Working with the Afghan Police

This past week has been one filled with challenges and opportunities for growth. The Aghan Police has a deep-rooted history of unprofessionalism and corruptness. In order to change that, the government has decided a new approach called Focused District Development. Their plan is to focus on fixing a few districts, by sending in new personnel, that are better trained and equipped. These teams are supported by US mentors to assist them in their day to day operations. The Coalition and the Afghan government wants to target certain regions, and if successful, use that as a model for future locations. Thus the meaning of challenges...It is a great deal of pressure on the command to get this right. This approach, in my opinion is a step in the right direction. If you continue to have corrupt police, the citizens will continue to not trust them and have less confidence in the government... So this has huge implications for the stability of Afghanistan.... (WOW, and I am involved in this process). I had to do a communications assessment for both ANA and the Police Mentoring Teams that will be assigned. The below picture is CPT Hindman and Barrett discussing plans and options.

Below is SGT Robin Rucker from the 111th Signal Battalion standing guard over us while we there. Rucker is a great NCO, and the former Police Chief for Abbeville, SC.

The below picture is of the Police District in a local Afghan Province... As you can see, they are not like us. There is very little other than a building that they can call a police headquarters. WOW..... As you can see, a few of the staff sits and breaks bread with the Police Leadership, no tables, just a mattress and a rug..... That is breakfast for most Afghans, bread and a little sauce.... I personally passed on this meal, as we were a long way from an outlet.................. if you know what i mean...

The Afghan Police is not like our police, they do not have an age restriction on joining... Most of them are illiterate and did not know how old they were. How do you expect to legitimize your agency when so many of them can't read or write?? How can these guys command respect or cooperation from tribal elders or the Taliban!!!

The last picture is of COL Kornish, RPAC Commander, the #2 man in the Ministry of Interior from Kabul, MAJ Shannon Goad and myself... For me, this change of direction in Afghanistan is a positive step. You can't keep doing the same thing expecting a different result. Yes, there is an inherent danger in this place, but if we can make these positive changes, I am confident that this country will move forward. Obviously, the Afghan military is more respected, than the police, but every journey starts with the first step.