Iraqi Police hone skills with Coalition forces help

Courtesy Photo | An Iraqi police officer from the Tahrir Iraqi police station in Iraq searches a vehicle during training with Soldiers from 4th Platoon, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, April 23, at Forward Operating Base Iskan, Iraq. (Photo/1st Lt. Greg Hope)  

ISKANDARIYAH, IRAQ

04.27.2008

Courtesy Story

4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

By 1st Lt. William Perdue
4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ISKAN, Iraq - A team of motivated and well trained Iraqi policemen honed their skills and gained more in-depth training from a small group of 3rd Infantry Division Soldiers, April 23, at Forward Operating Base Iskan.

Soldiers from 4th Platoon, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, teamed up with the Tahrir Iraqi police Ssation to reinforce basic police procedures, including vehicle and personnel searches.

"My Soldiers were pretty impressed with the knowledge and proficiency that these IPs possessed," said 1st Lt. Greg Hope, 4th Platoon leader. "We definitely underestimated their abilities, and we were pleasantly surprised by their performance."

Hope initiated the IP training by offering his platoon's expertise to Lt. Col. Kareem, the Tahrir IP chief.

Kareem responded positively to the training, believing that the training would be a benefit and welcomed any advice the unit had.

The IPs arrived with Maj. Hussein, the officer in charge of the IP officers. Upon arrival, 4th Platoon recognized the IPs as some of the most proficient and skilled from the Tahrir department, said Hope, a West Chester, Ohio, native.

Kareem sent his best men to the training, Hope said. Two of the IPs had attended a two-month course in Jordan designed to teach basic police skills.

During the training coalition forces reached several conclusions. The IPs were motivated and appreciated the tips they received to improve their performance, Hope said. The Tahrir IP department has sufficient knowledge to train its entire force, and an internal training program needs to be established in order to share the knowledge that some of the stronger officers have, Hope added.

"Now we just need to work with the Military Police Platoon on FOB Iskan to develop a training program so that these IPs can spread their knowledge to the rest of the Tahrir IPs," said Hope.

• Date Taken: 04.27.2008
• Date Posted: 04.30.2008 16:08
• Story ID: 18961
• Location: ISKANDARIYAH, IQ