Students become teachers

PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - The circle is complete here in Panjshir province, where Afghan National Police who graduated basic police procedures and tactics training, administered by the 410th Military Police Company and the Panjshir Embedded Training Team from the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) March 22, are now instructing courses for new police officers.

A select amount of graduates were chosen to become instructors in subjects such as map reading with the use of global positioning systems, hand-to-hand combat techniques, first aid and weapons marksmanship.

Afghan National Police Capt. Sefatullah Sangi, was chosen along with 10 other soldiers trained at the provincial headquarters last month to become an instructor in one of these courses.

     
“This is an important point, to leave good instructors to continue to build a strong, educated police force after the United States is gone.” said U.S. Army Sgt.1st Class Stephen Jennings, an Underhill, Vt. Resident, and a member of the Panjshir ETT.

 At the police headquarters in Bazarak, Sangi has volunteered to teach the basic police procedures and tactics map reading course to 22 uniformed students.
     
The map reading course is designed to cover three days. As Sangi begins class, his enthusiasm keeps students engaged. After each step of instruction, the students do a practice example. Sangi walks around the class to ensure every student understands the process. He gives some a big smile and a slap on the back after seeing they “get it.”
     
“He is a real teacher. He knows the subject matter well and enjoys teaching his men the course,” said U.S. Army Sgt.1st Class Richard Strous, a Burlington, Vt., resident and member of the Panjshir ETT. “There is nothing lost in translation, and the class moves along without having to translate every step of the course.”
     
On the third day of training, the GPS is used. Jennings sets up four points in the village for the students to locate using the instruction Sangi has given them. Once the students accomplish this task, they are given a certificate of completion for the course.

“This is high quality training. It is something that can be built on and left behind. Panjshir is the example of what can be accomplished,” said Jennings, the senior ETT instructor.

Having Afghans who once took the course now teach it is an another step forward for the province, said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Curtis Velasquez, an Abilene, Kan. Resident, and commander of the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team. “We are moving in the right direction with development in Afghanistan when the Afghan people can use their own resources to develop a better police force.”