Afghan Biographies

Zaheer, Laal Jan Brig Gen


Name Zaheer, Laal Jan Brig Gen
Ethnic backgr. Pashtun
Date of birth
Function/Grade KMTC Kabul Military Training Centre ANA Commander
History and Biodata

1. Former Kabul Military Training Centre KMTC Afghan National Army ANA Commanders Head:
Brig Gen Mohammad Amin Wardak (20091016)
Brig Gen Aminullah Patyani (20110522, 20120508, 20130131, 20150122)
Brig Gen Lal Jan Zaheer (20160125, 20170101, 20180612)

2. Previous Functions Brig Gen Laal Jan Zaheer:
Afghan National Army’s 111 Capital Division acting head and “Operation Iron Triangle” technical base chief (20150806)
KMTC Kabul Military Training Centre ANA Commander (20180612)



Background KMTC:

KMTC compound is located about eight miles east of downtown Kabul. The training cycles at Kabul Military Training Compound (KMTC) consists of U.S. Army conducted basic training for the ANA in ten-week cycles. Each cycle consists of training one battalion, which is referred to as a "kandak." Every kandak contains three constituent training companies. During its initial week-zero week-at KMTC, each kandak undergoes basic in-processing, such as equipment and uniform issue. Over the following three weeks, every company rotates through various training regimens. One week is devoted entirely to classroom instruction. Work conditions and quality of life improvements for U.S. troops assigned to Forward Operating Base 195 at the Kabul Military Training Center were made everyday, thanks, in part, to a five-member team of soldiers from the 769th Engineer Battalion, Louisiana National Guard, from Baton Rouge, La.

In December 2002 the team, consisting of a squad leader, Small Emplacement Excavator operator, a plumber, electrician and a well digger, was part of a number of large projects at KMTC, including water heater installation, upgrading electricity, placing mortar positions and well digging.

One of the main projects the engineers had was well digging. The compound's main water source was an off-site well located about five kilometers away from the center. Spc. Royal Freeman, also with the 769th, worked with a team of two local contractors to build a new well on the compound, which improved force protection measures, according to Master Sgt. Emanuel Valdez, NCOIC of the Field Engineer Team that oversaw the 769th, which also had a team working at the Palace in Kabul.

In early 2003 the 772nd MP Co. took on some of Operation Enduring Freedom's biggest security challenges. Known by the nickname "Outlaws," they were tasked with the responsibility of providing personnel and perimeter security at the Coalition Joint Civil-Military Task Force (CJCMOTF) compound, the Kabul Military Training Center (KMTC) and Bagram Air Base in the war-torn country of Afghanistan.

The Afghan National Army launched Afghanistan's first military vaccine program 19 May 2005, providing vaccinations for 185 soldiers at the Kabul Military Training Center's Troop Medical Clinic. The working group determined the best place to initiate the program was at KMTC where all new ANA recruits complete basic training.

As of November, 2006 there were 300 American and international soldiers training 4,000 to 6,000 Afghans alongside Afghan instructors at the KMTC. The motto of the KMTC is "Unity Starts Here" which was changed from the original motto "Victory Starts Here" demonstrating the new Afghan orthodoxy of putting country before tribe or religious affiliation. The academy trains soldiers from basic training and advanced individual training through junior and senior noncommissioned officer courses, as well as drill sergeant and staff NCO courses. All students at the academy also receive courses on English and computers.

On April 21, 2007 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace visited the training center to examine its progress and speak to some of the recruits. At the time of his visit there were 8,700 recruits in the center were going through basic training. This is up from 2006, when the center graduated about 650 soldiers per month. In April of 2007, 2,000 graduated.

As of April 2008 Coalition forces had trained and organized 70,000 Afghans into the ANA, 1/3 of that number were trained at the KMTC between 2007 and 2008.

 

Last Modified 2018-06-12
Established 2018-06-12