Czechs in Logar train police recruits

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Security is a pressing issue in the development of Afghanistan, and Logar Province is no exception. Many policemen in Logar are undertrained and underequipped, and, unfortunately, the police suffer from high losses.
The Czech Provincial Reconstruction Team is making a difference by implementing many security projects. One of them is the Afghan National Police training, certified as a program of the NATO Training Mission to Afghanistan.

“The training is very hard and demanding. They start at 6 a.m. and finish at 8 p.m. We cannot teach them everything in those six weeks, but we keep it intensive to get the best out of them,” said Zbynek Pavlica, security advisor for the civilian element of the Czech PRT and a former policeman. “With the absolvents we can see real progress; they are motivated. They want to be good policemen.”

 

The 54 recruits who participated in this round of training came to the training center from Azra, the most remote Logar district. They trained at the compound built by the Czech PRT, and at the end of the training, they received equipment and supplies they will need during their service.

 

Survive and serve

The six-week, exhaustive training course has created policemen who now know how to protect the people of Logar province.
Czech instructors, along with European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan policemen, taught the recruits basic self-defense, disarming and arresting techniques, how to build a checkpoint, how to inspect a car for explosives, shooting fundamentals , and overall principles of police work. The future policemen also had lectures from an Afghan prosecutor about the basics of Afghan law.

“The recruits are grateful for any practical knowledge they can use in their daily work,” said one of the trainers from the Czech PRT.
Since the mortality of ANP is tragically high, the recruits also had lessons on first-aid so they can identify life-threatening injuries and know how to treat them.

“You are the first line of the fight for Afghanistan’s future. Once the coalition forces leave, you will be the one responsible for the security of the country,” Matyas Zrno, the head of the civilian element of the Czech PRT, said during the graduation ceremony as he reminded the policemen about the hard reality of their service.

But they are ready. And Sayed Ahmad Shirzai, one of the absolvents, agrees. “Now I know how to defend myself and how to defend others. I learned how to survive and serve,” he said.
 

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