DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
Media Releases are available via e-mail if you register at www.defence.gov.au/media
MSPA 470/10
Friday, 8 October 2010
Australian and Afghan Soldiers Mentoring Milestone
Australian-trained Afghan National Army (ANA) artillerymen achieved an historic milestone
this week, officially opening their new School of Artillery in Kabul with a spectacular live-
fire demonstration by Afghan Artillery Instructors.
The school, which will prepare Afghan soldiers to become skilled artillerymen, is an
important step towards Afghan security forces taking full responsibility for security in the
coming years.
Speaking at the opening, the ANA Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Sher
Mohammad Karimi, outlined the importance of the school and thanked Australia for its
contribution as the lead partner nation.
“I would like to show thanks and appreciation to all our friends, especially the Australians
and Americans, who taught our soldiers how to use the guns,” Lieutenant General Karimi
said.
“It’s a big achievement for the ANA and I’m sure there will be more improvement for our
artillery soldiers in the future.”
The opening followed several months of training and gunnery drills provided to the Afghan
instructors by Australian artillerymen from the 8th/12th Medium Regiment. The training
culminated last week with the successful first live firing of their D-30 Howitzer artillery guns.
During his recent visit to Afghanistan, Minister for Defence Stephen Smith announced
Australia would commit up to 20 artillery trainers to the school. These artillery trainers will
be drawn from within the existing Australian troop presence in Afghanistan of around 1550
personnel.
The school has now commenced its inaugural Artillery Basic Officer’s Training Course run
by the newly qualified Afghan Instructors. The school will train 2100 officers and soldiers
over the next twelve months, with around 440 students attending one of nine different courses
at any one time.
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Vagg, Commanding Officer of the Artillery Training Team –
Kabul, said the course is the next pivotal point in progressing the ANA artillery training.
“The basic courses will see ANA Officers and NCO’s training young Afghan officers. These
officers will then go down into southern Afghanistan and fill the batteries in the southern
provinces and actually fight the Taliban,” Lieutenant Colonel Vagg said.
(continued over)
DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
Media Releases are available via e-mail if you register at www.defence.gov.au/media
“It’s essential that Afghans develop the ability and confidence to teach other Afghans, if we
are going to be able to transition to Afghan-led security.”
Media Note: Imagery is available at
Media Note: Vision will be fed to Parliament House today.
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: 02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
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