New Afghan police graduates ready to help secure Afghanistan

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHARANA, AFGHANISTAN

06.10.2009

Courtesy Story

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHARANA, Afghanistan — Sixty students of the Afghan national police graduated, June 4, from an eight-week basic training course at the Training Sustainment Site in Paktika province, eastern Afghanistan.

The 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division is mentoring the four ANP instructors throughout the course. The instruction covers tactical training, small arms weaponry training, diplomacy, Afghanistan and cultural history, basic Combat Life Saver skills, and numerous police-specific skills such as handcuffing, baton handling and passport and visa law.

The Deputy Governor of Paktika, ANP General Dowlat Khan, and commander of the 1-501st, Lt. Col. Clint Baker, addressed the students in turn, acknowledging each student's tremendous sacrifice.

The speakers commended the ANP graduates on their willingness to serve their country, and expressed their pride and gratitude for each student.

Staff Sgt. John Wirth, assistant operations non-commissioned officer for the 1-501st, and the mentor to the senior ANP instructor, Maj.Guhl, said the ANP graduates were equally proud of their accomplishment and displayed their patriotism openly.

"When they received their certificates, they were pretty much screaming as loud as they could. They said that they did this for the welfare of their country, and they are happy to do it. Then they would turn to the crowd, present their certificate, and yell 'for Afghanistan'," Wirth said.

All students were presented with a graduation certificate, which distinguishes and rewards the graduates in a unique way.

"When they bring the certificates to their District Center each month, it increases their pay automatically by 40 percent," said Wirth.

Several of the students were awarded for outstanding performance in the course. The 1-501st leadership presented the top four students and Instructor of the Cycle with Army Achievement Medals, and the top four shooters were given Certificates of Achievement.

The 1-501st Command Sergeant Major, Kenneth Wolfe, said that enlisting into the ANP is becoming a family affair, and that it's not unusual for several brothers to attend the same class.

"As the village elders slowly start to have more confidence in the government and in the security situation here, they are more willing to give their sons up for service to their nation," he explained.

The next class, beginning later this month, is expected to have 120 students from Paktika and Paktya provinces, Wirth said.

Wirth and his fellow mentor, Staff Sgt. Bradley Mort, work alongside the police mentor team headed by Maj. Kirby Scarborough. These leaders are passionate about their mentorship program, and said they believe their work here is beneficial.

"We are turning out individuals who are highly trained," said Wirth. "I think we are providing an excellent product, and every class we are getting better."

• Date Taken: 06.10.2009
• Date Posted: 06.10.2009 16:50
• Story ID: 34845
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHARANA, AF