NATO Training Mission Afghanistan (NTM-A)
Medical Training Advisory Group (MTAN)
ANA MEDCOM Officer and NCO Life Cycle Plan
September 2011
Overall Classification:
UNCLASSIFIED//REL TO NATO/ISAF
Generating the MEDCOM Personnel
ANAREC
SOLDIERS
NCOs
OFFICERS
{
{
Basic Warrior Training (BWT)
8 weeks
One Uniform Course 12 weeks
BWT 8 weeks and
Team Leaders Course 4 weeks
Officer
Candidate
School
20 Weeks
National Military
Academy of
Afghanistan
4 Years
AFAMS Medical Courses:
 Medical Sergeants Course (8
weeks)
 Medical Officer Basic Course
(8 weeks)
 PA Course (52 weeks)
 Advanced Medical Technician
Course (52 weeks)
 Basic English Language
Course – Medical (13 weeks)
Biomedical Equipment
Technician Apprentice Course
(8 weeks)
 Executive English Language
Course – Medical (12 weeks)
 Medical Laboratory Technician
Course (52 weeks)
 Preventive Medicine
Technician Course (52 weeks)
 Radiology/Diagnostic Imaging
Course (52 weeks)
Other ANA
Courses:
 English Language
Course (32 weeks)
 Computer Course (6
weeks)
 First Sergeants
Course (11 weeks)
 Sergeants Major
Course (22 weeks)
 Company
Commanders Course
(10 weeks)
 Captain’s Career
Course – Branch
Specific (6-8 weeks)
 Kandak Commander
Course (CSS) (5
weeks)
Mujahedeen Integration Course
8 weeks
The generation of a self sustaining, modern, balanced, and professional Medical Command.
September 2011 – Major Don Smith
UNCLASSIFIED
2
Generating the MEDCOM Officer
Medical Command Officer Life Cycle
at the National Military Hospital, AFAMS, and Regional Hospital Level
18-34 years
Years of Service
Commander of a
Regional Hospital,
AFAMS or Medical Command
Strategic Command and
Staff Course (24 weeks)
11-20 years
Hospital Senior Staff, Chief of Section,
Chief of Department, Chief of Clinic
Operational Command and Staff Course
(21 weeks)
4-14 years
Senior Department, Clinic, or Hospital Staff Officer
Junior Officer Command and Staff Course
(Phase 1 – 6 weeks, Phase 2 – 14 weeks)
Department, Clinic, Hospital Staff Officer
Medical Officer Basic Course (8 weeks) and
Officer Candidate School (OCS) Course (20 weeks) or National Military Academy of
Afghanistan (4 years) or Mujahedeen Integration Course (8 weeks)
September 2011 – Major Don Smith
UNCLASSIFIED
0-6 years
3
Generating the MEDCOM Officer
Medical Command Officer Life Cycle
at the Below Corps Level (Brigade and Kandak Levels)
18-34 years
Years of
Service
Corps
Command/Staff
and Brigade Command
Strategic Command and
Staff Course (24 weeks)
11-20 years
Kandak Command/Staff and Brigade Staff
Operational Command and Staff Course
(21 weeks)
4-14 years
Company Command, Kandak Staff, Brigade Sub-Staff
Junior Officer Command and Staff Course
(Phase 1 – 6 weeks, Phase 2 – 14 weeks)
Company Commanders Course (10 weeks)
Platoon Command
Medical Officer Basic Course (8 weeks) and
Officer Candidate School (OCS) Course (20 weeks) or National Military Academy of
Afghanistan (4 years) or Mujahedeen Integration Course (8 weeks)
September 2011 – Major Don Smith
UNCLASSIFIED
0-6 years
4
ANA Training Command Officer Development Courses
Officer Development Courses
National Military Academy of Afghanistan (NMAA)
 Established in 2005, NMAA educates future officers for the Afghan National Army and future leaders for Afghanistan.
