They arrived two and a half weeks ago. They had proven themselves in other venues, but this was the biggest venue. How they performed here would make or break them. They stood in the morning sun awaiting their leader. As he stepped to the front of his men, all eyes were on him – the eyes of his men and the eyes of those he would be responsible for protecting. His lone voice sounded out, breaking the morning calm. As he called his troops to attention, the sound of 160 boots clicked together in unison. As he barked out order, the men responded with a loud acknowledgement of their orders. The snapped their rifles to port arms and ran to their posts. The Judicial Security Unit had arrived.
I had been to the Afghan Supreme Court before the Judicial Security Unit (JSU) took over security duties and saw half-uniformed troops from another agency milling about as if there were no security concerns. Vehicle checks were cursory and even some civilians could be seen operating the gate. There were no firing positions to protect against ground attacks. There seemed to be a mass of people whose only purpose was to generate confusion at the gate. I was very glad to be armed.
Flash forward a bit and the scene was entirely different. The JSU were making the most of their opportunity. The colonel placed in charge took every precaution he could. Trash and discarded car parts were removed from the bus holding pen, thereby allowing for more orderly handling of the buses that bring in employees and preventing internal generation of additional fragmentation in the event of rocket fire. Barriers were employed to channel incoming people thereby insuring that if a suicide bomber entered one of the channels, death and destruction could be minimized. Each person received a thorough pat down; these guys were not shy about getting to the groin area either (any TSA agent would be proud). Firing positions were placed outside the gate and in overlooking positions. They were manned with AK-47s and PKM heavy machine guns. Sandbags were ubiquitous.
What stuck out the most, however, were the JSU troops. Having served with two different branches of the US military and trained with militaries from around the world, I can see the tale-tale signs of disciplined, motivated troops. These guys fit the bill. They were proud of their mission and intensely dedicated to proving their worth. I could see it in the neatly pressed uniforms properly worn, each JSU member outfitted with the same kit. I could see it in the way they carried their weapons – muzzles pointed in a safe direction, fingers off the trigger and alongside the lower receiver rather than on the trigger like the undisciplined and dangerous Afghan National Police I often see. Smart salutes were rendered to their officers, troops moved with urgency, and the level of alertness was commendable.
As we opened a security gate to examine the street outside and the dangers it presented, JSU troops moved out in a defensive perimeter, weapons at the ready. Their heads seemed to be on swivels as they constantly assessed the scene for any threats. Traffic was halted briefly and then diverted to allow for safety while the gate was open. You could see the training these men had gone through and the esprit de corps instilled within them. Their commander exuded professionalism and attention to detail as well. Since the heightened level of security results in slower progression through checkpoints, the commander walked the line explaining the process and the rationale behind it. He warmly greeted those in line, shook their hands, and answered any questions they had. Although standing in line, the folks were smiling; they knew a professional force was looking after them.
In the judicial security business there really isn’t a bigger stage than a nation’s supreme court. It is the symbol of law and order within a nation. These guys know that and are taking it seriously. They know that they guard not just judges but a judicial system. It is a fledgling judicial system that needs an immense level of protection as judges are threatened daily and sometimes pay for their faith in law with their life. This is a sign of hope, in a place with very little of it. The US Marshal Service, Special Operations Group is creating a security force capable of performing at a high level and they are doing it in a way that can be sustainable after the international community leaves. We take this security for granted in the United States; maybe the next time you enter a federal courthouse, you’ll notice the Marshal and know that he symbolizes the free exercise of law and that those like him are bringing it to a worn torn country. Maybe next time you see that US Marshal, you’ll say thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment