Staff Sgt. Theodore Rhyndress Jr. of Clarkston trains Afghan National Army Soldiers as a military policeman for Task Force Monroe, Combined Joint Interagency Task Force 435 unit at Parwan Province, Afghanistan.
Rhyndress is a U.S. Army reservist deployed from the 785th Military Police Battalion in Fraser.
He arrived in Afghanistan in March 2011 on a 13-month-long tour.
Rhyndress, 38, trains Afghan soldiers on police techniques and is a shift supervisor at the Detention Facility in Parwan.
‘The Afghanistan soldiers? willingness to show how much they want to learn is outstanding,? he said. ‘We work side by side to learn each other’s language and understand how our jobs are the same. Teaching them the skills they need to improve their training will better them and the country of Afghanistan so we can turn the facility over to them so our forces can return home.?
The staff sergeant said his unit works closely with Afghan soldiers.
‘In the two months that we have been here, we have improved living conditions for the Afghan National Army,? Rhyndress said. ‘We are teaching them how to run an entry control point and to use personable skills when situations come along in dealing with the local villagers.?
Rhyndress is the husband of Kari Rhyndress of Clarkston. He graduated from Rochester High School in 1992.
He joined the military in February 1998 and previously served in the Marine Corps. In his civilian job, he serves as a deputy sheriff.
? U.S. Air Force MSG Adam M. Stump
Task Force 435 Public Affairs