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Second Lt. Kevin Obermeyer, a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and a West Chester, Ohio, resident, greets members of the Afghan National Police who have arrived to take part in training. Each ANP member received a certificate of completion following a successful practical exercise. (Ohio National Guard photo) |
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FARYAB PROVINCE, Afghanistan (April 2, 2012) — Tucked away on a combat outpost, known as a COP in military jargon, Company C of the 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment is training Afghan National Police officers on conducting traffic control points.
The company, based in Tiffin, Ohio, is part of the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team currently deployed throughout Northern Afghanistan. The company's mission in Northern Afghanistan is to train and advise the ANP in the Ghormach District within the Faryab Province. Company C Soldiers are partnering with the Afghan National Army to help train the police.
"Partnering and mentoring comes easy to the 1-148th Infantry Soldiers," said Sgt. 1st Class Brad Hallinan of Delaware, Ohio.
The Soldiers of Company C spend their days training the ANP how to conduct the traffic control points and then follow up the training by conducting actual traffic control points in the surrounding area.
The training teaches the ANP how to search vehicles, search personnel and how to establish barriers to slow a vehicle's approach. The training lasts a few hours and the police received a certificate of completion following a successful practical exercise.
"Not only did the district police have the opportunity to enhance their law enforcement skills, they had the opportunity to work with their military counterparts," said 2nd Lt. Kevin Obermeyer of West Chester, Ohio. "The true success was training together as one force and sharing knowledge."
The successful training will help provide security to the district of Ghormach, which continues to see Taliban activity. The increased proficiency of the police and additional checkpoint operations help isolate the Taliban from the local population.
"Security is a major concern in Ghormach," Hallinan said. "Partnered operations with the Afghan Army and Police send a clear message, we will not allow the freedom to openly operate that the Taliban are used to."
Security is improving within the district of Ghormach due to the actions taken by Company C. The most significant improvement has been the increased competence and capability of the ANP. Continued training will build upon the recent success and lead to better days ahead. The smiles and confidence that the Afghan Police display at the end of training reinforces with Company C Soldiers that the training they are conducting is worthwhile. |
