NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan

NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
Active	November 2009–September 2014
Country	NATO
Type	Military advisor and training
Role	Training the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF)
Size	2000 as of November 2012
Part of	ISAF[1]
Headquarters	Kabul
Colors	Yellow, Blue, White
Engagements	War in Afghanistan
Commanders
Notable commanders	LTG William B. Caldwell LTG Daniel P. Bolger LTG Kenneth E. Tovo
Insignia
Combat Service Identification Badge

The NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan (NTM-A) was a multinational military organisation, activated in November 2009, tasked with providing a higher-level training for the Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan Air Force (AAF), including defense colleges and academies, as well as being responsible for doctrine development, and training and advising Afghan National Police (ANP). The commanding officer was dual-hatted and commanded both NTM-A and Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan (CSTC-A) and reported to the Commander of ISAF.^[1]

Its mission was: "NTM-A/CSTC-A, in coordination with NATO Nations and Partners, International Organizations, Donors and NGO's (Non-Government Organizations); supports GIRoA (Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan) as it generates and sustains the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), develops leaders, and establishes enduring institutional capacity in order to enable accountable Afghan-led security."^[2]

This reflected the Afghan government's policing priorities and complemented existing training and capacity development programs, including the European Union Police Mission and the work of the International Police Coordination Board.

During the 1960s to the early 1990s, the Afghan army was trained and equipped by the Soviet Union. By 1992 it fragmented into regional militias under local warlords. This was followed by the rule of the Taliban in 1996. After the removal of the Taliban in late 2001, the new Afghan armed forces were formed with the support of the United States and other NATO countries. From 2009, all training for the Afghan security forces was conducted by a single command.