Instructing the Instructor: Marines Let Afghans Take Lead in Training Nation’s Security Forces

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

05.21.2011

Story by Cpl. Daniel Wulz 

Regional Command Southwest

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - At Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest aboard Camp Leatherneck, Marines and Afghan Uniformed Police gathered for the graduation ceremony of the AUP 11-6 and AUP 11-7 classes, May 21.

“The AUP is responsible for all basic police force tasks at the provincial and district level,” said Col. Michael E. Cordero, the comptroller for Regional Command Southwest, in a speech to the graduating AUP classes. “You all will be quite busy after you leave here, but you are all very capable and well trained.”

The classes themselves were two of the recent successful attempts to incorporate Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior instructors into the course, guiding the Afghans in their training, and taking over the role of Marines. MOI’s new role as instructors follows closely with their other responsibilities as the department in charge of police forces, internal security and counter-narcotics in the country.

“[JSAS Marines] have been trying to integrate the MOI instructors, so that Marines aren’t running all of the training,” said 1st Lt. Clinton L. Murphey, a team officer-in-charge at JSAS. “This will help the Afghans begin to train their own soldiers and police.”

JSAS is converting to an academy that focuses on teaching advanced courses and Afghan instructors, rather than conducting basic training.

With the last AUP course scheduled to graduate June 16, the graduation of classes 11-6 and 11-7 are two of the final basic training courses being held by the academy.

“The reason behind it is because we are focusing more on sustainment and special courses like leadership training,” said Capt. Joseph L. Dalton, the operations officer at JSAS.

JSAS recently altered its official name to reflect this change in mission, from Joint Security Academy Southwest to Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest.

“In order to achieve the commanding general’s mission we have to pull back on our influence in the basic training courses,” said Dalton, from Clayton, N.C. “We’re getting out of the basic training business, and adopting more courses designed to instruct the instructors of Afghan soldiers and police.”

In more ways than one, the recent graduation signifies progress in Afghanistan and the AUP’s move toward a self-sufficient future.

• Date Taken: 05.21.2011
• Date Posted: 05.23.2011 23:54
• Story ID: 70921
• Location: CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF