Paratroopers to train Afghan police force

For months, Capt. Michael Trujillo has prepared for the hardest mission of his Army career by studying a former New York prosecutor's war against the mob. Charged with mentoring Afghan national police, the success of Trujillo's assignment will depend on his paratroopers going beyond combat skills to learn Afghan culture and what it takes to be police officers in a country racked by warlords and corruption. "We are trying not to stick to just the Army doctrine and the counterinsurgency manual," said Trujillo, a company commander with the 82nd Airborne Division's 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment. "We are trying to get some outside sources to give us some insight on how we can beat this thing." The Fort Bragg-based paratroopers were set to deploy Tuesday, part of a U.S. surge. They're also part of the first Army unit to go with a mission solely focused on training the troubled country's police. Their combat skills will be secondary to their ability to build rapport with Afghans and teach Afghan police to patrol and gather intelligence.