 The Afghan National Army took another step closer to meeting its goal of a 134,000 soldiers by October 2010, with the graduation of almost 800 troops from an accelerated, combat-company training program Nov. 22, 2009.
Accelerated companies train more troops in order to achieve the target size of the ANA. The three companies were the first to graduate from the Consolidated Fielding Center under the new program.
"They're looking forward to getting on the ground and putting into practice the training we have put them through in the last five week," said U.K. Army Capt. Allister Swift a assistant mentor for the Soldiers going through the accelerated training.
These troops, along with others to follow, are then added to the Afghan army kandaks. Each kandak is normally made up of three companies, but with these additional soldiers, a fourth company is being added. With the addition of one more company, kandaks will be able to rotate soldiers for training, downtime and leave.
Accelerated companies are a part of the continued sustainability of Afghanistan's future. ANA instructors train the new soldiers along with coalition partners, who provide additional training and mentoring.
The three graduating companies are the first of 44 others who will go through the accelerated training.
Once the training is complete, the Afghan troops will deploy throughout Afghanistan.
KABUL -- Soldiers of the Afghanistan National Army stand in tight formation while being addressed by LT. General Ameenullah Karim, Commander of the ANA Education Department during a deployment ceremony held at Camp Black Horse, Kabul on Nov22, 2009. The Afghan National Army took another step closer to meeting their goal of a 134,000 man Army by the fall of 2010 with the graduation of almost 800 troops from accelerated companies. The accelerated companies finished their training at The Kabul Military Training Center which trains more troops under a condensed schedule in order to reach the goal of a sustainable 134,000 troop Army by October of 2010. (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Quillen)
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KABUL, Afghanistan - Soldiers of the Afghanistan National Army stand in tight formation while being addressed by LT. General Ameenullah Karim, Commander of the ANA Education Department during a deployment ceremony held at Camp Black Horse, Kabul on Nov22, 2009. The Afghan National Army took another step closer to meeting their goal of a 134,000 man Army by the fall of 2010 with the graduation of almost 800 troops from accelerated companies. The accelerated companies finished their training at The Kabul Military Training Center which trains more troops under a condensed schedule in order to reach the goal of a sustainable 134,000 troop Army by October of 2010. (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Quillen) (RELEASED)
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KABUL, Afghanistan - Soldiers of the Afghanistan National Army are corrected by their non-commisioned officers during formation prior to being addressed by LT. General Ameenullah Karim, Commander of the ANA Education Department during a deployment ceremony held at Camp Black Horse, Kabul on Nov22, 2009. The Afghan National Army took another step closer to meeting their goal of a 134,000 man Army by the fall of 2010 with the graduation of almost 800 troops from accelerated companies. The accelerated companies finished their training at The Kabul Military Training Center which trains more troops under a condensed schedule in order to reach the goal of a sustainable 134,000 troop Army by October of 2010. (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Quillen) (RELEASED)
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KABUL, Afghanistan -LT. General Ameenullah Karim, Commander of the ANA Education Department speaks directly to graduating soldiers during a deployment ceremony held at Camp Black Horse, Kabul on Nov22, 2009. The Afghan National Army took another step closer to meeting their goal of a 134,000 man Army by the fall of 2010 with the graduation of almost 800 troops from accelerated companies. The accelerated companies finished their training at The Kabul Military Training Center which trains more troops under a condensed schedule in order to reach the goal of a sustainable 134,000 troop Army by October of 2010. (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Quillen) (RELEASED)
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Afghan Lt. Gen. Ameenullah Karim, center, salutes three companies of soldiers in a parade review during a deployment ceremony held in Kabul, Nov. 22, 2009. Gen. Karim, commander of the ANA education department, spoke to the soldiers of their duty and commitment to their mission. The Afghan National Army took another step closer to meeting their goal of a 134,000-man army by October, 2010, during the ceremony before the deployment of almost 800 soldiers from accelerated companies. The accelerated companies finished their training at the Kabul Military Training Center, which trains soldiers under a five-week schedule. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SCW) F. Julian Carroll
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An Afghan National Army company non-commissioned officer, prepares one of the three companies of soldiers in a parade review during a deployment ceremony held in Kabul, Nov. 22, 2009. Lt. Gen. Ameenullah Karim, commander of the ANA education department, spoke to the soldiers of their duty and commitment to their mission. The Afghan National Army took another step closer to meeting their goal of a 134,000-man army by October, 2010, during the ceremony before the deployment of almost 800 soldiers from accelerated companies. The accelerated companies finished their training at the Kabul Military Training Center, which trains soldiers under a five-week schedule. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SCW) F. Julian Carroll
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Afghan Lt. Gen. Ameenullah Karim speaks to three companies of soldiers in a parade review during a deployment ceremony held in Kabul, Nov. 22, 2009. Gen. Karim, commander of the ANA education department, spoke to the soldiers of their duty and commitment to their mission. The Afghan National Army took another step closer to meeting their goal of a 134,000-man army by October, 2010, during the ceremony before the deployment of almost 800 soldiers from accelerated companies. The accelerated companies finished their training at the Kabul Military Training Center, which trains soldiers under a five-week schedule. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SCW) F. Julian Carroll
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