March 26, 2009
KABUL, Afghanistan – Nineteen-year-old Abuzer Beheshti, along with 242 of his fellow Wardak province citizens, became the first to graduate from the new Afghan Public Protection Force program March 26.
After a rigorous three-week training program, the graduates proudly accepted their certificates of completion in front of a large audience including high-level officials from the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Wardak province elders, Gen. David McKiernan, commander of the International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, and other distinguished guests.
The ceremony, held at Camp Mether Lam, an Afghan National Police facility in eastern Afghanistan, officially welcomed the men to their new life of community service.
The Afghan Public Protection Force is an Afghan-led program that will provide enhanced security to designated districts in key provinces, bringing greater stability and strengthened-community development, according to training advisors.
“This is Afghans training Afghans for the security of Afghanistan,” said Mark, a chief training advisor for U.S. forces in the area.
“This is purely an Afghan initiative,” General McKiernan explained, “to develop a bottom-up approach; a community-based approach, to improve security, and to give a voice to the provincial government. We are very optimistic in our support of this program.”
The recruiting process began with nominations by community leaders in Wardak province, which was selected to facilitate mentoring and monitoring.
Those selected must meet specific requirements for the duty. Participants must be an Afghan citizen between the ages of 25 and 45, be physically fit, drug-free, live in or be from the district selected to work in with no criminal record. Leaders also take into consideration whether or not the man is trustworthy and respected by the community.
The protection force will work closely with Afghan National Army, Police and Coalition forces to protect their local community. They will maintain security on approaches to highways within their district, protect key government facilities and personnel, disrupt militant attacks and deny insurgent safe havens. Additionally, the force will provide crisis response to natural disasters and facilitate economic development in their district.
According to Beheshti, Wardak is a province that greatly needs the added protection. The 19-year-old said he’s ready to go back and make a difference.
“I want to help my own people,” he explained. “There are a lot of Taliban in Wardak, and they take our young boys and make them join up. We have to make the situation better. We need schools for our children, and hospitals; and I want to do what I can,” Beheshti said.
Elwood, a U.S. Forces advisor, was impressed by what he saw in the students.
“These guys are motivated,” he said. “They have a spirit to protect what’s theirs. This is what Afghanistan needs. They want to take their country back. Enough is enough.”
A new class will begin in the coming weeks, and the protection force will continue to grow, according to Elwood.
General McKiernan offered encouragement to the graduating class, noting that the new force can rely on the support of all the country’s security assets.
“I applaud the courage of these men to step forward in representing the community; but they know that if they run into problems, they can call the Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army or international forces that are out there. So they’re not on their own.”
U.S. Forces-Afghanistan provides logistical funding, complementary community projects to the program and mentors for the course trainers. Ultimate responsibility for the force rests with the Afghan Ministry of the Interior, according to General McKiernan.
Fox News reporter Conor Powell interviews Afghan National Police Col. Asar Mohammed, the deputy commander of the ANP training facility at Camp Mether Lam in eastern Afghanistan. Mohammed and his staff of law enforcement cadre graduated an initial cohort of 243 Afghan Public Protection Force members at the facility, March 26. The three-week initial training course teaches community security techniques including first aid, Improvised Explosive Device detection and vehicle checkpoint procedures. The new protectors will work closely with Afghan National Army, Police and Coalition forces in their home province of Wardak. Photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Brian Naranjo (Released)
Civilian and military reporters interview Afghanistan Deputy Minister of Interior for Security Mohammed Muneer Manjal, right, at Camp Mether Lam in eastern Afghanistan, before a ceremony graduating the first members of the Afghan Public Protection Force. A staff of national law enforcement cadre honored 243 graduates at the facility, March 26. The three-week initial training course teaches community security techniques including first aid, Improvised Explosive Device detection and vehicle checkpoint procedures. The new force will work closely with Afghan National Army, Police and Coalition forces in their home province of Wardak. Photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Brian Naranjo (Released)
An Afghan National Police officer monitors the crowd, as ISAF/USFOR-A Commander Gen. David McKiernan prepares for a ceremony graduating the first members of the Afghan Public Protection Force, at Camp Mether Lam, March 26. General McKiernan was a guest speaker at the event. A staff of national law enforcement cadre taught the three-week initial training course, which focused on community security techniques, including first aid, Improvised Explosive Device detection and vehicle checkpoint procedures. The new protectors will work closely with Afghan National Army, Police and Coalition forces in their home province of Wardak. Photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Brian Naranjo (Released)
ISAF/USFOR-A Commander Gen. David McKiernan speaks during a ceremony graduating the first members of the Afghan Public Protection Force, at Camp Mether Lam, March 26. A staff of national law enforcement cadre taught the three-week initial training course, which focused on community security techniques, including first aid, Improvised Explosive Device detection and vehicle checkpoint procedures. The new protectors will work closely with Afghan National Army, Police and Coalition forces in their home province of Wardak. Photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Brian Naranjo (Released)
Maj. Gen. Michael Tucker, deputy chief of staff for Commander, International Security Assistance Force, is interviewed by Daily Telegraph reporter Ben Farmer, following a ceremony graduating the first members of the Afghan Public Protection Force, at Camp Mether Lam, March 26. A staff of national law enforcement cadre taught the three-week initial training course, which focused on community security techniques, including first aid, Improvised Explosive Device detection and vehicle checkpoint procedures. The new protectors will work closely with Afghan National Army,Police, and Coalition forces in their home province of Wardak. Photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Brian Naranjo (Released)
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