A NEW WAY OF PARTNERING FOR AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY AND ISAF REGIONAL COMMAND WEST

HERAT, Afghanistan (Mar. 20) – Today at the FOB (Forward Operating Base) in Shindand, the advanced operating base that houses the Italian soldiers of Task Force Center based 1st Regiment “Bersaglieri”, was held a military team competition open to soldiers of Afghan National Army and Albanian, American and Italian soldiers of ISAF Regional Command West.

The protagonists of the initiative called the "Triathlon of partnering", promoted by the Commander of Task Force Center - Colonel Francesco Maria CERAVOLO - met in three different disciplines: flat race over a distance of 2,500 meters, tug of war and target shooting.To the final stages of the competition was present also the Commander of Regional Command West - Brigadier General Alessandro VELTRI - which, during prize-giving ceremony, at the presence of the commanders of various multinational units, had words of praise “for what can rightly be called a successful operation of partnerships.

 Also initiatives like this, marked by moments of healthy sports competition, helps to consolidate the already excellent relationship of cooperation between the Afghan National Security Forces and ISAF soldiers in the challenging task of controlling the territory for the safety of the area ".General VELTRI, formulating sincere appreciation to the representatives of the eleven participating teams, has congratulated the Bersaglieri of the 35th company, undisputed winner of the event, which delivered a certificate of merit and a souvenir of Regional Command West.During the morning, General VELTRI has also traveled to Camp Zafar, home of the 207th Corps Afghan National Army, where he met soldiers of Italian-led OMLT (Operational Mentoring Liaison Team) - under the command of Colonel Giorgio CUZZELLI - engaged in mentoring and assistance in operations of the units of Afghan National Army.During the visit, General VELTRI has placed particular attention to the excellent results achieved by the Italian team of trainers through which the Afghan National Security Forces are expressing, day by day, an increasing autonomous capacity to intervention in the stabilization of the Country.Evidence of this results are the recent validation of 2 brigades and 4 battalions, the operations efficiently completed (37 in the north and more than 80 in the center-south of Regional Command West) and jointly conducted with Afghan National Army.