Dirty and tired, 15 Drug Enforcement Agency agents walked into a makeshift chow hall at the Yakima Training Center on a late July evening for a quick meal of spaghetti and meatballs before planning the next day's mission.

"They're in the middle of their three-day practical exercise," Master Sgt. Doug Karnitz, a member of the Washington National Guard's Counter Drug Task Force (CDTF), explained.

The DEA personnel had been training at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and at the Training Center since early July. 

"This exercise allows them to put into play all of the knowledge they've learned. Tomorrow will be the grand finale - kind of like a final exam for a college course."

The agents learned from some of the very best Soldiers the Guard's CDTF has to offer.

Established by Congressional Order in 1988 and headquartered at Camp Murray, the Guard's task force provides training to law enforcement and community based counter-drug operations at the local, state and federal levels.

In this case, the emphasis of the training was preparing the DEA agents for work in Afghanistan at an undisclosed location for an undetermined length of time.

Established by an Executive Order in July 1973, the DEA was created by President Richard Nixon.  The agency represents a single unified command to combat the global drug threat.

The drug trade plays a significant role in funding the Taliban's efforts in Afghanistan.

"What is neat about these agents is that they all volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan," Karnitz said.

While deployed, the agents will work with coalition and American forces to interdict and develop intelligence from the drug trafficking on which the Taliban relies for its funding.

To be successful, the agents needed to learn what to expect once in Afghanistan.  The Guard's CDTF and its growing reputation for first-class instruction figured into the planning.

During their training, the agents worked with and learned from a variety of the Guard's subject matter experts in small arms training, combat medicine, land navigation and intercultural relations.

While no DEA agents would speak, one of their instructors did speak on condition of anonymity.

"Our intent was to familiarize them with how we work, how we interact.  We've been there; we've done that; we can be very helpful," one Special Forces' Soldier said.

"They've learned a great deal, and they are applying what they've learned. They are a credit to the DEA and the country."