U.S. Army military police mentor Afghan counterparts

Pfc. Sylvia Lopez, a medic assigned to the Police Mentor Team, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, demonstrates how to apply a tourniquet during training at the Afghan National Police station overlooking the village of Baraki Rajan, Kunar Province, Afghanistan. Photo by Spec. Matthew Thompson

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – “Stop the bright-red bleeding,” instructed a Soldier from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion.
Placing a tourniquet around an Afghan National Police officer’s upper arm, the Soldier from HHC’s Police Mentor Team, 3rd BSTB, was able to quickly stopped the bleeding.
The officer’s life was not in danger, though; this was a part of the first-aid training ANP members at Baraki Rajan received Oct. 1.
“My main focus was to control bleeding, stop the bleeding and other basic first-aid techniques,” said Pfc. Sylvia Lopez, a medic with the unit.
This was the first time Lopez had trained with the Afghans, and her initial concerns were quickly erased when she noticed their proficiency.
“I expected to walk them through each step and actually show them what I’m talking about,” she added. “They surprised me with how knowledgeable they were.”
The lesson progressed from the simple self-aid to buddy-aid as ANP members learned how to splint broken bones and how to transport a casualty.
According to Spec. Elijah Rodriguez, a military police officer with HHC, 3rd BSTB, the PMT’s main role is to train ANP members on police tactics, administrative maintenance and accountability of themselves and their equipment.
“We have to help teach them to be cops,” Rodriguez said. “We’re training them to be police, but at the same time, we’re also training them to be soldiers.”
Like other Soldiers, Rodriguez relies on past experiences to enhance the training he and his team give to the ANP.
“They need this help, because they are in a combat environment and they are also trying to protect themselves,” he said.
According to Spec. Desmond Vaughn, a military police officer with HHC, 3rd BSTB, the Afghan’s mentality when it comes to training is no different than a new Soldier.
“We have to go over the training every other day so they can grasp it,” Vaughn said. “We’re continually going over explanation, demonstration and practice phases for training.”
As with most training missions conducted by the U.S. Army, these Soldiers push the Afghans to take the reins and run their country.
“Further and further we’re going to try to back off,” Vaughn added. “The whole purpose for our training is for them to be able to do their job by themselves.”
While at the ANP station on top of the hill overlooking Baraki Rajan, the PMT also helped with inventorying equipment, updating the roster of available ANP officers and ensuring they were registered in the Army’s database.
“I think now they’re beginning to see that we’re trying to build a foundation for them,” said 2nd Lt. Gregory Avant, PMT platoon leader. “It’s a slow process, but it is going to change.”