The Interim Helmand Police Training Centre graduated its first cycle of Afghan national policemen during a ceremony on 28 January in the Lashkar Gah district.

Helmand Deputy Governor Sattar Marzakwal, Maj Gen Gulam Ali Wahdat, Afghan Chief of Police in Regional Command-South, and Brig James Cowan, the Commander of Task Force Helmand, all attended the ceremony to send off the 138-strong graduating class.

"You have the responsibility of serving the Afghan people with dignity," said Marzakwal, the first speaker to address the graduates.

"Our people face problems in this country; however, we can solve them because you can solve them. The only wish our people have is security for our country. Fortunately, we have brave and honourable forces who can bring us peace."

Step toward a safe, happy and prosperous Helmand

Brigadier Cowan reiterated Marzakwal's call for provincial security and said the newly trained policemen were the first step toward a safe, happy, and prosperous Helmand.

"The task ahead is to bring security to Helmand in order to allow development and economic prosperity. In that task, a professional and effective police force is crucial. The policemen who graduate today will join the ranks of the Helmand police force, deploying their new-found skills where they are most needed," said Cowan.

Before the ceremony, groups of graduates demonstrated their skills in two separate policing situations. One group cleared a compound, apprehending insurgents using proper detention techniques. The other displayed vehicle and detainee search methods.

Not only were the graduates proud to demonstrate their skills but, they were glad to have had the opportunity to learn from their instructors, said one graduate.

"We had professional mentors who taught us everything about the military way of life," said Muhammad Wasri. He said ambush skills, weapons training and tactical patrolling were the most useful skills he had learned.

Wasri said this training has readied him for his first assignment in the Nad-e Ali district.

Mutual benefit in training

Joining him there will be Guardsman Michael Harrison, a member of the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards and an instructor for this initial training cycle.

"To see them actually graduating now is fantastic," said Guardsman Harrison. "Now my unit is moving out, and we'll get to see them at the checkpoints. Training them has actually benefited us just as much as it's benefited them."

Harrison said the Afghan National Security Forces are the road to a self-reliant Afghanistan.

“This first company of Afghan national police to graduate from the training centre can use their new training and advanced skills to fight for themselves,” he said.