WARDAK PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Task Force King has led the way by training and mentoring the Afghan forces to help Afghanistan form a strong and effective police force.
The artillerymen of TF King have bolstered the strength of Afghan police officers within Logar and Wardak provinces for the last nine months. The 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, recently gave the Afghan Uniformed Police three up-armored Humvees to help Afghan forces engage with the local population more often.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. David Sink, 4-319th AFAR commander, and Brig. Gen. Hagyar, Wardak provincial police chief, signed the documents releasing the tactical vehicles to the AUP.
In the past, the Afghan National Army has been the only Afghan National Security Force that was offered the additional protection of the up-armored Humvees. As police trainers and mentors, the 173d ABCT wanted to give the AUP the same protection.
According to Sink, this is just the beginning.
“In the future, as more vehicles are distributed, this will give them a greater level of protection and mobility than their current capability,” said Sink who hails from Raleigh, N.C.
Sink continued by saying, “Brig. Gen. Hagyar was assigned the position as the provincial police chief about five months ago. Since then, he has taken an active role in redefining his AUP.”
Immediately after stepping into the police chief position, Hagyar began conducting battlefield circulation in order to understand the problems, strengths and weaknesses of the district-level police.
“I see myself as Brig. Gen. Hagyar's mentor who assists him in his leadership and management of the 800-plus police officers in the province,” said Sink.
“We have gone beyond training basic tasks. We have developed Afghan Uniformed Police trainers,” said U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis Woods, the 4-319th AFAR command sergeant major and a native of Marietta, Ga. “They can now assist in training other police officers completely apart from coalition assistance. We first used a building block method of instruction that required our NCO's to teach, coach and mentor the AUP officers.”
“The most common comment is how deeply we have penetrated their social circles,” said Woods. “We have essentially doubled down on the [counterinsurgency] fight by having the Afghan Uniformed Police take charge of their development. By abandoning many Western ideals and adopting Afghan ones; we were able to draw them in close with personal relationships.”
Woods said their initial instruction methods were based on a banker’s mentality of education using a technique of deposit and withdrawal.
“Operating techniques were modelled closely to those already in use by the AUP. Building on the body of prior knowledge, AUP officers were coached through increasingly complex tasks,” Woods said.
“We implemented a core-skills agenda that would allow officers to attend courses taught by our NCO's and officers. Those core skills include basic first aid, drivers training and marksmanship training,” said Woods.
Additionally, they wanted to assist the police headquarters staff in their capabilities and functionality. Leadership, logistics and management courses were developed to assist in that.
“At the district levels, we've partnered our 401st [Military Police] and paratroopers from Alpha Battery 4-319th with the district-level police,” said Woods. “These Police Combined Action Teams conduct the day-to-day partnering and combined action with the AUP, assisting in their development.”
To add an extra boost to the training program, they also use mobile training teams in both Logar and Wardak provinces where a team of five Soldiers go into the districts to focus more on the values, ethics, rule of law, management and some advanced first aid.
The teams spend a week in the district centers assisting in the training of the Wardak AUP. They also provide an assessment of the district center and its police.
“The fact that these AUP officers are the first to operate up-armored vehicles has greatly increased their social status,” said Woods. “Their position in the Afghan community has risen as well.”
Woods said that modern COIN requires a finesse and level of precision and sophistication. “Our battalion has stepped up to that challenge and performed as warriors, as well as trainers and professional cadre for the Afghan forces.”
Since Hagyar has become chief, he has re-established discipline within the organization by focusing on simple, basic leadership skills, like wearing of the uniform, being at a place of duty, and taking responsibility for personal actions. Hagyar holds numerous battle rhythm events within his headquarters that keep the organization focused on the priorities and tasks at hand.
“These include weekly administrative, security and intelligence meetings that keep his staff informed, and allow him to give guidance on the ways ahead,” said Sink.
This training could not have occurred unless the AUP leadership bought into the program and allowed their officers to take time away from their normal routine to attend classes. The program is supported by the 4-319th AFAR and 173d ABCT Soldiers, but the AUP picked the courses they wanted taught, and it was on their timeline.
”The fact that we kept our classes full is a testament to the commitment of the Wardak Provincial Police Headquarters in getting their AUP trained to operate as a professional, capable force,” said Sink.
Story by Staff Sgt. Bruce Cobbledick
An Afghan boy stands outside a shop at the local bazaar.
U.S. Army Soldiers from the 89th Military Police Brigade, 720th MP Battalion, 401st MP Company, 2nd Platoon Punishers and Afghan National Police conduct a traffic control point.
Spc. Jeffrey Berg of the 89th Military Police Brigade, 720th MP Battalion, 401st MP Company, 2nd Platoon Punishers shakes hands with a local boy during a mission to inform the local populace about the upcoming September Afghan elections.
Spc. Chadd Mayle of the 89th Military Police Brigade, 720th MP Battalion, 401st MP Company, 2nd Platoon Punishers, stands guard during a patrol aimed at informing the citizens of Sayed Abad, Wardak province, Afghanistan about the upcoming September Afghan election.
Sgt. Mark Randolph of the 89th Military Police Brigade, 720th MP Battalion, 401st MP Company, 2nd Platoon Punishers informs locals of the upcoming September Afghan elections.
Sgt. Mark Randolph of the 89th Military Police Brigade, 720th MP Battalion, 401st MP Company, 2nd Platoon Punishers informs locals of the upcoming September Afghan elections.
Cpl. Tyler Michalewicz and Spc. Michael Stimpson of the 89th Military Police Brigade, 720th MP Battalion, 401st MP Compnay, 2nd Platoon Punishers gives candy to a local boy during a meet and greet mission to inform citizens of Sayed Abad, Wardak province Afghanistan about the upcoming Afghan elections.
Spc. Jonathan Stillwell helps Cpl. Tyler Michalewicz adjust his equipment during a presence patrol in the bazaar.
U.S. Army Soldier Pfc. Kevin Elrod of the 89th Military Police Brigade, 720th MP Battalion, 401st MP Company, 2nd Platoon Punishers takes a photo while conducting a friendly patrol to shake hands with and inform local citizens of the September Afghan elections.
An Afghan National Policeman stands guard during a presence patrol.
An Afghan National Policeman searches a driver at a traffic control point.
