Marines train in Host Nation Police Advisory Course

Photo By Cpl. Timothy Childers | A Marine from Military Police Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, speaks with role-players during the Host Nation Police Advisory Course at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 15. The course trains Marines to become Police Adviser Teams that work together with the Afghan National Police force.  

CAMP PENDLETON, CA, UNITED STATES

12.15.2011

Story by Pfc. Timothy Childers 

1st Marine Logistics Group

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Marines from Military Police Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, trained in the Host Nation Police Advisory Course here, Dec. 15. The course trains Marines to become Police Adviser Teams that work together with the Afghan National Police force.

The Marines from CLR-17 are training to become Police Advisory Team instructors. Once qualified, they will then be able to teach senior enlisted and officers to become Police Advisory Team members.

It is the job of Police Advisory Teams to deploy and embed with host nation police forces to share and build police skills such as detaining suspects and gathering evidence to be brought to a judicial trial.

The two week course was developed in 2010 and consists of two phases. During the first phase, the Marines learn the material needed to become instructors in a classroom setting. The second phase is instructor development, said Brad Smith, police advisory course instructor, Homeland Security Inc.

“A big part of the class is [learning] community oriented policing,” said Smith. “It’s important for the Marines to establish a report and trust within the community for security and intelligence.”

The training event required Marines to work together with a mock Afghan National Police force during multiple scenarios. During one scenario, the Marines and Afghan National Police talked with village elders about selecting a location for a local election poll. Another scenario involved the assassination of a village elder by insurgents, which outraged the community. The Marines had to rely on the Afghan National Police to control the locals and restore peace to the community.

“We’re doing phenomenal,” said Staff Sgt. Joseph Salazar, staff noncommissioned officer in charge, Detainee Operations, Military Police Support Company, I Marine Expeditionary Force. “The training is going great so far. This will be one of the biggest missions and it’s a necessity for Marines about to deploy.”

The Military Police Companies from 1st MLG, and 1st Marine Division, and I MEF are slated to join as a single Military Police Battalion in the future in order to create a stable police force in Afghanistan as troops begin to pull out, said Master Sgt. Joseph C. Starzy, Military Police Chief, G-3, 1st MLG.

“You have to establish the security of a country,” said Smith. “We’re there to help them transition so they can stand on their own. Once they will be able to stand on their own two feet, we can successfully pull out of Afghanistan.”

• Date Taken: 12.15.2011
• Date Posted: 12.16.2011 13:49
• Story ID: 81495
• Location: CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US