Airmen, Afghan police set example

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Andriacco
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFPN) --  The Afghan National Police have been working to better their country with the help of some Airmen here. 

Special Agents from the Office of Special Investigations Expeditionary Det. 2405 and the ANP regularly partner together on a broad range of missions related to humanitarian assistance and security. 

"We usually meet up with the ANP several times a week for medical civil action projects and humanitarian assistance drops," said Special Agent Chris Williams, superintendent of EDET 2405. 

A medical civil action project, or "MEDCAP," is a mission where a member of the base medical team goes to local villages to provide assistance to Afghans in need of medical care. 

The ANP often provides additional security for the Airmen involved in these kinds of missions, and also provide an example to their fellow countrymen of the strong partnership between U.S. forces and the Afghan government. 

That kind of example is important as an Afghan villager may be more likely to share potentially life-saving information with a fellow countryman -- and Airmen can't always be there. 

"We have a great working relationship," said Agent Williams, "they (the ANP) are our eyes and ears for things going on outside (of Bagram Air Base)." 

Through its work with U.S. forces, the ANP is fostering trust and goodwill between the villages and their coalition neighbors, as well as helping to bring security and stability to the region. 

"I am very thankful that your military left your beautiful country and families to come over here and risk your lives for the peace and security of Afghanistan," said a local ANP commander. 

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