On the way to the market

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

06.19.2009

Story by Tech. Sgt. Stacia Zachary 

United States Air Forces Central       

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FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq -- It was an early morning show. The plywood conference room was filled with Airmen packed around an oblong table. The mission was briefed and everyone participated in recalling proper procedures in the event anything happened.

The Airmen of the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Det. 3 have combined to form the current Police Transition Team. This group provides outside-the-wire combat support to the Iraqi police. They are responsible for training the IPs on tactical maneuvers

The PTT's mission is to travel via convoy to the local Iraqi police stations and provide training and guidance as oversight of Baghdad is transferred to the local law enforcement sectors.

"Our mission is to train, mentor and advise the Iraqi police within the 17 stations housed within the Rasheed area of Baghdad," said Capt. Matt Ballanco, Det. 3 PTT team S3 operations officer. "We run missions everyday covering everything from overseeing administrative needs to training to conducting walking patrols with the IPs."

Soon the men don their protective equipment, perform a systems maintenance check on the vehicles and then load up. Before they even cross outside the gates of FOB Falcon, the convoy goes through drills on rollover procedures, what to do if a grenade lands inside the vehicle, and how to get out of ugly scenarios.

The team then makes its way onto the relatively metropolitan streets of Baghdad. After textbook driving and following a well-planned travel ticket to the station, the PTT team gets to work getting an assessment of the station since their last visit, gauging the training needed for today's mission and getting a plan in motion.

"The IPs are serious about wanting our help," said Staff Sgt. William Charto, deployed from the 62nd Security Forces Squadron at McChord Air Force Base, Wash. "Colonel Luay asked for force protection training for his men."

"Though there are some cultural challenges and progress is sometimes slow, the Baghdad police forces have been doing comparatively well," said Staff Sgt. Michael Berg, deployed from 823rd Security Forces Squadron at Moody AFB, Ga. "You'll always have those days where it's like nailing jell-o to the wall, but then there are days when everything just clicks."

The police stations are regularly graded on their progress in force protection, equipment maintenance, and command and control as well as other areas, Capt. Ballanco said. Once they have achieved certain criteria, they are deemed able to operate on their own.

While the IPs did a good job hustling to perform the training mission, the PTT members decided that extra training would be a good idea. Sgt. Charto and his interpreter, Danny, come up with real-life scenarios for the IPs to train on when the PTT are not around. The training will focus on vehicle search; personnel search; how to use the vehicle mirror; first aid; and weapons and ammo training.

After today's training, the IPs seem proud of what they accomplished and are ready for the patrol. The PTT members have taken notice, too.

"This has been the most constructive training we've had in the last six months," said Senior Airman Mackenzie Sterns, deployed from the 509th Security Forces Squadron at Whiteman AFB, Mo.

Speaking through an interpreter, the trainers instruct the IPs on proper care and handling of their weapons. They have decided that a joint interactive patrol through one of the muhallahs would be an efficient way to wrap up a good day of training.

With the IP trucks in the lead, the convoy sets out for a bustling market square.

"These patrols are important because it gives the IPs the lead," said Sgt. Charto. "Our presence backs up their authority but it's all them doing the work and that's what we want the Iraqi people to see."

Here, Airmen and IPs alike dismount and begin interacting with the locals as they shop for clothes or haggle over the price of a pound of seasonal fruit.

"Even as little as a year ago when we first got here, we wouldn't have been able to consider dismounting except in a combat situation," Capt. Ballanco said. "Now, we are starting to see life come back to the muhallahs and trust is being built. The IPs have been a big reason for that success."

After an hour walk through the market square, the IPs shake hands with their PTT counterparts. Their faces show they are pleased with how well the patrol turned out.

While this is still not a place to let your guard down completely, Baghdad is showing signs of healing itself after so many years at war.

"We're at a historic turning point here," Capt. Ballanco said. "When we first came, we were still heavily involved in running the day-to-day police operations. Now, things have improved to the point where our role is more as advisors instead of hands-on control of securing Baghdad. The Iraqi police have a lot to be proud of."