ABSTRACT
The chapter highlights the evolution of irregular forces in Afghanistan from 2001–2014. It discusses some of the earlier attempts—Afghan Security Force, Afghan highway patrolmen, Afghan National Auxiliary Police, and Afghan Public Protection Program—and explains why each failed. It then details the development of the Village Stability Operations (VSO)/Afghan Local Police (ALP) program and why it was successful in establishing security in remote areas. With the international community, Afghan government, and local populace fully behind it, and capable and willing Special Operations Forces to execute, an irregular security force finally succeeded. The chapter’s co-author conducted 10 deployments to Afghanistan and has been dubbed “the godfather” of the VSO/ALP program.
