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TARIN KOT, Afghanistan - Security Force Assistance Team members from the 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Texas Army National Guard, ended their tour in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, July 23, 2013, having overseen important progress in their partnered police force.
Five SFAT teams, commanded by Lt. Col. William Phillips, from Leander, Texas, deployed with Combined Team Uruzgan to help the police gain a better understanding of their logistics, maintenance and training systems.
Based in Tarin Kot, Chora, and Deh Rawud, the teams advised police officers from the provincial headquarters, several local police stations, outlying checkpoints and the Operational Coordination Center, Provincial.
"Over the nine months that the teams have been in Uruzgan working with the Afghan police, we've seen several significant achievements in the areas of leadership, capability and professionalism," Phillips said. "The accomplishments were only possible through first establishing effective and close relationships with our Afghan counterparts."
"The real turning point came after we had gained a high level of trust by offering Afghan-centric advice and recommendations, rather than just stepping in and trying to force a coalition-centric concept," Phillips said. "Our jointly developed solutions formed a foundation that eventually became Afghan independent solutions."
Phillips said obtaining independence is the key to a successful security force in the post coalition era to come.
He highlighted the challenges of sustaining and maintaining forces deployed in the remote, mountainous regions of the province as one of his team’s key areas of focus.
“With our input, the ANP began to utilize contracted maintenance teams and fixed many vehicles that had been inoperable for up to a year. They now have a maintenance process that works and is completely independent of coalition support.”
Phillips thinks one of the most important achievements was an improved approach to training.
"We started with adviser-initiated training and built over time towards training conducted exclusively by the Afghan police," Phillips said.
Following coalition-led “train the trainer” courses, the experienced police began passing their knowledge to the more junior members. ANP instructors successfully trained other ANP officers in areas such as countering improvised explosives devices, combat lifesaver medical training, and evidence-based operations.
By fostering this independent mindset to training, the SFAT paved the way for one of the most important recent developments in Uruzgan’s future security.
In late June, Uruzgan-based Afghan Local Police - who provide security to their villages but are generally untrained – received what is thought to be the first structured training by Afghan Uniform police anywhere in the country.
The course was conceived, planned, and run completely independent of Phillips’ teams. He says it is a huge step forward for sustainable security in Uruzgan.
"This is the crowning achievement for our team's time here, and exceeded our expectations," Phillips said.
Other areas of training that have been introduced include instruction for female police officers through the assistance of Combined Team Uruzgan’s female engagement team, as well as an initial course to train police in core competences before they attend the formal basic patrolman's course.
“These successes were not the result of any one individual’s effort, but were possible because I had teams of professional soldiers dedicated to their adviser missions,” Phillips said.
The SFAT will return to various units throughout Texas in the coming weeks. Phillips said they have made a difference in Uruzgan.
"The police in Uruzgan are vastly improved from where they were nine months ago," Phillips said. "They are well lead by a provincial chief and senior staff who have a vision for the future, who respect and enforce the rule of law, and are dedicated to developing a professional police force."
"Are they perfect?" Phillips asked. "No, but no one is perfect. They are independent."
| Date Taken: | 07.23.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 07.24.2013 04:55 |
| Story ID: | 110683 |
| Location: | TIRINKOT, AF |
| Hometown: | ALPINE, TX, US |
| Hometown: | AUSTIN, TX, US |
| Hometown: | DALLAS, TX, US |
| Hometown: | EL PASO, TX, US |
| Hometown: | FORT DAVIS, TX, US |
| Hometown: | FORT WORTH, TX, US |
| Hometown: | GALVESTON, TX, US |
| Hometown: | HOUSTON, TX, US |
| Hometown: | INGLESIDE, TX, US |
| Hometown: | LEANDER, TX, US |
| Hometown: | MARFA, TX, US |
| Hometown: | PHOENIX, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 422 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Police advisers leave their mark in Uruzgan, by CW1 Jessi McCormick, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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