Members of the RCMP are proud to serve Canadians at the local, provincial, and federal levels – but you might not know that RCMP policing services extend beyond our borders to countries across the world.
In fact, there are eight different international RCMP specializations as part of the RCMP International Policing Program – including Liaison Officers, Peacekeepers, and Police Mentors.
Many of the RCMP’s regularly participates in federal investigations that extend beyond the Canadian borders, and for some RCMP Members, international deployments are a unique opportunity to serve outside of Canada. These roles are not entirely about investigations, though. Due to the RCMP’s renowned and globally respected training programs, Members can also be deployed overseas to strengthen local law enforcement institutions, serving as a model for many countries on an international level. Their work helps build trust in communities and supports global security efforts.
Below, we explore RCMP International Policing through retired Staff Sergeant Gary Hollender’s firsthand experience as an RCMP Member deployed in Afghanistan to help train and mentor Members of the country’s National Police force.
Training, Peacekeeping, and Mentoring in Afghanistan
From left to right: Members of the Afghan National Police and retired RCMP Staff Sergeant, Gary Hollender, serving as a Peacekeepeer/Police Mentor in Afghanistan.
While many Canadians may be familiar with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq through stylized Hollywood movies and news coverage of combat throughout the 2000’s and 2010’s they may be unfamiliar with the work of RCMP Members in helping train and mentor local police officers as part of stabilizing their country.
Gary served as a Peacekeeper/Police Mentor in Afghanistan, contributing to capacity-building efforts with local law enforcement through training, mentoring, and oversight, including building trust between local police officers and communities.
A Day in the Life of an RCMP Police Mentor
Each day brought new challenges and responsibilities for Gary as an RCMP Police Mentor. And while no police officer’s day is the same, this is even more true when serving overseas! Here’s what a typical day looked like working abroad in Afghanistan:
“Wake up, get ready for the day and do any last-minute prep for missions based on the planned operations schedule. There may be a 5:00 a.m. mission, a noon mission, or often an evening or night mission,” says Gary.
Beyond the scheduling, equipment can also be very different when serving overseas. Given the work is in a high-risk environment, standard combat gear is essential, especially for mobile or foot patrols outside the base. This includes a rifle, a pistol, a flack vest or “hard body armour”, a helmet, a medical kit, and a tactical vest.
S/Sgt. Hollender patrolling the city in Afghanistan, engaging with the local children while in standard combat gear.
“Generally, I would do 8 to 12 patrols per week, often one in daylight and one at night, normally lasting 4 to 6 hours each. We would join up with the Afghan National Police in one of the Police Districts and patrol their area mentoring them on the Rule of Law and Community Based Policing,” explains Gary.
During these patrols, Gary and his Afghan National Police colleagues would engage with the community, speaking to residents, store owners, and government workers, working to solve community issues and remove barriers for effective policing.
Operating in a War Zone
Unlike traditional policing in Canada, policing in Afghanistan specifically required navigating in an active battlefield. In this environment it was crucial for Members to be vigilant of mines, improvised explosive devices, and enemy forces.
“After every patrol, we wrote an after-action report and put in requests and project plans or updates for supplies or supports corresponding to our goals. At the end of each day, we were briefed on the planned ops schedule for the next 24 hrs and prepared accordingly.”
Despite these dangers and challenges of working in a high-risk environment, Gary played an important role in stabilizing communities, strengthening local police, and fostering international cooperation.
As he puts it, “My biggest takeaway from my tour in Afghanistan was seeing the positive impact that we had on the Afghan people’s day-to-day lives.”
Learn More
The RCMP International Policing Program supports global law enforcement efforts through training, mentorship, and operational deployments. Do you see yourself taking on the challenge of policing abroad?
To learn more about international policing, visit the RCMP International Policing website.