stand4canada
Rookie
- Aug 9, 2011
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My name is David Lewis and I am a Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Navy. At present I am part of the coalition force stationed here at Camp Eggers, Kabul, Afghanistan. As a member of the NATO Training Mission I believe I have a unique perspective as only boot-on-the-ground can have.
The landscape here in Afghanistan is changing for the better, because it is changing from the inside out.
Indigenous leadership is developing with an attitude of ownership and accountability. Those whom until recently were being trained are now distinguishing themselves as adept and exemplary trainers.
Since the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan was stood up over 21 months ago, we can say that developing the Afghan forces is well on track. There are 34 countries, under NATO command, which are dedicated and committed to ensuring that Afghanistans security institutions (Army, Air Force, and Police) are self-sufficient, self-sustaining, and enduring.
Over the past two years, an additional 113,000 Afghan soldiers and police have been trained and are working with 130,000 NATO. In seven areas of Afghanistan, encompassing 20 percent of the population, Afghan Army and Police are already leading security efforts. Local militias are integrating into the formal security structure; commerce is returning; and schools are opening. GDP has increased from $170 under the Taliban to $1,000 per capita in 2010, almost all Afghans now have access to basic health services (only nine percent did in 2002), school enrollment increased from 900,000 (mainly boys) to almost seven million (37 percent girls), and women now serve in government. Most of the country is now connected via mobile phones and highways. The powerful force of social media is altering the landscape as over one million Afghans have internet access and over 215,000 have facebook accounts. We have seen from recent world events what a powerful force social media can be.
As someone who is privileged to work within the NATO training mission I am pleased to see solid progress on a daily basis. Effective and capable Afghan leaders are assuming responsibility at all levels.
It is their attitude of stewardship for their own country which is the greatest source of encouragement. There is a long way to go, but every day, we are a little closer.
SLt David Lewis
The landscape here in Afghanistan is changing for the better, because it is changing from the inside out.
Indigenous leadership is developing with an attitude of ownership and accountability. Those whom until recently were being trained are now distinguishing themselves as adept and exemplary trainers.
Since the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan was stood up over 21 months ago, we can say that developing the Afghan forces is well on track. There are 34 countries, under NATO command, which are dedicated and committed to ensuring that Afghanistans security institutions (Army, Air Force, and Police) are self-sufficient, self-sustaining, and enduring.
Over the past two years, an additional 113,000 Afghan soldiers and police have been trained and are working with 130,000 NATO. In seven areas of Afghanistan, encompassing 20 percent of the population, Afghan Army and Police are already leading security efforts. Local militias are integrating into the formal security structure; commerce is returning; and schools are opening. GDP has increased from $170 under the Taliban to $1,000 per capita in 2010, almost all Afghans now have access to basic health services (only nine percent did in 2002), school enrollment increased from 900,000 (mainly boys) to almost seven million (37 percent girls), and women now serve in government. Most of the country is now connected via mobile phones and highways. The powerful force of social media is altering the landscape as over one million Afghans have internet access and over 215,000 have facebook accounts. We have seen from recent world events what a powerful force social media can be.
As someone who is privileged to work within the NATO training mission I am pleased to see solid progress on a daily basis. Effective and capable Afghan leaders are assuming responsibility at all levels.
It is their attitude of stewardship for their own country which is the greatest source of encouragement. There is a long way to go, but every day, we are a little closer.
SLt David Lewis
