By U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ronald Pitts
RSC-South Public Affairs
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – The Afghan Public Protection Force graduated the first of several convoy training classes from the Regional Training Center in Kandahar Nov. 19.
The 93 students that graduated from the basic convoy training marks the initial main body fielding of the Kandahar “Ranger” Convoy Kandak.
The seven-week course, while not as long as a traditional military or police school, focused on self defense, communications, fire arms training, first aid, improvised explosive device awareness, standing guard and driver awareness for convoy operations.
While standing up a new operational Kandak is a difficult task, Col. Shahab, the APPF Ranger Kandak commander in the Kandahar region who chooses to use one name only as many Afghans do, is up to the task. While there are significant challenges to the development of facilities, infrastructure, and fielding the required equipment and supplies needed to make this convoy security capability operational, personnel remain the most valuable resource.
"This graduation was a major step in realizing APPF convoy operations in southern Afghanistan. With another class underway, APPF will soon have enough manpower to begin its mission to provide convoy security while reducing corruption along supply routes in the Kandahar area," said Maj. James Wymer with Afghan National Police Development, Regional Support Command-South.
As a for profit, state owned enterprise, the APPF is a unique organization within the Afghan Ministry of Interior. Although they neither fall under the Afghan Uniformed Police or the Army, APPF’s ability to provide static and convoy security frees the ANP and Afghan National Army to utilize their resources to focus on key mission goals. As APPF gains momentum through personnel training and equipment fielding, they will soon secure convoys that provide key logistics along the main supply routes in the Kandahar area which is a critical factor in the success of the infrastructure and economy of the of this developing Nation.
For more information about NTM-A, visit www.ntm-a.com.