Story by Cpl. Johnny Merkley Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division
COMBAT OUTPOST JAKER, Afghanistan — Before a crowd of anxious and excited local Afghan elders, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the opening of the recently completed Nawa District Police Headquarters, March 26.
Participating in the ceremony was the Helmand Provincial Chief of Police Col. Essian Elham, Nawa District Governor Haji Abdul Manaf and U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Matthew T. Morrissey, the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment commanding officer.
Nawa District Governor Haji Abdul Manaf, cuts the ribbon at the opening of a new Afghan Local Police Headquarters near combat outpost Jaker, March 26, 2012.
“The ribbon cutting ceremony signified an additional step for the Afghans providing security in Nawa District,” said Morrissey. “This precinct will provide the local police a facility to coordinate and conduct their operations.”
After 18 months of construction, the precinct will serve as the headquarters for all police activity in Nawa District, and will be home to the local police quick reaction force, fuel storage center, operation coordination center and the community detention facility.
While the precinct serves as a local command center for district’s police, it also provides the Nawa population with an established and properly equipped security force.
Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, Elham and Manaf joined Afghan and Marine forces inside the precinct to speak with local elders attending the ribbon cutting about their role and critical importance to Nawa.
“They explained to the elders how they can help bring stability to the area,” said Morrissey. “The local elders can help because they’re all tied into their communities and many of the families are acquainted.”
With the local police and other Afghan forces continuing to improve security in Nawa, Marine forces have moved into an advisory role ahead of the transition of lead security responsibility in the remaining districts of southern Helmand.
“Before the opening of this precinct, they were using the district center as a police precinct headquarters,” said Woodcock. “Now that they have a separate building just for police operations they can focus on war fighting functions and rule of law needs.”
Although coalition forces are beginning to reduce their presence, the people of Nawa will be well equipped to face the challenges that lie ahead. They will have schools, a district center and a police headquarters to further develop their district and pursue a brighter future for themselves and their children.
Editor’s note: Second Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, is currently assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5, 1st Marine Division (Forward), which works in partnership with the Afghan National Security Forces and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces, and enabling the ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.
(c) ISAF
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