Heroes: Squad Leader’s Idea Helps Afghan Police

Police and other law enforcement officers in the United States are regarded as well-trained professionals and role models by the public. Army Sgt. Ronald K. Burke sought the same respect for the Afghan National Police in the Nawa district of Afghanistan’s Ghazni province.

With the approval of his platoon leader, Burke came up with a training program to increase tactical and technical competence in the Afghan police by incorporating reading and writing courses with essential police training.

“Being able to read and write will increase these guys’ ability in so many ways,” ... "We are teaching both English and Pashto, so they are better able to communicate with villagers and us.”

“I’m over here pretty much all day trying to teach them when I need to be training my guys,” Burke said. “As a solution, I started involving my guys in the training."

“Burke has always been someone willing to take that extra step to help someone else,” Sorkin said. “He understands that education is one of the keys to prosperity in this country and took the initiative to do his part here in Nawa.”

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