America's North Shore Journal

The third part of this series focuses on the Afghan National Police (ANP). Canadian Maj. Gen. Mike Ward, deputy commander-Police, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, recently briefed bloggers on the current state of the ANP and the progress made since the NTM was established. Afghanistan created its national police academy about 75 years ago. However, the next step, a police staff college, has not existed for some 40 years. Many ANP recruits were going into the field without having been through the academy first. NTM is working with its Afghan partners to create an ANP staff college as well as a non-commissioned officers academy. The Afghan National Civil Order Police just identified fifty outstanding NCOs who are being sent to a six month training course where they will emerge as officers. The Western model … Read entire article »

The interviews about the training mission of NATO with the Afghan National Army and Police continued with Col. John Ferrari, deputy of programs for NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan, Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan. Col. Ferrari talked with us about the logistics and contract management for both the Afghan National Army (ANA) and the Afghan National Police (ANP). It is very clear to NATO that the ability of Afghanistan to support and sustain its security forces must be encouraged and assisted. Little native industry survived the past thirty years of war and the Afghan First policy is intended to change that situation. One of the ways that NTM is growing the Afghan economy and its ability to support the Army and National Police is by purchasing from local vendors. Brig. Gen. … Read entire article »

June 7, 2010, represents the conclusion of the 104th month of military activity by the United States in Afghanistan. That makes it America’s longest war, eclipsing the 103 months of the Vietnam conflict. Our NATO allies have been with us since the beginning. This is NATO’s war, as it responded to the request of the United States under the NATO treaty shortly after September 11, 2001. NATO in in charge of the reestablishment and sustainment of a free Afghan government. NATO trains the Afghan army and police. NATO provides the overall command of much of the military in Afghanistan, sets strategy and tactics within the framework of the many nations involved in the effort. The governments of the United States and Great Britain have determined to withdraw their forces in Afghanistan sometime … Read entire article »