Military policemen, civilian officers teach tactics to Tikrit police

Photo By Master Sgt. Kevin Doheny | As part of a five-day training course, two Iraqi policmen assist another in getting...... read more read more

Photo By Master Sgt. Kevin Doheny | As part of a five-day training course, two Iraqi policmen assist another in getting into the back of a truck during a training scenario in Tikrit, Dec. 12.  see less | View Image Page

TIKRIT, IRAQ

12.18.2007

Story by Master Sgt. Kevin Doheny 

1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

✔ ✗ Subscribe

17

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Doheny
1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division

TIKRIT , Iraq – Saladin, a 12th century, Tikrit-born Kurdish political and military leader, for whom the Salah ad Din province is named, is renowned for leading a Muslim resistance against foreign fighters and recaptured territories which were crucial to the people of the Arab world. He is an admired figure within the Muslim culture.

Nine centuries later, Tikrit citizens once again have a chance to reclaim territory by joining their local police force.

Today, Tikrit police battle an enemy much like Saladin and his warriors did centuries ago.

It has been five years since the toppling of the Saddam Hussein regime and just under a year since the hanging of the former Iraqi president. In Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, Iraqi police are beginning to lead their own operations. They are using their own intelligence sources and planning the operations themselves to improve the security of the city. They are patrolling the streets, trying to maintain law and order by working with the local populace, most whom mostly still revere the deceased dictator. To some, it has been an uphill struggle to keep peace within the streets.

Tikrit police stations battle an alleged cloud of corruption, manning and equipment issues and overall trust of the citizens to whom they are protecting and serving.

It can be assumed that the more the trained and professional policemen serving the in the neighborhoods of the Salah ad Din capital city, which is located 140 kilometers northwest of Baghdad and the northern angle of the volatile "Sunni Triangle," the more safer of an environment can exist.

Making the Tikrit IPs a more proficient security force is a goal of the 56th Military Police Company, attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

According to these MPs, they are trying to ensure the IPs within their area of operations have all the tools to validate their respective stations on their proficiency to coalition forces.

There is an old American saying that "practice makes perfect." This saying is evident in a current training course hosted by the 56th MPs, from Mesa, Ariz.

These MPs fall under the command of the battle space owners in Tikrit, the 1st Special Troops Battalion.

Members of the company developed the concept of a five-day training course based on their own personal military police experience and training they have received.

"The course curriculum is based off of the militaristic style of police standards and basic fundamentals with the concept of ethics in everyday decisions," said Staff Sgt. Alex Terwilliger, 24, from Flagstaff, Ariz.

Terwilliger, during his time in Iraq, has had the opportunity to evaluate the IPs within his company's area of operations and said he was not confident with the proficiency of the policemen. He knew he had to create this training program. He noticed the inactiveness of some of the stations. The station in Qadeceya really jumped out at him.

"Before we got here (Iraq), I hadn't seen any policemen from the Qadeceya station go outside," he said. "Now they are conducting foot patrols and are very involved in the community and schools. The IPs are beginning to understand they are here to protect the community and that talking with the populace will only assist in gaining their trust."

According to Terwilliger the daily breakdown of classes and practical exercise will give the IPs a solid ground to stand on. Day one enforced the role of the IP and why community policing is so important. Instructors also taught values, leadership and communication, while also touching on some of the new Iraqi constitutional laws by highlighting what actually constitutes a crime and what doesn't, and how to tell the difference.

"We had them partner up and conduct a drill where one of them was blind-folded and their partner had to communicate to them on how to maneuver through a water-bottle maze," said Terwilliger. "Communication is essential for them to be successful on the streets of Tikrit."

Day one culminated with the IPs getting a crash course on how to defend themselves. Since most confrontations end up on the ground, the instructors introduced a small part of the Level I Modern Army Combatives Program.

