Posted on 05/12/2008 5:21:39 PM PDT by SandRat
5/12/2008 - BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFPN) -- A Parwan Police Mentoring Team traveled to Dandar, a small village in the Parwan province of Afghanistan, May 8 to instruct members of the Afghanistan National Police on hand-to-hand combat, community policing, coordination-cell training and criminal investigation.
The PMT is a highly-efficient team of Soldiers and Airmen who teach a variety of classes based upon the needs of the police in each district, said Army Capt. Donald Young, an Idaho National Guard member and PMT leader.
Joining the team on this mission was Tech. Sgt. Chris Padron, who is responsible for providing police training for two provinces and 17 districts in Afghanistan.
"I love doing what I do," Sergeant Padron said. "Teaching the ANP has been a great experiennce."
The team commander, Army Capt. Mark Moeckli, met with Col. Masoum Farzaie, of the ANP, to discuss the team's objective for the mission.
"Some of the Afghan people do bad things, but most of the Afghan people want to see the Taliban gone and their country safe -- just like we do," said Captain Moeckli.
"The training is very good for us," said Dawa Jan, an ANP officer. "Our main goal is security, and the classes the Americans give us help prepare us for that goal."
Becoming an ANP officer is not an easy task, he said. At minimum, applicants must have a high school education, go through testing and then attend a six-week course at one of the country's four academies.
The training provided by the U.S. military members helps the ANP to retain the training they receive at the academy.
"It is good for my policemen to learn from the Americans," Colonel Farazie said. "They have improved greatly since the Americans have come to teach them."
The PMT members are happy to travel all over the Parwan province providing training to help the ANP keep their skills honed, they said.
We want to help the Afghanistan National Police be the best they can, because in the end, it's all about them," said Captain Young.
pingeroo
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