Signs of progress for Helmand security forces

AFGHANISTAN

09.04.2010

Story by Lance Cpl. Jeremy Fasci 

Regional Command Southwest

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan -- The month of August surpassed many milestones for the Afghan national security forces in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

The Afghan National Army‘s 215th Corps, in Helmand province, recently reached its end strength, allowing a further advanced training program to be hosted at the Joint Security Academy Southwest, Camp Leatherneck.

The academy graduated the first group of Afghan soldiers from advanced courses to better equip them to conduct security operations in the region. A non-commissioned officer’s course and up-armored humvee course was formed to supplement the basic training taught at JSAS. Training NCOs and drivers not only helps the immediate operational ability of the ANA but allows the students from the courses to take knowledge back to their respective units across the province.

The Afghan Uniformed Police force is also nearing their manpower goal in Helmand. In the last two graduations from JSAS, there were 34 students recruited from and sent back to provide security in Marjah. While there have been police in Marjah, the newly trained policemen are the first to be recruited from Marjah. Due to the rising numbers of policemen in Marjah, police stations are being built to facilitate operations.


“In Marjah we’ve seen some significant gains in the security situation,” said Maj. Gen. Richard P. Mills, the commander of Regional Command Southwest, during a press briefing, Sept. 2. “In June, there were no local police in town. Now I can report to you we have a force approaching 300.”

Soldiers and police officers have pushed through the challenge of training during the month of Ramadan over the last month. Starting on the Aug. 11 all the courses that have graduated within the last couple weeks have completed the training during Ramadan.

“Our experiment of training during Ramadan has proven the Afghans’ commitment to providing security in the province,” said Terry Walker, an ANSF development advisor for RC (SW).

In the upcoming months coalition forces will continue to build the foundation that has been set in Helmand province by conducting more specialized training and helping to keep the numbers of police and soldiers steady to provide constant security in the region.

“We’re partnered both with the Afghan army, and police, both the local police and their national police,” Mills said. “And we work hard to raise their capabilities, raise their training and work with their leadership to ensure that they are becoming more and more proficient in their skills every day.”

• Date Taken: 09.04.2010
• Date Posted: 09.06.2010 10:28
• Story ID: 55786
• Location: AF