Newly-graduated ANP policemen head to Marjah

AFGHANISTAN

09.01.2010

Story by Cpl. Brian Gabriel Jr. 

Regional Command Southwest

Thirty-seven Marjah-bound policemen graduated from the Joint Security Academy Southwest at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Sept. 1.

The JSAS class 2010-08 graduation ceremony was hosted by Lt. Col. Marcus Williams, JSAS director, Lt. Col. Ibrahim, Helmand deputy provincial chief of police, and Haji Sattar, Helmand deputy governor.

Williams began the ceremony by commending the new policemen on their successful completion of the approximately two-month long training cycle.

“During the last eight weeks, this class has participated in challenging police training as well as advanced combat tactics such as patrolling and shooting,” Williams said.

“These students, along with the help of the United States Marines, have met the standards and overcome numerous challenges.”

Ibrahim, the guest speaker for the graduation ceremony, congratulated the new policemen on their achievement and passed on words of advice.

“I’m very happy to see all of you graduate after these last two months of training,” Ibrahim said. “Just make sure to keep the training you received and the skills you’ve learned in mind when you get to your area of operations. Make sure to establish a good relationship with the people of Marjah.”

Terry Walker, Regional Command Southwest training advisor, explained that all 37 graduates will serve as policemen in Marjah. Twenty-six of the newly-graduated police officers call Marjah their hometown. Walker added that this graduation makes 72 police officers in Marjah who were recruited from the city.

“Today we had a graduation ceremony for those young Afghans that have decided to serve their country and provide security for the city of Marjah,” Walker said. “These individuals will go forth in Marjah and be the police force, providing all the policing services and security for the people in the Marjah District.”

Walker explained that the influx of new policemen and increased security in Marjah, when the city had no police force six months ago, now has the opportunity to be an example of future prosperity to people across Afghanistan.

“This has a dramatic effect upon security, not just in Marjah or the Helmand River Valley, but all of the people in Afghanistan,” Walker said. “These young men will go and be the living embodiment, the manifestation of Afghanistan taking over the security requirements of their own villages, towns and cities.”

• Date Taken: 09.01.2010
• Date Posted: 09.03.2010 04:01
• Story ID: 55649
• Location: AF