A color guard of Afghan National Policemen from the Bala-Beluk district listen to a speaker during their graduation ceremony Feb. 21. (U.S. Navy Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class David M. Votroubek)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Feb. 21, 2008) — On Feb. 21, 259 Afghan National Police from Zabul province graduated from the Focused District Development eight-week training initiative at the Regional Training Center here.
The graduation ceremony included numerous ANP and Coalition senior officers, as well as the governor of Kandahar, Assadullah Khalid, all of whom offered congratulations to the proud and well-trained graduates.
“With you graduating, it gives us hope and peace; you are the ones who stand against the bad people,” Governor Khalid said.
Brig. Gen. Nasrullah Zarife, Regional Training Center Commander, emphasized the importance of the police forces, saying, “Police understand rules and the responsibilities of policemen. We will be honest with our people.”
Maj. Gen. Marc Lessard, commander, Regional Command-South, offered words of inspiration and support to the new graduates, who had recently completed the FDD cycle one training.
“Today will bring great stability within Afghanistan," he said. "As policemen you represent the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan; there is no higher honor. The contributions of every one of you is vital to the ordinary Afghan. You uphold the rule of law."
The eight-week course is the first of three training initiatives, and it offered essential skills training to the police elements throughout the districts of Qalat, Shahjoy, and Tarnak va Jaldak in Zabul province. Such essential tasks included mounted/dismounted patrols, urban/village operations, and district coordination center and station security tasks.