As a Bachelor degree granting institution, the military academy provides a modern leader development experience
and a first-rate college education emphasizing excellence in academics, physical fitness, and military leadership. The
academy integrates a moral-ethical foundation based on Islamic values and loyalty to country into all aspects of
cadet life. Each year, the academy accepts approximately 600 qualified applicants for the four-year program. NMAA
offers degrees in Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Legal Studies, English Language and Western Culture,
Leadership and Management, and General Engineering and Science. Successful Cadets serve 10 years as an Officer
in the ANA. (4 years)
Officer Candidate School (OCS)
 This course is the entry level course for university graduates, high school graduates and selected noncommissioned
officers to become lieutenants in the Afghan National Army. Class capacity is 140 officer candidates. After
commissioning officers incur a service commitment and obligation of at least 3 years. (20 weeks)
The Mujahedeen Integration Course (MIC)
 The Mujahedeen Integration Course is a tactics course to revise and train selected ex-Mujahedeen commanders for
integration into the ANA. On completion of the course the students are commissioned into the ANA at an appropriate
rank to their previous experience and status. (8 weeks)
Company Commanders Course (CCC)
 This course is the company level course for officers, with the rank of captain to become company commander of a
unit in the Afghan National Army. Maximum class capacity is 140 officers. (10 weeks)
September 2011 – Major Don Smith
UNCLASSIFIED
5
ANA Training Command Officer Development Courses (slide 2)
Officer Development Courses (continued)
Junior Officers Command and Staff Course (JOCSC)
 This is a two-phase course to provide ANA 1LTs, CPTs, and junior MAJs with the skills and knowledge to assume
Company Command, senior staff positions at tactical and junior staff positions at operational level (Kandak and
Brigade levels). Subject to availability of training seats, and a Memorandum of Agreement between MoD and other
ministries, students in equivalent positions in other Ministries may be considered for attendance. (Phase 1 – 6 weeks
and Phase 2 – 14 weeks)
Operational Command and Staff Course (OCSC)
 This course prepares ANA majors and lieutenant colonels, their civilian equivalents within MoD, and their equivalent
counterparts from other Ministries under Memorandum of Agreement understanding at the operational level and with
vocational skills at strategic level to assume senior staff positions at brigade level and junior staff position at corps
level or similar positions of responsibility in other ministries. (21 weeks)
Strategic Command and Staff Course (SCSC)
 The SCSC prepares Officers of the Afghanistan National Security Forces in the rank of Colonel through Major General
for senior command and/or staff appointments at Corps or senior MoD/Gs positions. (24 weeks)
September 2011 – Major Don Smith
UNCLASSIFIED
6
ANA Training Command Medical Courses
Officer Medical Courses
Medical Officer Basic Course (MOBC)
 The primary function of this course is to provide selected Afghan Medical Officers with the leadership and medical
skills to: perform duties appropriate to the rank of LT to MAJ; apply operational concepts and techniques in resolving
problems normally encountered at unit level; participate in planning, organizing, accounting, and conducting
mission-specific operations under peacetime and combat conditions; and plan, lead/supervise and instruct medical
training to sustain and maintain medical readiness. The course offers a broad field of subjects including: force health
protection, Military Decision Making Process, writing operations orders, troop leading procedures, map reading, land
navigation, Far forward battlefield triage care, Combat Trauma Life Support, and supervising training. Upon
completion of the course the graduate will depart with the leadership, knowledge and medical skills to function on a
modern battlefield, provide garrison, clinical, or emergency treatment facilities management or medical sustainment
to their organic Kandak. (8 weeks)
Physician’s Assistant Course
 The PA program is 52 weeks in length. The first 26 weeks will cover the 31 chapters of the 68W program. A
Pharmacology course will follow lasting 4 weeks. The Pharmacology course will cover basic pharmacology, and
provide a detailed description of common medications used in treating patients on a daily basis. These medications
will coincide with the MES kits. Successful completion of the first 30 weeks, students will proceed to 16 weeks of
