By Spc. Luke S. Austin
33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team
KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan national police officers and non-commissioned officers gained new knowledge and skills at Police District Six headquarters here during a week of job-oriented training, Feb 2 - 9.
The week-long training was organized by Police Mentor Team One, Regional Police Advisory Command-Kabul, Regional Security Integration Command-Kabul, based on insight from ANP police district chiefs in each district of Zone One, which falls under PMT One's supervision. The police chiefs shared with PMT One mentors the training and skills they felt their ANP officers, NCOs and soldiers needed to carry out their duties more effectively, said Capt. Lenny Williams, PMT One team chief.
"Through meetings and discussions with each of the five PD chiefs in Zone One, we all noticed similarities in the observations made concerning ANP training," he said.
As the discussions of training with each police district in Zone One progressed, it was agreed that they all were lacking in the same areas, Williams stated.
Williams went on to explain that, "...they needed to learn how to better protect and defend themselves, knowledge of lifesaving skills, and more in-depth knowledge on how to use the weapons they carry."
With members of the ANP manning checkpoints throughout the city night-and-day, they need to understand what actions to take in the case of an emergency or civil disruption, Williams said.
"We noticed a trend in what was needed and went to work on putting it together," said Sgt. 1st Class Jarod Hansen, PMT One non-commissioned officer in charge.
"The PD chiefs in Zone One were all on board right away. We put together a list of classes and they helped get the event together," he said.
But with hundreds of members in the ANP in Zone One, it was going to be a difficult task coordinating training with each PD in a timely manner. With this in mind, PMT One took on the U.S. Army's "train the trainer" mentality, said Williams.
"We set it up just like we do business in the Army," he said. "Leadership from each PD, and each checkpoint within each PD, were brought to a single location and given the instruction and training so they can return to their ANP soldiers and train them."
Non-commissioned officers from every checkpoint were required to attend the training in order to deliver it to their soldiers. Continuing on this course, the ANP skill sets and knowledge will grow, said Col. Hafizullah Alizada, chief of PD Six.
In the week of training, 110 ANP officers and NCOs completed six sets of tasks: dismounted patrol, improvised explosive device defeat, search (vehicle and personnel) and cuffing, crime scene management, self-defense, and combat lifesaver training.
"Using the 'train the trainer' method, we effectively engaged the leadership of the ANP in Zone One, who will in turn impact the hundreds of ANP soldiers under their command," Williams stated.
Alizada was very impressed with the level of training given to the leadership of Zone One, as well as how well it was managed and implemented, he said.
"When members of the ANP see their leadership training, it encourages them to learn and train as well," said Alizada.
If the ANP continues on this course with the PMTs, it will make them ready for the future of Afghanistan's people. Alizada also noted that this was the training necessary for the ANP to one day take the place of American Soldiers in Afghanistan.
"There is a lot of pride to be had on the part of American Soldiers for supporting the Afghan national police. We are getting the most professional training thanks to them," said Alizada.
With the successful completion of the training, Williams hopes to continue this training program throughout his tour as PMT One team chief, eventually making these valuable skills "...a matter of muscle memory for members of the ANP."