Subscribe
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan - Helmand’s Provincial Governor Naeem Baluch slowly raised an Afghan flag over the new Lashkar Gah Training Center Sept. 10, signaling a new chapter for the Afghan National Police.
More than 250 police officers and candidates with the Afghan Uniformed Police, Afghan Border Police and Afghan Local Police were in attendance as police advisors with the United Kingdom’s Police Mentoring and Advisory Group transferred authority of the training center over to the ANP.
The transference of the facility represented another achievement for the Afghan National Security Forces as they assume the leadership role on security matters throughout Afghanistan. During his remarks, Helmand’s Provincial Police Chief Gen. Mohammed Hakim Angar said the transfer of the center represents the progress here in Helmand and he told the policemen the success of Afghanistan rests on their shoulders.
“[Coalition troops] will soon be leaving and we will be solely responsible for maintaining the peace,” said Angar. “As a police force, we are reliant on each one of you to go into the communities and do the best job you can.”
During the last year, coalition forces have steadily handed off the responsibility for maintaining security to the Afghans and are now in a supporting role countrywide.
In Helmand, U.S.-led Police Advisors Teams have recently handed over the lead security role to policemen in the districts of Now Zad and Kajaki. Both districts were strongholds for insurgents throughout much of the war; however, both are now thriving communities.
According to Maj. Andrew Warren, the military assistant to Regional Command Southwest’s commanding general, the transfer of the training facility and the handover of the district centers are examples of how the dependency on coalition forces has diminished.
“The Afghans have the knowledge and capabilities to be self-supporting,” said Warren. “The Afghans want to take responsibility for the security of the country and I am optimistic they will be very successful in the years ahead.”
With the transfer of authority at Lashkar Gah, the ANP are now responsible for developing curriculum, teaching the courses, and maintaining the new facility.
The training center opened in 2009 and more than 6,000 policemen have graduated the Initial Patrolmen Training Course. The primary function of the facility is to train the policemen to a national standard and the Afghans are expected to graduate over 1,000 policemen annually.
The new facility can accommodate approximately 200 personnel and features a medical center, dining facility, and large classrooms. Other facilities include a water treatment plant, an armory and ammunition storage point, and a generator farm.
| Date Taken: | 09.10.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 09.18.2013 06:44 |
| Story ID: | 113815 |
| Location: | LASHKAR GAH, AF |
| Web Views: | 284 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Afghans open, take control of new Lashkar Gah Training Center, by CWO3 Bobby Yarbrough, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
LEAVE A COMMENT