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RAF Police mentor Afghan counterparts
For the last six months, eight members of the RAF Police have been deployed to Afghanistan with the mission to train, mentor, shape and influence the Afghan National Police in order to create a secure environment.
The job involved numerous contacts with the enemy and, for Sergeant John
Muir, this would prove to be the most challenging operational experience
of his Service career.He deployed to Afghanistan in October 2008 with
Corporals Barnaby, Proctor, Kirk, Sibley, Wells, Rush and O'Boyle.
Along with members of the Royal Military Police they joined 2nd Battalion
The Royal Gurkha Rifles (2 RGR) and formed police mentoring teams at
various forward operating bases and patrol bases in southern Helmand.
Cpl O'Boyle and Sgt Muir deployed to Patrol Base Jaker
which Sgt Muir described as a two-storey, roofless, partially-built building located on the
outskirts of Nawa District Centre. He said: "Conditions were harsh with no running water, no
electricity, no toilet facilities etc. Meals were produced using the contents of 24-hour ration packs
and resupply of essential rations and equipment via helicopter drops only. Attacks on ISAF
[International Security Assistance Force] were frequent, with the patrol base and our patrol regularly
being subject to 107mm rocket, RPG [rocket-propelled grenade], PKM and SAF [both machine guns]."
Their initial task was to form bonds and build a trusting relationship with
members of the Afghan National Police (ANP) command structure, and
policemen on the ground. This was done by undertaking a number of shuras
(meetings) with the Chief of Police, during which the RAF personnel laid
out plans for the training and mentoring of his men. Sgt Muir continued:
"The Chief of Police was very much pro-ISAF and welcomed our training
and policing expertise. Training began at a very basic level, concentrating
primarily on security-related subjects. The police mentoring team would
patrol out to the ANP checkpoints and assume operational control of the
checkpoints. This would release the policemen from their duties enabling
us to conduct lessons."
Muir, this would prove to be the most challenging operational experience
of his Service career.He deployed to Afghanistan in October 2008 with
Corporals Barnaby, Proctor, Kirk, Sibley, Wells, Rush and O'Boyle.
Along with members of the Royal Military Police they joined 2nd Battalion
The Royal Gurkha Rifles (2 RGR) and formed police mentoring teams at
various forward operating bases and patrol bases in southern Helmand.
Cpl O'Boyle and Sgt Muir deployed to Patrol Base Jaker
which Sgt Muir described as a two-storey, roofless, partially-built building located on the
outskirts of Nawa District Centre. He said: "Conditions were harsh with no running water, no
electricity, no toilet facilities etc. Meals were produced using the contents of 24-hour ration packs
and resupply of essential rations and equipment via helicopter drops only. Attacks on ISAF
[International Security Assistance Force] were frequent, with the patrol base and our patrol regularly
being subject to 107mm rocket, RPG [rocket-propelled grenade], PKM and SAF [both machine guns]."
Their initial task was to form bonds and build a trusting relationship with
members of the Afghan National Police (ANP) command structure, and
policemen on the ground. This was done by undertaking a number of shuras
(meetings) with the Chief of Police, during which the RAF personnel laid
out plans for the training and mentoring of his men. Sgt Muir continued:
"The Chief of Police was very much pro-ISAF and welcomed our training
and policing expertise. Training began at a very basic level, concentrating
primarily on security-related subjects. The police mentoring team would
patrol out to the ANP checkpoints and assume operational control of the
checkpoints. This would release the policemen from their duties enabling
us to conduct lessons."
RAF Police Squads Hit the Streets
RAF Police Squads
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Sgt John Muir
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