Last week, the team completed the final course for officers of the Afghanistan National Police and awarded seven police officers with certificates of qualification. In mid-November, the Lithuanian mission will be completed, the Defense Ministry has said on Monday.
"Since the Police Advisory Team started operations in Afghanistan in the fall of 2010, four shifts trained more than 700 police officers in the Ghor province," reads the press release.
"During the two-year mission, Lithuanian troops and officers also helped Afghanistan's national police establish a training center, held refresher workshops and training for police officers of the Ghor province, advised in day-to-day operations. Lithuanian troops also mediated in development of logistics and personnel projects, participated in joint operations and joint patrol missions," the Defense Ministry said.
After completing its operations in Ghor, the last shift of the team will hand over the responsibility for police training to the national police.
"In September-October, officers of the Police Advisory Team observed the theoretical and practical exercises held by the personnel of the Afghan Police Training Center and participated in field exercises. During the exercises, Lithuanian troops and officers evaluated the ability of Afghan instructors to put together training schedules, prepare training journals, prepare for workshops, motivate participants, communicate with the audience, and deliver the know-how," the ministry noted.
Lithuanian-manned missions involved personnel of the Lithuanian Armed Forces' Military Police, Public Security Service, and the United States Pennsylvania National Guard.
By the end of 2013, Lithuania should pull out all troops from the Ghor province where it heads a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT). About 150 Lithuanian soldiers usually serve in Ghor at any given time.
