KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security and International Security Assistance Forces are undertaking a pilot program to train and mentor members of the road maintenance team in Tagab District, Kapisa province.
The maintenance teams, part of the ANSF, are made up of local men trained to provide their own security and to maintain roads in surrounding areas, allowing for infrastructure development to take place.
Beyond maintaining the roads, they also sweep the roads to keep them free of improvised explosive devices, provide security in and around local villages and man the village security checkpoints.
The men currently in training are assigned to one of the local checkpoints. The men will spend six hours a day for the next six days training in everything from basic weapon’s maintenance to small-unit infantry tactics and first-aid procedures.
“These older guys are warriors and pick this stuff up pretty quickly,” said one of the trainers. “They make sure the younger guys understand and can implement what we are teaching them. For some residents these are the only security forces or other government forces they see regularly and it’s important they earn their neighbor’s trust.”