British hold civilianization program

KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- British Ministry of Defense civilian trainers in Afghanistan recently led a management theory training course for leaders of the Afghan armed forces.

As part of the civilianization program held at the Kabul Serena Hotel in Kabul, British trainers from the Ministry of Defense held management technique training classes for senior Afghan military leaders in an effort to introduce a civilian mindset for the future recruitment to fill the Afghanistan's top civilian posts, the British Ministry of Defense reported.

"We are working with the modern forces of the world for a brighter future," Lt. Gen. Mohammed Moin Faqueer, Afghanistan Ministry of Defense head of personnel, said in a statement. "We should learn from them and then act -- based on our own traditions."

Officials say the civilianization program operates with a budget of approximately $995,000 with a current focus on reprogramming the senior Afghan leaders and bringing the first 15 Afghan civilians to the United Kingdom's School of Government by next year.

The program is working to establish an entrance exam for future civil servants in Afghanistan. Additionally official say if the proposed Military Service Act becomes law, ex-military personnel will be able to retire resulting in a demand for staff:

"I've tried to explain that you can't drum up 800 civil servants just like that," Deborah Bradley, manager of the civilianization program, said. "If the law is approved by the president (Hamid Karzai), this time next year they'll be desperate to recruit civilians."