clinical rotations. The Tactical Combat Medical Care and Tactical Combat Care Courses will finish the PA course. The
field exercise will provide an ideal situation to practice trauma lanes, and live tissue lab. During the 52 week period,
students will have sufficient time to practice and test essential task skills to function as a PA in a clinical and tactical
setting. (1 year)
September 2011 – Major Don Smith
UNCLASSIFIED
7
Generating the MEDCOM NCO
Medical Command NCO Life Cycle
14+ years
Command
Sergeants Major
Course
(22 weeks)
10-14 years
Years of
Service
First Sergeants Course
(10 weeks)
3-10 years
Medical Sergeants Course
(8 weeks)
One Uniform Course
(12 weeks)
Team Leader Course (4 weeks)
September 2011 – Major Don Smith
1 -3 years
(8 weeks basic leadership and
tactical skills followed by 4
weeks Medical Branch specific
training)
UNCLASSIFIED
8
ANA Training Command NCO Development Courses
NCO Development Courses
Basic Warrior Training (BWT)
 ANA Basic Training is conducted at KMTC. This course is designed to teach the skills required to perform as a Skill
Level 1 Soldier in an Infantry fire team/squad. Basic duties of a soldier in a Infantry fire team/squad include individual
skills for M16 marksmanship, M240B/M249 Familiarization, IMT, Infantry battle drills, Military Operations in Urbanized
Terrain, React to Improvised Explosive Devices, Grenades, Check Point Operations, and Counterinsurgency. (8
weeks)
Team Leader Course (TLC)
 This course is intended to equip soldiers of the Afghan National Army with the basic leadership and tactical skills
necessary to be a Team Leader, the most junior Non-Commissioned Officer role. It combines classroom-based
learning with range work and field exercises. This course is offered within each of the Corps location – KMTC,
Gardez, Kandahar, Shindand, and Mazar-e-Sharif. The Bridmal Academy owns the Program of Instruction (POI) and
will ensure that leadership and professional military education is conducted uniformly across all courses. (4 weeks)
One Uniform Course (1U)
 This course is intended to equip direct entry NCOs (recent civilian recruits for the Afghan National Army) with the
basic leadership and tactical skills necessary to be a Squad Leader in their respective specialization or branch. It
includes tenets of the Basic Warrior Training Program of Instruction (POI) with a bespoke leadership package that
consists of classroom-based learning, range work and field exercises. On the completion of the course students will
go onto further Branch specific training in order to allow them to hold Staff Sergeant appointments in their respective
fields. This course is offered by the BRIDMAL Academy at KMTC, Kabul, with the actual training delivered at a
number of different locations around Kabul as well as 1U that is run in the United Arab Emirates with French
assistance. The BRIDMAL Academy owns the POI and will ensure that leadership and professional military education
is conducted uniformly across all courses. (12 weeks)
September 2011 – Major Don Smith
UNCLASSIFIED
9
ANA Training Command NCO Development Courses (slide 2)
NCO Development Courses (continued)
First Sergeants Course (FSC)
 The First Sergeant Course provides Bridmal leadership training focused at the Company and higher levels. The FSC
prepares qualified Senior Sergeants First Class (E7) and Master Sergeants (E8) to serve as Company First Sergeants
and senior staff Bridmal in a variety of staff and instructional positions. Classes cover leadership principles for
managing and training company and larger units and staffs, the Law of Armed Conflict (as accepted by the
international community), military customs and courtesies, training management, supply procedures, finance,
personnel management, combined arms warfare, tactical communications and other subjects. This course is only
offered by the Bridmal Academy at KMTC. (11 weeks)
Sergeants Major Course (SMC)
 The SMC is the Premier Bridmal Course of instruction that prepares Sergeants Major and Senior Master Sergeants
(E8) service at Kandak and higher levels. The course consists of unit administration and leadership training focused
on their role in the ANA and the international community. Students are taught advanced leadership principles, the
organization and management of the ANA, the role of the Sergeant Major in the administration, supervision and
training of soldiers and Bridmal. The ANA Sergeants Major increases their knowledge through lecture, independent
study, structured conferences, workgroups and exchanges. (22 weeks)
September 2011 – Major Don Smith
UNCLASSIFIED
10
ANA Training Command Medical Courses
NCO Medical Courses
Combat Medic/Trauma Assistance Program Course
 Designed to train 50 ANA/ANP soldiers, usually recent graduates from KMTC. The Course is now offered in each the
