructure Training Advisory Group (ITAG) has key embedded training teams at
ANSF sites in order to ensure future ANSF-led facility sustainment; these teams are charged
with providing training, advising, and synchronization of Operations and Maintenance (O&M)
efforts. The initial 22-person ITAG group grew to nearly 50 personnel by the end of September
2011 and is now at a strength of 113; ITAG teams are currently operating at 28 ANA sites and 3
ANP sites.
ITAG will continue to integrate three important components: contracted maintenance, training
of Afghan facilities engineers to build the long-term capacity of the Afghans to care for their
own facilities, and the development of the garrison management structure that will be responsible
for maintenance on a day-to-day basis. Besides encouraging the growth of maintenance
capabilities over the last six months, ITAG has been able to develop partial solutions to systemic
problems and challenges including manning, training, equipping, and budgeting. Through the
20 “Council” (religious connotation)
46