DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
MSPA 177/10
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Partnered mentoring pays dividends in Oruzgan
The capability of the Afghan National Army (ANA) to plan and conduct operations in
Oruzgan Province continues to grow.
The 1st Mentoring Task Force (MTF-1) is the first Australian Defence Force rotation
to provide Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT) support to the ANA 4th
Brigade Headquarters.
Officer Commanding the Brigade Headquarters (Bde HQ) OMLT, Major Paul
Manoel, said that partnered mentoring was delivering critical skills and developing
the ANA Brigade to take over security operations in Oruzgan Province.
“Partnered mentoring is paying dividends – we are experiencing real progress in ANA
leadership at the Brigade Headquarters thanks to the work of our mentors and
eagerness of the ANA personnel,” Major Manoel said.
“Each day the ANA are moving closer to being in a position to assume responsibility
for security operations in Oruzgan Province, however there is still a way to go until
they can successfully achieve this.”
Major Manoel said the MTF-1 mentors partnering ANA personnel operate in a
challenging, but rewarding work environment where cultural differences are
overcome on a daily basis.
“The difficulties faced when bridging language barriers are complex, so it’s all about
breaking through those barriers to instil the guiding principles of military operations”.
“We see great work from Afghan soldiers on partnered, dismounted patrols across
Oruzgan and the use of artillery equipment due to the efforts of Australian mentors”.
“We will continue these efforts and simultaneously work to enhance the skills and
confidence of Afghan headquarters and logistics staff to plan, conduct and sustain
these complex and dangerous operations,” Major Manoel said.
Media Note:
For more information on the Australian Defence Force’s operations in Afghanistan go
Imagery can be found at
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: (02) 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
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