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First Afghan Army Battalion Finishes Training
Tuesday, July 23, 2002
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

"The Afghan National Army is a mix of all ethnic groups in the country," said Army Sgt. Don Dees, a U.S. spokesman at the academy. "Bringing the guys together to work hand-in- hand with each other in National Army was challenging."

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
The first battalion of the Afghan National Army graduated from training today at the Afghan Military Academy.

Afghan and coalition leaders see the Afghan National Army as a stabilizing influence in the war-torn country. The army will be the instrument of the national government and will be trained and equipped to defeat any direct challenge.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Defense Minister Mohammad Fahim, and Combined Joint Task Force-180 Commander Army Gen. Dan McNeill attended the graduation exercises.

The 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, from Fort Bragg, N.C., trained the 300-man Afghan battalion. More than 300 trainers and staff helped in the process.
(More: DoD News Source)
2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

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