Military Police contains information about military police functions in maneuver and mobility support, area security, law and order, internment/resettlement, and police intelligence operations.
Issue link: https://militarypolice.epubxp.com/i/115206
By Colonel Ed Lowe T he traf¿c was particularly heavy in Kabul, Afghanistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, I felt that I was quali¿ed and prepared that morning, and the drive (which normally takes 15–20 for the mission at hand. The smattering of cultural training minutes) from Camp Eggers to the headquarters of the that I had received throughout my career further boosted my Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP) was especially con¿dence. challenging. Cars weaved in and out of traf¿c without regard In late July 2011, I assumed my position with the small for normal street protocols—or at least any street protocols NTM-A ANCOP advisory team—which consisted of a few that we recognized. And among the cars, a donkey pulling a American of¿cers and noncommissioned of¿cers; a contingent cart meandered its way down the street, of Canadian naval of¿cers; and a French further delaying traf¿c movement. "It was clear that Major General gendarme colonel, who was Major Naturally, we were particularly rushed General Zamarai's personal advisor. I that morning. I knew that Major Zamarai was conveying a message: quickly realized that my preconceived General Gul Zamarai, the ANCOP If I were to serve as an advisor in cultural expectations would need to commander, was scheduled to depart his headquarters, I would need to change. I became aware that my year early to visit one of his units—and I trust my own personal security to in Afghanistan would encompass more needed to relay information to him than my mere position as an advisor to his men." before his departure. After making an Afghan two-star general and his staff. our way through the headquarters My cultural experience would go beyond simple recognition, checkpoints, our two-vehicle convoy parked and I rushed acknowledgement, and understanding. upstairs to Major General Zamarai's of¿ce. As I reached his Major General Zamarai was an incredible leader. He fought of¿ce, still wearing my armored gear, he looked at me rather quizzically and asked, "Why do you have your gear on?" But it against the Soviets during their invasion of Afghanistan and wasn't really so much of a question as it was a statement. It was was wounded an amazing 11 times. I once saw him salute and clear that Major General Zamarai was conveying a message: noticed that it seemed rather dif¿cult for him to do so. When If I were to serve as an advisor in his headquarters, I would I asked him about it, he explained that his right arm had been need to trust my own personal security to his men. I needed to nearly severed by a rocket-propelled grenade. It was so badly demonstrate that I felt just as safe and secure at the ANCOP damaged that surgeons were forced to remove about 8 inches headquarters or on battle¿eld circulation visits as I did sitting of it. He had also lost most of his teeth when he sustained in the dining facility at Camp Eggers. This incident occurred machine gun ¿re through his jaw. In spite of his numerous injuries, Major General Zamarai remained the true backbone early in my deployment, and I never forgot the lesson. When I left the U.S. Army War College in June 2011, I was and inspirational leader of the ANCOP. He cared about his assigned to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Training soldiers, and he was genuinely interested in ensuring that they Mission–Afghanistan (NTM-A), where I was to serve as a were trained and equipped for their mission as a regionally senior advisor to the ANCOP commander. Having completed based, nationally deployable force. a tour as a company commander in Haiti and earlier tours in 14 With the lesson that I had learned from Major General MILITARY POLICE . 19-13-1