Fort Riley adviser mission reaches milestone

[unhappycamper]

Fort Riley adviser mission reaches milestone
By John Milburn - The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Dec 8, 2007 8:15:06 EST

TOPEKA, Kan. — Teams of military advisers will soon be heading to Afghanistan to help the nation’s security officials validate soldiers and police officers capable of standing alone.

The advisers completed their training at Fort Riley on Friday and were part of a class of 500 advisers heading to Afghanistan for one-year missions.

Lt. Col. Bob Baer, one of the officers heading to Afghanistan, said the deployment of validation teams was “a good news story.”

Baer said the Afghan forces have demonstrated that they are capable of a new phase of training and organization based on their progress since coalition forces began fighting the Taliban in 2001.

“Now is the time, based on their experience, to begin more complex collective training,” Baer said. “It is a good news story. Now we are able to look at some of the systemic problems that they face, like maintaining equipment and supply.”


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/12/ap_riley_trainers_071207/