regions. (8 weeks)
Medical Sergeants Course (MSC)
 MSC trains sergeants to develop the competency to perform Sergeant skills to standard; an understanding of ANA
Army organizations, operations and procedures; an ability to apply the concepts of Force Health Protection and
leader skills, to include an ability to analyze and solve military problems; an ability to communicate, interact,
coordinate and conduct training; and medical training which culminates in a Force Health Protection field training
exercise. The first three weeks of this course consist of common core training followed by Military Occupational
Specialty (MOS) specific training, as follows: Medical Skills – five weeks. (8 weeks)
Afghanistan National Security Forces (ANSF) Nurse Training Program (NTP)
 This program trains the military practical nurse in skills and knowledge necessary to become a proficient entry level
nursing care provider. The training encompasses nursing for inpatient and outpatient care, emergent and minor
acute treatments, and casualty care management. The didactic areas of concentration include nursing fundamentals,
anatomy and physiology, nutrition, pharmacology math, pharmacology, medical surgical nursing I & II, mental health
nursing, maternal-child nursing, and critical care nursing. The clinical practicum phase provides clinical activities in
a variety of hospital and clinic settings where the knowledge and skills learned are applied to deliver nursing care to
patients with varying levels of complications. The students are expected to perform at advancing autonomous levels
necessary to function in multiple care environments. Instruction will be conducted in settings including, but not
limited to classrooms, practical exercises, learning laboratory and clinical facilities as appropriate. The goal of this
course is to produce fully capable practical nurses for the ANSF by providing class room instructions and hands on
experience. The target audiences are ANA, ANP, and MOPH candidates. (1 year)
September 2011 – Major Don Smith
UNCLASSIFIED
11
ANA Training Command Medical Courses
NCO Medical Courses (continued)
Medical Laboratory Technician Course
 The course is designed to provide basic laboratory knowledge and skills in the major disciplines of the clinical
laboratory including: clinical chemistry, urinalysis, hematology, immunology, blood banking (immunohematology),
and microbiology (including bacteriology, mycology, and parasitological). Students are provided didactic instruction
and practical learning experiences as they rotate through the functional areas of AHPI to include clinical chemistry,
urinalysis, microbiology, hematology, immunohematology, and immunology. Staff members train students to perform
a variety of tests and procedures, and evaluate their technical proficiency in Laboratory Safety and Specimen
Collection and Handling, Clinical Chemistry Fundamentals, Immunology/Serology/Virology Fundamentals,
Immunohematology/Blood Bank Fundamentals, Hematology Fundamentals, Bacteriology Fundamentals,
Mycology/Parasitological Fundamentals, Urinalysis/Body Fluid Analysis and Quality Control and Records Retention.
The goal of this course is to produce fully capable laboratory technicians for the ANSF by providing class room
instructions and hands on experience. The target audiences are ANA, ANP, and MOPH candidates. (1 year)
Preventive Medicine Technician Course
 Course is designed to teach basic preventive medicine concepts and duties for maintaining appropriate sanitation
standards at ANSF facilities. Areas of emphasis include food safety, water safety, and infection control. Didactic and
hands-on training provided. Target audience is new officer and enlisted personnel slotted to be part of the preventive
medicine or veterinary services career fields. (1 year)
Radiology/Diagnostic Imaging Course
 The course is designed to provide basic radiology knowledge and skills in the major disciplines of the clinical
radiology. It includes patient care in radiology, human structure and function, exposure principles, film processing
and procedures, radiation physics and protection, and field radiology. The goal of this course is to produce fully
capable radiology technicians for the ANSF by providing class room instructions and hands on experience. The
target audiences are ANA, ANP, and MOPH candidates. (1 year)
September 2011 – Major Don Smith
UNCLASSIFIED
12
Extra Stuff
Course Prerequisites.
MEDCOM Officer
Military Skills
AFAMS Professional
• Direct to CSS Medical Company
• Direct to Kandak Medical Platoon
MEDCOM TRAINING
OFFICERS
and
NCOs
2 Weeks
Leader
Training
Military Skills
7 Weeks
Collective
Training
Course (6 weeks)
September 2011 – Major Don Smith
UNCLASSIFIED
13