Photo By OR-5 Mark Doran | An Afghan policeman conducts drills during the personal security detachment course at...... read more read more
TARIN KOT, Afghanistan - With Afghan National Police in Uruzgan preparing for independence in the coming weeks, their ability to generate trained law enforcers is crucial to their survivability as a force.
A recent batch of 146 recruits were the first from Uruzgan to be flown to Kandahar by Afghan helicopters to attend the basic patrolman’s course at the Regional Training Center.
Police trainers in Uruzgan are operating a local version of Kandahar institution called the Provincial Training Center, which regularly turns over students trained in specialist police skills.
On Nov. 14 students graduated from local courses in counterimprovised explosive devices, first aid, logistics and supply, vehicle maintenance, personal security, crime scene handling and evidence collection.
The graduation ceremony was the culmination of training for 297 students in nine separate modules run by the 184th Security Force Assistance Team, civilian contractors and enablers since July.
Maj. Bobby Britton, operations officer, 184th SFAT, said the staff assisted the Afghans to develop systems and processes to sustain a professional police force, but for the most part, the Afghans did everything themselves.
“Lines of effort included specialized training to give Afghan law enforcement officers the skills which will be effective against the insurgents as well as strengthening their maintenance and supply points,” he said.
“The biggest effort was in the counter IED training, as this is the biggest threat to their safety and causes many police casualties across Afghanistan.
“We emphasized train-the-trainer concepts and have seen this work effectively, with the Afghans taking over the courses in recent weeks."
Trained police are in great demand across the country, and are often thrown into operational roles without full qualifications.
Maj. Britten said newly trained Uruzgan police defused 27 improvised explosive devices shortly after returning to the line from their specialist course.
“The 184th SFAT also facilitated less obvious, but equally important functions of a professional police force,” he said.
“We helped connect the police headquarters to the internet so they could establish better lines of communication with their commanders in Kabul and Kandahar.”
Afghan security authorities have gradually been assuming responsibility for law and order over the last three years.
By the end of 2014 they will be in a position to ensure Afghanistan’s security without direct international assistance.
Lt. Col. Hajib Delaga, commander, Provincial Training Center, said the specialized training was valuable and meant the Afghan police were becoming professionalized.
“We have the responsibility to provide security for our people,” he said.
“The patrolmen are using the training they have received from our United States and Australian partners in their daily work and we will never forget them for this assistance.
“My desire for the future is that the Afghan police can return to the simple policing duties of caring for the public and not be fighting face-to-face with the insurgents.
“I hope Afghanistan becomes peaceful so we can establish security and I hope the people recognize their enemy and resist them so we can protect our country.”
Maj. Britton said Uruzgan’s senior policemen have shown strong leadership in building a professional force.
“They are winning the battle against the insurgency – their biggest challenge will be overcoming their historic tribal tensions.
“If Afghanistan can’t develop a sense of national unity its people will continue to struggle.”
Maj. Britton said the 184th SFAT had done admirable work.
“Many of the team have civilian and military law enforcement backgrounds, including three policemen, who have put in a lot of time and effort to ensure the training was perfect,” he said.
“This is significant because currently the Afghan police perform a counter insurgency role as a paramilitary force so it is an added benefit by us having this combination of qualifications.”
| Date Taken: | 11.14.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 11.18.2013 07:22 |
| Story ID: | 116920 |
| Location: | TARIN KOWT, AF |
| Web Views: | 185 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Culmination of training for Uruzgan's police, by OR-5 Mark Doran, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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