BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Afghan national police took strides toward taking more control of their own security after a joint team of Soldiers with the 235th Military Police Company, South Dakota Army National Guard, and Airmen with the Bagram Provincial Reconstruction Team led them through a leadership seminar April 2-4.
Police chiefs from seven districts across Kapisa Province received classroom instruction on ethics, values, leadership, community policing, map reading, running a tactical operations center, basic communication, hygiene and logistics. Completion of this course made them the first Afghan police leaders to complete this type of training.
"This training was virgin territory for them and for us," said Army Lt. Col. James Slagowski, 201st Regional Security Assistance Command Central senior mentor for Kapisa ANP. "The classes went very well. We had excellent instruction and great participation. I know they will take the lessons they learned here and pass it on to their subordinates."
Not only did the training serve to teach leadership skills to local ANP, but it also helped with increasing interoperability between the ANP, Afghan National Army and coalition forces.
"Teaching them some of the ways we operate and ways they can communicate with their troops will only help improve our working relationship because we will all be on the same page when it comes to how we lead our people," said Army 2nd Lt. Thadius Schmit, 235th MP Company platoon leader from Rapid City, S.D. "Training like this makes them more self-reliant so that one day they can run their security operations by themselves."
The 16 ANP leaders agreed that this training opportunity is one that taught them a lot and is one that they will never forget.
"First, I would like to thank the Soldiers for sharing their wealth of knowledge with us," said Afghan Col. Ahnadullah Oria, Tagab District police chief and one of the class' distinguished graduates. "I especially enjoyed the leadership and communications classes. It taught us ways to manage our troops and improve security for the community."
Fellow honor grad and police chief of Nejrabdis District, Afghan Col. Padshahgul Bakhtegar agreed.
"The training I will take back to my troops is the communication portion," he said. "Communication is the mind of the army. Without communication, there is no combat. If we can communicate, we can provide better security for our people."
While this three-day training event was aimed at the leaders, the joint team of trainers plan on conducting these classes in Parwan Province as well as going to the leaders' individual districts to pass on the these unique leadership skills.
"We know that by giving them the confidence they need to lead, that it will go a long way toward helping them secure there own cities and villages against insurgents," said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Francis Warren, Bagram PRT NCOIC (non-commissioned officer in charge) of Afghan police training assistance. "If they can handle community problems at the police level, then things would be more secure for the whole country."
This training was the first step in a three-prong process of training for the ANP. In the near future classes like these are planned to tackle logistical needs and operate a provincial coordination center.
"We want to make a lasting impact with our training," said Slagowski. "We want the Afghan people to be able take over for the long term. I have been truly impressed by the professionalism of our joint Air Force and Army team. They are up to the challenge of seeing this training through to the end and ensure freedom's future for the Afghan people."