Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Defense Minister of Afghanistan Abdul Rahim Wardak are escorted by British Brig. Gen. Simon Levey, commanding general of the Combined Training Advisory Group, during a visit to the Combined Fielding Center at Camp Blackhorse, Afghanistan, (March 10, 2010)

Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates! Stopped by at Camp Blackhorse to watch the ANA train. As you recall, Sgt. Butters was a trainer at Camp Blackhorse and earned the Meritorious Service Award for his mad skeelz!

Camp Blackhorse is home to the Central Fielding Center (CFC), where ANA officers and non commissioned officers who have completed their respective basic training courses, come together to form units, or Kandaks, and learn how to operate together as a functioning unit. All ANA soldiers, including those from regional training centers, process through the CFC for collective training; about 7,000 soldiers graduate every month. The course is a total of seven weeks and officers and NCO’s spend an additional two weeks learning how to lead troops.

Gates, Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak, and NATO trainers, watched as the ANA soldiers conducted several training maneuvers, including mounted and dismounted patrols and reactions to improvised explosive device detonations. Afterward, Gates spoke to the soldiers, telling them that the future of Afghanistan was in their hands and that only Afghans would ultimately be able to provide long-term security for Afghanistan. Both Minister Wardak and Gates emphasized that producing quality soldiers was vital to transition success.

“It is our patriotic duty and responsibility to defend our country against threats,” said Wardak. “A prosperous, stable Afghanistan is in the best interest of the whole region.”

http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=58251
http://ntm-a.com/news/1-categorynews/281-secretary-gates-tours-ana-training-facility