First ANA Corps, Commando Commanders’ Conference convenes in Kabul Published May 17, 2009 By U.S. Forces Afghanistan KABUL, Afghanistan -- An historical event for the Afghan National Army occurred in Kabul on May 12-13. The first ANA Corps and Commando Commanders' Conference convened, bringing together all of the top Afghan Army leadership in the country for discussions and teambuilding. The significance of the two-day event stemmed from the fact that it was the first time leadership from the elite Commando brigade and kandaks (battalions) met with leadership from the ANA regional Corps. The five ANA Corps are comprised of infantry kandaks and other conventional forces, while the six Commando kandaks are home to the country's special operations soldiers. The event was meant to bring the elements together and help them maximize their capabilities as they strive for a common goal of securing the country and destroying the enemy for the Afghan people. "The aim of this conference was to inform the Corps commanders that the Commandos are ready to deploy in support of operations whenever needed; however, the tactics, techniques and procedures used by Commandos are different than those used by conventional ANA forces and, therefore, the Commandos must be used differently," said Col. M. Farid Ahmady, the 1st Commando Brigade deputy commanding officer. Ahmady and other senior Commando leaders helped provide a clear explanation of the full-spectrum capabilities of the Commandos and the proper way for the Corps to request and utilize the elite warrior force. The first day of the conference included speeches and presentations from the commanders of the six Commando kandaks and the executive officers of the 201st, 203rd, 205th, 207th and 209th Corps. Also present were the ANA Chief of General Staff B.K. Mohammadi and the ANA General Staff Chief of Operations Lt. Gen. Shir Mohammad Karimi. Also attending were the commander, command sergeant major and senior special forces mentors of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, the Commandos' partnered unit. Although the main objective of the conference was to improve the working relationship between the Corps and Commando kandaks, the meeting also provided an open forum in which Commando leadership could discuss issues and challenges faced at the kandak level. "The conference allowed senior leaders to review and analyze the Commando operations in the past two years and to share the experience and lessons-learned of Commando kandak commanders throughout the country. We were able to review the challenges faced by the kandaks and work together to find solutions," Ahmady said. The second day of the conference in particular revolved around open discussions with the leaders of different staff sections. Topics ranged from relaying the proper way to submit Commando re-contracting (reenlistment) paperwork to brainstorming ways to improve secure communications between the Commandos. As it turned out, the kandaks shared a majority of the same problems and were therefore better able to work together to find solutions. The Commando kandak commanders also highlighted the activities and achievements of their soldiers, to include sharing videos of training and operations. All of the commanders spoke with pride of the operational successes of their troops. (The Commandos combined have conducted thousands of combat operations throughout Afghanistan since their inception in 2007.) Other leaders, to include the 1st Commando Kandak and 4th Commando Kandak commanders, shared the news of soldier-specific gains: A great number of their troops can now read and write thanks to language classes held within the kandak. The conference was not all talk. The 6th Commando Kandak lived up to their reputation of excellence and conducted a demonstration of combat techniques for the distinguished conference attendees. The audience was openly impressed as the soldiers convoyed into the area and reacted to a simulated improvised explosive device blast and follow-on firefight. Next, the troops snuck up on a mock insurgent hideout and wowed the Afghan leaders with their superb close quarter combat skills while securing the building and removing an enemy fighter. Although the conference was an Afghan-led event and was primarily intended for Afghan leadership, Brig. Gen. Ed Reeder, commanding general of the Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command, was invited to share his thoughts with the group. "The spirit of this event is cooperation and coordination in the fight against the common enemy. The Commando kandaks and infantry kandaks provide critical capabilities in this fight, but neither can win alone. Working toward a common purpose with knowledge of one another's activities will create lethal results on the battlefield," Reeder told the military leaders. "The understanding and relationships you are developing today will unify you against the enemies of Afghanistan. Working together, you will destroy them," the general added. The conference was deemed a success by all involved and is now tentatively slated to become a semi-annual event.