Members of the British armed forces deployed in Afghanistan are set to be at the forefront of the development of a new school to train Afghan military personnel, it emerged on June 16th 2009. To be known as the Combined Arms Training School, the facility will instruct ANA (Afghan National Army) personnel, Bob Ainsworth, UK Secretary of State for Defence, announced.

The announcement came hot on the heels of discussions at a NATO meeting held in Brussels, Belgium. While UK forces will take the lead in delivering strategic training and theory, other members of the NATO ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) will also be involved.

Combined Arms Training School

The Combined Arms Training School will deliver much-needed training for multiple ranks of the ANA - junior and non-commissioned officers among them.

"British forces have enjoyed a long and successful history of providing training missions and we are well placed to deliver the expertise needed to lead the new Combined Arms Training School", Mr Ainsworth stated.

"Along with the support of our multi-national partners, we will continue to build the capacity of the Afghan National Security Forces so that they can provide security for the Afghan people. As the Prime Minister set out in April, the UK will focus increasingly on building Afghan capabilities. Effective Afghan security forces are essential to the long-term stability of the country. Through training and support, we can help them achieve this goal."

British Military Deployment in Afghanistan

Armed Forces International recently reported on other aspects of the British military deployment in Afghanistan. In terms of aircraft, Royal Air Force Harriers deployed in Afghanistan since 2004 are in the process of being flown back to the UK, their place to be taken up by Tornados. On the ground, meanwhile, a pair of new armoured vehicles - the Mastiff 2 and Ridgback - have now begun to be used operationally in the country.

In April 2009, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown highlighted how the role of British military personnel in Afghanistan would swing more and more towards training Afghan National Army members, with an aim of heightening their ability to make the country a more secure place, and to stabilise life for civilians there.

Since the school will be run by existing deployed British armed forces members, no additional deployments will take place to augment numbers. Current Afghan National Police/ Afghan National Army training schemes taking place in the province of Helmand will remain in operation, as will the Kabul-based Afghan National Army Officer Candidate scheme.