Day two moved into patrol procedures to include much of what all Soldiers do to prepare for missions, by showing them proper pre-combat checks and pre-combat inspections on both their equipment and weapons. More militaristic material was covered by showing the proper way to find cover and concealment, how to properly conduct a foot patrol, react to a sniper and proper road-side bomb drills. Also they included procedures on gaining intelligence to assist in the apprehension of IED emplacers.

"We really hit hard using the assets available to them by talking with people around an IED location, so they just don't rush to the site of an IED and possibly having it blow up on them," he said.

According to Terwilliger, the highlight of day two was having an element from an Iraqi SWAT team come and teach the IPs proper building entry and clearing procedures.
His goal is to give these IPs enough framework so they can instruct other IPs on everything they were taught.

"It was amazing to see one Iraqi police force teach another for a common goal," said Terwilliger. "Iraqi SWAT is an elite unit, so they have a ton to offer as far as teaching the IPs. I have a goal that in eight weeks, when this training cycle is complete, to have this course completely Iraqi taught."

The day wasn't complete though, the IPs were given practical training exercises, which according to Terwilliger was an attempt to get them to think for themselves.

"We need these IPs to think more instead of just listening to what we are telling them. It should be more instinct and reaction, but we also realize that they are still learning."

"These exercises will give us a good tell on what our IPs will do on their missions," said 1st Lt. Abed Al Satar Abedulah, Qadeceya police station training officer. "Training is different than the real thing, but we hope to use this knowledge back on the streets."

Day three focused on their individual assigned weapons. Terwilliger said these IPs rarely get the opportunity to fire their weapons due to a shortage of ammunition. The range focused more on familiarization rather than actual proficiency, due to this lack of experience.

"The IPs at the Qadeceya Station doesn't get enough ammunition to even go to a range and get proficient at their weapons," he said. "On range day, one IP couldn't even hit his target, he fired 0 out of 20, but he knows the firing positions and he knows his weapon now and I have confidence he can be more effective out on the streets."

The morning of day four, medical personnel from the company handed out bandages and dressings to encourage self and buddy first aid.

"More people are saved due to the actions done within the first few moments after some one has been wounded," said a medic during first aid instruction to the IPs. "It is important you stop the bleeding. This can be the difference between saving a life and not."

Day four also dealt with the handling of detainees. Once the classroom instruction was over, the IPs were given more difficult scenarios involving speaking with locals, building entry and clearing, dealing with an IED emplacer, and finally, enemy engagement and treating a casualty.

The fifth and final day, the MPs administered a written test so they could gauge the IP's education level, a final scenario and the culminating event was a giant celebration for completing the course.

Terwilliger said he was impressed on the number of IPs who actually attended the course. Since most stations have personnel issues, it shows the willingness of the station chiefs to have their policemen better trained.

"It is refreshing to see the numbers we were able to get to attend the training," he said. "We initially thought attendance would be an issue, but we were able to gather 20 IPs for the training. The chiefs from the station believed in this training by sending a large percentage of their manpower."

Abedulah admits this course was important to the development of his IPs.

"The training was very valuable and I like to see my IPs working with the MPs," he said. "For us, since there is such a long period of time between training events like these,
I like the fact it came from U.S. Soldiers. Sometimes, being human, we have a tendency to forget things, so this was better for us than just a refresher course. My IPs will act better on the streets because of the course material. This is much better for them than any other training we could have provided ourselves.

Terwilliger attributed the success of this course to his Soldiers and the help of the civilian liaisons who help teach the course by saying, "Each one of these Soldiers brought their own level and subject of expertise to the table which ultimately sets these IPs up for success on the streets in their neighborhoods."

Since the training of all the IPs in the city will take eight weeks, Terwilliger said he won't know if his goal of completely turning this program over to the IPs can be obtained right away, but he knows all these IPs can now go back to their respective communities and make a difference.

"I just want to see these guys take over this training program. I want them to be proactive instead of reactive. When this happens, I truly believe the communities will be safer. This is a small step I know, but even if they take away one or two things from this course, like clearing a room or block streets on a foot patrol effectively, then we have made them better than what they were."