Czech soldiers train Afghan police

by Capt. Sabina Introvicova
Czech Army Public Affairs

FOB SHANK, Afghanistan (July 10, 2008) — Czech soldiers mentored and trained Logar Police Academy cadets at an Afghan national police compound, here, recently. The Czech soldiers have an ongoing mission of training 36 cadets, who will become Afghan national police officers upon graduation from the academy, July 17. Coalition soldiers actively support the Afghan national security forces by training the ANP. The police academy, led by a U.S. Police Mentoring Training team, cooperates daily with Czech Provincial Reconstruction Team Logar soldiers at FOB Shank, Logar province.

These efforts focus on training the Afghanistan national auxiliary police to become members of the ANP. Currently, Czech and Afghan instructors are teaching the fourth group of cadets at the Academy. Each group attends a three-week cycle which includes first-aid treatment, tactics, patrolling, weapons training, vehicle-check-point procedures and many other police-related subjects. The practical part of the training also includes scenarios where cadets are ambushed by simulated oppositional forces.

“Just being able to react properly on the ambush is going to increase the probability of saving policemen’s lives,” said Warrant Officer Petr Furst, Czech PRT Logar 1st contingent military police instructor. The provision of mentoring and training ANP is a key task here, he explained. The ANP training prepares the Logar Police Academy cadets for the daily duty in their service to the Afghan nation.

Warrant Officer Petr Furst, Czech Provisional Reconstruction Team Logar 1st contingent military police, verifies the a Logar Police Academy cadets accuracy at a marksmanship class at an Afghan national police compound near Forward Operating Base Shank, Logar province, Afghanistan, June 29. In all, Czech soldiers are training 36 cadets in this class, which is slated to graduate July 17.

Source: CENTCOM.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary's News and Ideas.