CIVPOL Diary: From the classroom to the field

By Cpl Barry Pitcher
PRT CIVPOL

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Afghanistan — The weather is heating up here in Kandahar these days, as is insurgent activity in and around the capital region. Our CIVPOL contingent based at Camp Nathan Smith is now in the process of implementing a few new projects for the Afghan National Police (ANP).

The first is a new "Rule Of Law" doctrine. Working with the Canadian Forces Legal Advisor, we have put together a template for delivering a police lecture series that focuses on teaching the ANP International Human Rights and Afghan Law. As is the case in many Middle-Eastern countries, laws often cross into different boundaries which make enforcement difficult. Such is the case here, where the tribal code of Pashto Wali intermingles with many of the cultural laws and the written Afghan Law.

We have found that law enforcement here tends to enforce all forms of law, which at times makes teaching them one set standard very difficult. For example, can you imagine being stopped by a police officer because you did not hold the door open for a guest? Or how about speaking out of turn at a board meeting? The ANP here may be called on to enforce many levels of law and order, so it is therefore up to us to ensure that what we put forward accurately matches duties on the ground.

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For this reason, we have brought in Afghan Law professors to review and deliver sample lesson plans before we bring in our first students. In keeping with this direction, we are reviewing many mission statements from different police forces including our own. Working with ANP advisors at the Regional Training Center (an academy based near Kandahar Airfield), we hope to come up with an applicable and fully translated template that will see its way into the graduation program and into recruiting material.

On the operational side of things, we are again moving with the Battle Group into areas north of Kandahar City to establish a larger police security zone. We led the implementation of security checkpoints around the city back in February, so we have been again called upon by ISAF to assist. Our role is to conduct site evaluations, liaise with local chiefs of police, and determine where best to construct an expanded checkpoint ring. We are required to sit through many of the local 'shuras' (meetings with elders and senior leaders) and obtain Afghan buy-in for our project. Everything we do in this regard involves close cooperation with our police brothers.

When we move through the more dangerous areas, the ANP are usually out front watching for mines and signs of ambush or danger. As a rule, we move with Canadian infantry from the PRT, equipped with armoured vehicles and their long-range weapon capabilities. Having them work with us means we can get 'boots on the ground' and evaluate what areas the Afghans wish to construct new checkpoints. In a sense, CIVPOL then becomes part advisor, part contractor, part negotiator, and part engineer all rolled into one.

For any peace operation mission you have to be flexible and able to work in a dynamic environment. This has never been so true as it is here. Of course, throughout all of this, there is the insistent heat beating down onto your body armour as you also try to stay very aware of your surroundings. Yet, it is our time out in the countryside interacting with locals that is most rewarding on this mission.

Despite the risks, the ANP and locals love to see us coming alongside the military for any project we do. Quite often, when arriving on a site, the police officers there will embrace you in a bear hug. We are, and will continue to be, appreciated for what we are doing over here to improve the stability of Afghanistan.