PETTY OFFICER 3RD CLASS SEAN WEIR/U.S. NAVY
Afghan Col. Mohammadi Shams directs planning and budgeting for the Afghan National Police (ANP), where he has served for 34 years. He said he joined out of love for his country and has stayed because he enjoys helping people in his community.
Shams attends the newly opened Center for Acquisitions and Procurement (CAP) at the Pohantoon-e-Hawayee military installation in Kabul.
The CAP is where police, Soldiers and civilian employees from the security ministries go to receive training on how to correctly perform acquisition, procurement and resource management functions such as budgeting and tracking funds in accordance with Afghan procurement and finance law.
“There are very exciting classes being held here,” Shams said. “It is interesting, because unlike many schools in Afghanistan, we are learning with the Army, not just police. I think that is a good thing. We are enjoying it and learning a lot from these classes. The lessons are like an ocean, as long as you want to learn, there is knowledge.”
Education is one of the many improvements the ANP has seen, and one that Shams believes to be most important.
“We have had many positive changes in the last 11 years: training, clothing, procedures and education,” Shams said. “The education and training have been the biggest changes. It has allowed us to become much stronger and is the key for us as a country to continue to grow.”
Shams wanted to give thanks to the coalition forces and express how their actions inspired him.
“They are not Afghans, but they come here and give us support — even die — to build a better Afghanistan,” said Shams. “That should inspire the younger generation to stand up and keep building a better country. We need to take control.”