1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs

Story by Staff Sgt. Margaret Nelson

By Margaret Nelson
1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

KIRKUK, Iraq — Over three thousand Iraqis including 58 females joined the ranks of the Kirkuk province's police force during a graduation ceremony held at the Kirkuk Police Academy, Sept. 23, 2008.

"This is a historic event for the people of the Kirkuk province," Maj. Gen. Jamal Thaker Baker, the Kirkuk provincial police chief said. He was referring to the unprecedented number of male and female recruits graduating. "This is the direct result of the combined efforts of our coalition friends and the Ministry of the Interior."

The provincial police chief elaborated further by pointing out key Multi-National Division - North military leadership in the audience to include; Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, commanding general of MND-North and Task Force Iron; Brig. Gen. James C. Boozer, Sr., deputy commanding general-operations MND-North and Task Force Iron; Brig. Gen. Tony Thomas, assistant division commander-support MND-North and Task Force Iron; and Col. David Paschal, commander, 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, who Jamal said he considers among a brotherhood.

He credited the recent gains in security throughout the province to this brotherhood whose main concern is for the people of the Kirkuk province and providing "security and stability in this region for them." Jamal thanked God for the additional men and the inclusion of women to his police force.

Brig. Gen. Kawa Garib Abdul-Rahman, commandant of the academy, said in closing that the sacrifices of the police force's martyrs would never be forgotten and their dedication to maintaining peace and security to the people of the Kirkuk province would continue through the efforts of those men and women graduating.

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