Report - United States Department of Defense

UNCLASSIFIED
accusation of murder by an ALP member. In each case the individuals were arrested by the
DCOP and are currently within the Afghan judicial system.
NSOCC-A has made preventing insider threat attacks within the ALP a major priority. In this
reporting period, there were no reports of insider attacks from ALP guardians. However, to
mitigate the risk of insider threats, NSOCC-A revalidated all 16,474 ALP personnel previously
enrolled; less than one percent was removed due to illicit activities or Counter-Intelligence (CI)
concerns. The revalidation process was very similar to the initial screening/validation
methodology. It began at the local level by conducting shuras and intimately involving local
elders, who vouched for each ALP member, ensuring the member remains in good standing.
Each member’s application paperwork was re-assessed by various personnel, including coalition,
MoI, NDS and DCOP members. If any ALP member was noted as suspicious, additional CI
(both Afghan and coalition) measures were taken. An ALP members determined to be unfit are
removed from the program. These processes are applied across the board. The
prevention/elimination of insider threats will remain one of COMISAF’s top force protection
priorities
The International Committee of the Red Cross began conducting medical and human rights
training within the ALP program in November, 2012. NSOCC-A welcomes this partnered
approach to ensure that the integrity of the ALP program remains one of the exemplars of
security within Afghanistan.
The potential resurgence of militias is a justified cause for concern over the coming years as
foreign security forces draw down in Afghanistan. The ALP serves as a preventative measure
against warlordism and resurgence of militias due to two main factors: the ALP are under the
direct command of the DCOP, providing a direct link from the ALP units and their communities,
to GIRoA; and the ALP/VSO program often incorporates development projects, again tying the
communities to GIRoA.
The 1.6 percent monthly attrition rate within the ALP is one of the lowest in the ANSF. Despite
an increase in insurgent attacks, the ALP has been successful in more than 80 percent of its
engagements with the insurgents.
ALP Training and Advising
NSOCC-A is responsible for VSO/ALP and exercises the program’s execution through its
subordinate command, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan (CJSOTF-
A). The program currently involves 5,509 CJSOTF-A personnel working in districts throughout
Afghanistan.
Currently, 57 U.S. SOF teams and 82 civil affairs operators are supporting VSO. A National
Civil Military Operations Center, five seven regional Civil Military Operations Centers and 41
Provincial Augmentation Team Chiefs (PATs) and District Augmentation Team Chiefs (DATs)
are operating across Afghanistan. This manning total includes 19 Afghan Hands operating
directly at the district/community level, with another 22 Afghan Hands operating at the
provincial level and higher.
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