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    MND-B MPs train IP at local station

    MPs train IP during OJT at local station

    Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Joshua Holland, a native of Bessemer, N.C., conducts a basic weapons training...... read more read more

    BAGHDAD, IRAQ

    03.08.2008

    Courtesy Story

    Multi-National Division Baghdad

    By Sgt. Daniel Blottenberger
    18th Military Police Brigade Public Affairs

    BAGHDAD – For the past month, four Multi-National Division – Baghdad military police Soldiers assigned to 18th Military Police Brigade have been living at the Jamia Iraqi police station with the mission to train the Iraqi police force there.

    The Iraqi policemen at the Jamia police station and joint security station, who were former Sons of Iraq (Abna al-Iraq), are now conducting on-the-job training with the 401st Military Police Company Police Transition Team.

    The OJT phase of their indoctrination of becoming a policeman follows a two-week basic recruiting course that is held at Camp Fiji and al Furat police training academies in Baghdad.

    "The first class of about 60 recruits graduated from the course four weeks ago and are now running a fully operational IP station here," said Sgt. Joshua Holland, a native of Bessemer, N.C., who serves as the PTT squad leader at the Jamia station.

    Holland and his team, which consists of four MPs, an international police advisor and an interpreter, have trained the entire Jamia Iraqi police force since arriving on site four weeks ago.
    The MP team is now on its second class of IPs, who recently graduated from basic recruit training.

    "We are still building the police force here; they are still learning, and they have shown us that they want to learn to help the security in Jamia, where most of them are from," said Holland.

    The training team provides instruction on the IPs assigned weapons, first aid, personnel, building and vehicle searches, react to direct and indirect fire, react to improvised explosive devices, entry control point operations, checkpoint operations and police values. Students spend their final days reviewing patrol operations before being sent out on an actual neighborhood patrol.

    The training is very thorough, with hands-on training and individual training. The IP are extremely interested in the training, which is clearly evident as they ask numerous questions as the training is carried out, said Holland. The goal of the on-the-job training is to get the IPs familiar with the station they are working at and prepares them to patrol the Jamia community.

    "The two weeks of on-the-job training the Soldiers from the 401st MP Co. PTT are instructing is vital to the development of a fully capable IP," said Maj. Mike Indovina, 18th MP Bde. spokesman. "The OJT tasks the PTT Soldier's reinforce, with what the IP learned at the academy, increases the IP's confidence before going out and performing their community policing duties.

    Since the station became operational, the first group of IP has been actively patrolling Jamia with the PTT and members of Company B, 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, MND-B.

    "The citizens of Jamia are glad the IP are active in the neighborhood," said Holland, who has witnessed IP and coalition forces receiving intelligence information from willing civilians to help the IP fight extremists in the area.

    Holland said the training has already improved from the last class because of the great IP leadership at the station.

    "When the IP leadership is good, it makes my job a lot easier," said Holland, commenting on some of the IP cadre at the recruit training academy. "They enforce discipline and uniform standards on the Iraqi police," said Holland.

    Upon completion of the second week of training, the station will have more than 150 fully trained policemen to police the Jamia community.

    The Police Transition Team at Jamia is part of 3rd Squad, 3rd platoon, 401st Military Police Company, 716th Military Police Battalion, 18th MP Bde. MND-B.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 03.08.2008
    Date Posted: 03.10.2008 10:11
    Story ID: 17174
    Location: BAGHDAD, IQ

    Web Views: 200
    Downloads: 189

    PUBLIC DOMAIN