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AFGHANISTAN - International Security Assistance Force senior leaders have said repeatedly throughout the year that ISAF’s future replacements are wearing Afghan military and police uniforms, not coalition.
For three days, Nov. 7-9, senior leaders from the Afghan National Security Force’s non-commissioned officer corps took another step toward that transition.
ANSF sergeants major, representing 34 Afghan provinces and seven regions, got to work at a leadership development conference held at the Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs.
“I am very happy about hosting the seminar,” Sergeant Major of the Afghan National Police Command Sgt. Maj. Karim Khan said. “I am very proud. [It’s the] first time a seminar [was] held for NCOs.”
Khan said the conference is very important for the sergeants major from different regions to discuss their common issues and problems.
“[The] sergeants major discovered, ‘wow, we have [the] same problems as anywhere else,’” Khan said.
Strong Partners
The conference brought together under one roof sergeants major from all branches of ANSF including: Afghan Uniformed Police, Afghan National Civil Order Police, Afghan Border Police and the Afghan National Army.
According to U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Brian Garbinski, senior enlisted leader to ANCOP, the purpose of the gathering was to develop a strong partnership with NATO Training Mission/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan and the ANP to build a viable NCO Corps.
Sergeant major of the Afghan Army Roshan Safi who spoke on the first day, said, “We are one team working together. There is no difference between ANA and ANP. No difference in our flag. We have to work together, shohna ba shohna. That has to be our daily mindset. We need to enforce the law.”
ISAF Senior Enlisted Leader U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Marvin Hill, a strong advocate for partnership, was the second guest speaker on Sunday.
“[CSM Khan] your actions in developing the Afghan National Police NCO corps are an inspiration and are living proof of this seminar’s conference theme, ‘Leader Development,’” Hill said. “The presence of so many senior NCO leaders from across Afghanistan emphasizes the importance of this conference. As I look at all of you who are serving so courageously, I feel privileged to be joining your ranks here in Afghanistan.”
“Every police force that I have had any association with had somewhere in their motto the saying ‘to serve and protect.’” Hill said. “That is why you wear the uniform. Whether it is the towns, villages, districts, or borders…you serve and protect those within your area of responsibility.
Better Communication
Garbinski said one important result of the conference will be better intercommunication between ANSF, with sergeants major making important friendships and gaining senior leader contacts in their sister services.
“These sergeants major here didn’t know each other before now,” Garbinski said. “Normally you don’t see ANA and ANP working together.
During breaks, groups of sergeants major from ABP, ANCOP, AUP and ANA could be seen talking, laughing and posing for pictures together. During lunch, they would have serious discussions, sharing common experiences and goals.
ANCOP Sgt. Maj. Saidsharfudin, from the 3rd Bde., in Herat Province, said, “This is a new position at the MOI. The conference is really helpful for [the] relationship between patrolman and senior leaders.”
Literacy and NCO education for the ANP
Two of the major hot topics discussed were literacy and how to improve NCO education for the ANSF.
“They [the ANSF sergeants major] know there is five to eight percent literacy in the ANP, but the sergeants major are going to ask their officers for the ability to put literacy courses together,” Khan said.
Another seminar objective was to create a better understanding of the way ahead for the NCO Professional Law Enforcement Education, career progression and promotion system.
“We need education,” Safi said. “[An] educated force is a strong force.”
“We want to establish a literacy program for each unit,” Command Sgt. Maj. Aziz Mrza, 3rd Brigade, ANCOP, said.
Mrza and Saidsharfudin would also like MOI to establish an NCO academy for ANP sergeants
major, similar to the ANA Sergeant Major Academy at Kabul Military Training Center.
MOI Minister supports sergeants major
Afghan Minister of Interior Affairs Bishmullah Khan Mohammadi came by on the final day to offer encouragement and his unwavering support for the sergeants major.
He also talked about his six core priorities for the ANP: Improve Training and Education, Improve Leadership, Fight Corruption, Improve Quality of Life, Review and Reform Tashkil within the MOI and improve rewards and punishment.
“Police are on the frontline of this war. I established the six priorities for all the units. First is training and education, Mohammadi said. “This is the key factor. If he [the patrolman] is standing on a checkpoint, he should know the law and how to use his gun.”
Mohammadi told a story about how he visited an ANP checkpoint recently and found the patrolman had given part of their pay to their senior leader as a tribute. Mohammadi found this unacceptable and asked the senior leader why he allowed this. The senior leader couldn’t explain.
“How can you be a senior leader if you don’t take care of your patrolmen?” Mohammadi asked. “We have senior leaders not accountable to anyone. I fully support the command sergeants major of the ANP to be just like the command sergeants major from the ANA. You’re the liaison between the commander and the troops.”
Future conferences
Overall, the conference exceeded everyone’s expectations, Garbinski said.
“It’s a great pleasure for all sergeants major to receive feedback and issues,” Mrza said. “It’s good that ANP is supporting their sergeants major. We collect issues for ANP command sergeants major, who will present them to their commanders. We’re trying to improve the organization.”
Khan said the ANP goal for the future is to have quarterly conferences for the regions and then come together once a year for the major conference.
“As many here recognize very clearly, developing an effective Afghan National Security Force is critical to building long-term progress in Afghanistan, and developing a strong senior NCO corps is critical to the ANSF, Hill said. “Don’t just tell your commander what is wrong. Do something about it.
Mohammadi, who served in the ANA for nine years, said, “I understand your [sergeant major’s] role. Your role is really important. We have to take care of our command sergeants major. I promise that the commander who doesn’t support that command sergeant major – I promise I’m not supporting that commander. I promise I’m supporting you.”
| Date Taken: | 11.09.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 11.14.2010 04:44 |
| Story ID: | 60086 |
| Location: | AF |
| Web Views: | 111 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Afghan National Police CSM hosts 1st Annual Leadership Conference at MOI, by SFC Matthew Chlosta, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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