Female Tactical Platoon is a female-only platoon attached to the elite Ktah Khas unit of the Afghan Special Security Forces. The women, trained and advised by U.S. Special Forces. To join the ranks of the Female Tactical Platoon, a woman must already be an officer or noncommissioned officer in the Afghan National Army or Afghan National Police, literate and physically fit. The Female Tactical Platoon supports Afghan Special Security Forces during counterterrorism operations, specializing in the search, questioning and medical assistance of women and children. They operate in tandem with their male counterparts and assume the same risks and dangers.
Volunteers undergo a week-long assessment, consisting of physical fitness tests, such as push-ups, sit-ups and a two-mile run, medical screening, literacy test and other screening. If a candidate passes the assessment phase, she then enters an eight-week basic training course. Both the initial assessment and the basic training are overseen by female U.S. advisors. In addition to increasing their proficiency and that of the Afghan Special Security Forces, the capability exercise generates awareness of the voluntary-based program. Afghan female tactical platoon members are required to complete a physical assessment twice a year to assess the women’s physical conditioning.
Established in 2015, Resolute Support (RS) is a NATO-led, non-combat mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF), who assumed nationwide responsibility for Afghanistan’s security following the conclusion of the previous NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission. Its purpose is to help the Afghan security forces and institutions develop the capacity to defend Afghanistan and protect its citizens in a sustainable manner.
