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BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — The 410th Military Police Company out of Fort Hood, Texas, is wrapping things up and preparing to go home. After training more than 1,000 members of the Afghan national police they are leaving the country in a better condition than they found it.
Since deploying in June 2009, the 410th MP has been a part of Task Forces Gladius and Cyclone, and tasked with training Afghan national police to take over security from International Security Assistance Forces.
The 410th Military Police Company commander, U.S. Army Capt. Anthony D. Fisic of Cleveland, Ohio, reflected on the ANP training mission that his Soldiers had been a part of for the last nine months.
"These guys performed great; I think they've enjoyed the mission," said Fisic. "It's being a teacher. It's rewarding to see the light come on."
The teaching Fisic is referring to was a 30-day sustainment program, which the ANPs received an immersion training to further enhance their skills.
"We're fostering a program of basic skills," said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Corey M. Wineglass, a squad leader from the 410th MP and a native of Myrtle Beach, S.C. "The ANP needs to function independently."
Wineglass said that after they overcame initial challenges, such as the language barrier, they saw enormous progress and potential.
"After each scenario we do a practical exercise," said Wineglass. "At the end, you could tell that there was a vast improvement."
Fisic said, one of the biggest improvements the 410th MP helped bring about wasn't just in law enforcement skills, but was in teaching the Afghan police the law. "One of the biggest pieces has been Rule of Law training. Anybody can put on handcuffs, but they needed to know their own laws."
Another challenge was overcoming cultural barriers.
"People look at things through different lenses," said Fisic. "The tactics and procedures are basically the same. It's managing cultures. For instance, there's the cultural understanding that a man's home is his castle. They needed to know that in certain cases it's legal to go into someone's home to make an arrest."
This part of training has been so necessary and effective that as the ANPs progress, the operational focus has shifted to training higher ranking law enforcement officials at the provincial levels, said Fisic.
But the fruit of the 410th MP's labor was seen firsthand when the ANPs responded to the avalanche in Parwan," said Fisic.
"During the recent avalanche in Salang we were able to fly in and set up, but they were right there and took over," Fisic said.
As the tour of the 410th MPs concludes, many look back and reflect on how they have helped contribute to the development in Afghanistan
"It's been a good experience," said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert S. Scott, a 410th MP Company member from Merritt Island, Fla. "I'm glad that I volunteered. It's good to help the ANPs stand on their own."
| Date Taken: | 02.23.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 02.23.2010 04:45 |
| Story ID: | 45722 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 571 |
| Downloads: | 274 |
This work, 410th MPs reflect on deployment, by SFC Donald Reeves, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
