URUZGAN, Afghanistan- Afghan locals in Khas district, Uruzgan province, welcomed new members of the Afghan Local Police program following a graduation ceremony, Sept. 1.
According to district reports, the ALP graduated their eleventh class, adding 21 new members to the force.
Before graduating, the trainees underwent basic rifle marksmanship training, communications training, medical training and basic police tactics classes, said an instructor at the ALP academy.
"The population supports the ALP program and it is great to add new personnel to the police force," said a coalition Special Operations Forces team leader.
Select members of the Afghan National Army are responsible for training the future ALP and believe that being an instructor helps create camaraderie among the Afghan National Security Forces.
"We are all a part of the same team, which is defending the citizens of Afghanistan from insurgency," said an ANA instructor.
"Villagers are volunteering for the ALP program and willing to defend their villages from the insurgency," said a member of the ANA. "The local citizens believe in their abilities to defend their villages and are supporting the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan through the ALP program."
Afghan Local Police are selected by village elders and a local shura to provide protection from insurgents and other hostile forces threatening their villages. The program is connected to all levels of the government of Afghanistan and is administered by the Afghan Ministry of Interior and local district police staff.
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