169 Afghan officers graduate from Ghazni police academy

Courtesy Photo | Polish, Afghan and American flags fly over the Ghazni Troop Sustainment Site Police Academy during a graduation ceremony for 169 Afghan national policemen May 19. (Photo by 2nd Lt. Anna Wisłocka)  

GHAZNI PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

05.21.2011

Courtesy Story

Combined Joint Task Force 1 - Afghanistan

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Coalition forces instructors at the Ghazni Police Training Academy graduated 169 Afghan National Police officers May 19.

Coalition forces offer two courses at the Troop Sustainment Site: a six-week course for privates and 16-week course for non-commissioned officers. The academy staff comes from Poland and U.S. military police units.

"We are satisfied to know that there is such an academy. The police and our country is enriched thanks to the training. We are also grateful to the Troop Sustainment Site instructors, we know they are working very hard," said Afghan National Police Capt. Ramazan Ali, TSS commander.

Emotions ran high as policemen took their oath. As the men accepted their diplomas, they greeted instructors with a thunderous cry, "I will serve for Afghanistan honestly."

During the ceremony, coalition forces addressed the students.

"This day is sunny, no one will shoot you. This is a good day, but we know that the worse will come; when difficulties arise, the enemy will step up its activities and you will have to fight. You have been selected for this service because you are strong enough to overcome these difficulties. We believe in you. Remember this day, and bring it in your minds when hard times come. Keep this day in your memory to give you courage and self-confidence," said U.S. Army Col. Lawrence J. Kinde, security force advisor team chief.

After the ceremony, graduates demonstrated the skills they learned during the training including techniques of entering a building, searching vehicles and people, responding to an improvised explosive device explosion and evacuating the wounded.

"You received a lot of training, and I know completing it is only half of the success. The next days of hard and demanding service are to come. I know you are ready to take on this challenge for your families, friends and for your beautiful country," said Polish Army Col. Piotr Imański.

The academy instructors will have a few days rest before beginning the next six-week course which begins May 28. This time, they will train 250 students.

"We draw conclusions from the all editions of the course, and we do our best to improve the training process to be as efficient as possible. The next course will certainly contain more practical activities," said Polish Army Maj. Mateusz Dadał, academy commandant.

• Date Taken: 05.21.2011
• Date Posted: 05.20.2011 18:05
• Story ID: 70792
• Location: GHAZNI PROVINCE, AF