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Mehtar Lam works with ANP

  • Published
  • By Capt. Gerardo Gonzalez
  • Mehtar Lam Provincial Reconstruction Team
FORWARD OPERATING BASE MEHTAR LAM, Afghanistan --  Efforts to improve the Afghan National Police continued in Laghman Province as nine ANP field-training instructors graduated from the Mehtar Lam Provincial Reconstruction Team policing course Tuesday.

Ethics, patrols and checkpoint operations served as the primary focus for the student trainers during the seven-day course taught by Air Force security forces of the PRT's Police Training and Assessment Team.

The class valedictorian said the course teachings struck a familiar chord with the officers.

"What we learned here was good because it coincided with the teachings of Islam," said Nawabdin, an ANP officer who earned graduate honors. "The main thing this course stressed was being honest and honorable."

Nawabdin said he also realized during the course how much work the PRT is doing "day and night" to help the people of Laghman. Furthermore, as an ANP field-training officer, he is committed to doing his part in helping the province by mentoring others.

"We will pass on the lessons learned here to our fellow police officers back in the ANP compound," Nawabdin said.

Tech. Sgt. David Pacheco, the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the Mehtar Lam PTAT, said that's exactly what the PTAT instructors hope the students will do with their training. By doing so, it will enable the ANP to better contribute to the security reforms being implemented by the Afghan government.

"We ask them to apply the material and knowledge they have received and continuously share that with the ANP throughout Laghman Province," Sergeant Pacheco said. "As field-training officers, their active involvement in training will develop a more professional ANP."

Sergeant Pacheco also noted that the application of this training will increase the ANP's operational readiness.

The ANP are entrusted with an honorable responsibility and are essential throughout Afghanistan, said Lt. Col. Brad Bredenkamp, Mehtar Lam PRT commander.

"They enforce the nation's laws and maintain security," Colonel Bredenkamp said. "Security leads to peace and prosperity."

Colonel Bredenkamp said wearing the ANP uniform carries heavy responsibilities during the commencement speech to the graduates.

"Always remember that when people see you, you become a symbol of the law," he said. "Your actions and motivation determines whether that symbol is respectable or not."

"I look forward to seeing you help us with security and ask that you be our eyes and ears, and warn us of danger areas," Colonel Bredenkamp said to the police officers. "Together we can improve security and bring more reconstruction to the province."