First 2012 class of Afghan National Police officers graduate in Kandahar Province
Story by US Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ronald Pitts
Regional Support Command – South, Public Affairs Specialist
NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan
Afghan National Police graduates standing in formation waiting to receive their certificates, Sept. 20 at Camp Nathan Smith, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. The officers just graduated the first fully Afghan run police officer course at this particular training center. (US Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ronald Pitts, RSC-S/NTM-A PAO)
Afghan National Police graduated new officers who have just completed the officer candidate school here Sept. 20, 2012.
Most of the 69 officers are from Spin Boldak, a border town near Pakistan, while the rest of the officers are from Kandahar City.
The six month long course, which began back in April covered a wide range of police instruction ethics, rule of law, civil rights, self defense, Afghan constitution, tactical weapons, and leadership in law enforcement.
The latest class to graduate from the ANP OCS program is the first class to have graduated from the entirely Afghan-led course without coalition support or help of advisors, which marks a milestone for the ANP. It is also the sign of gradual transition from coalition forces to Afghan control. “This was the first course the Afghans led without support from the coalition – their determination, resilience and passion reflected their determination to see their nation succeed,” said Staff Sgt. Jeffery Guzman, the Kandahar Training Center noncommissioned officer in charge.
Hiji Torjhan, the landowner of Camp Nathan Smith congratulates one of the graduating officers and presents him with his certificate Sept. 20, during a graduation ceremony. The six-month long course graduated 69 police officers. (US Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ronald Pitts, RSC-S/NTM-A PAO)
Many of the new officers will have to overcome some obstacles as they begin working in their jobs. “The increased position comes with increased responsibility,” said Col. Christopher Reed, the Regional Support Command-South Commander, as he addressed the graduating class, explaining that there will be challenges and they as leaders must lead by example.
The successful graduation shows that the ANP are able to sustain themselves with providing instructors and conducting the training at their academies, further bolstering their ranks and contributing to the security of the Kandahar province.
NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan, is a coalition of 38 troop contributing nations assisting the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in generating a capable and sustainable Afghan National Security Force ready to take lead of their country’s security by 2014. For more information about NTM-A, visit www.ntm-a.com
Category: News - Afghan National Police, News - News
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