Posted on 03/07/2010 11:17:39 AM PST by SandRat
PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Thirty-three members of the Bazarak District Afghan national police force graduated immersion training following a culmination exercise and recognition ceremony at the Bazarak ANP Headquarters in Panjshir Province, Afghanistan, March 4.
The 28-day training was conducted by members of the 410th Military Police Company from Fort Hood, Texas, and includes classes on handcuffing, vehicle patrolling, self defense and community patrolling, as well as other skills needed to be an effective police force.
"We teach American police tactics around the Afghan way of life," said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Dustan Johnson, Police Mentor Team leader. "Everyone who started the training here finished, and they did it right."
The culmination exercise involved ANP responding to a staged vehicle accident. There was also a scenario in which trainees respond to a call of housebreaking that actually turns into a staged improvised explosive device-makingoperation, said Johnson.
Responding to police calls involves having capable vehicles, and U.S. Army Spc. Andrew Bourke, also a member of 410th Military Police Company, teaches the ANP students classes on proper vehicle maintenance. He trains basic operator maintenance techniques that help extend the life and dependability of vehicles.
"Some of (ANP) were knowledgeable (about maintaining vehicles), and some weren't," said Bourke. "Now they understand why you do vehicle maintenance."
Bourke said he enjoys working with his police mentor team, and he likes helping people in general. He said he hopes his work here will help the bigger effort of coalition gorces in Afghanistan.
"I like sharing my knowledge of maintenance with people," said Bourke, a Marengo, Ill. native. "I can see that this makes my life easier in some way down the road."
Of the seven districts in Panjshir, Bazarak is the fifth to have ANP complete the training. Once Johnson and his team of eight other military police and two civilian police advisors train the remaining two districts, their mission is complete, and the team will return to their home unit.
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