Courtesy Photo | Capt. David DeLong, native of Delmar, N.Y., and 18th Military Police Brigade's...... read more read more
Story by Sgt. Daniel Blottenberger
18th Military Police Brigade Public Affairs Office
Multi-National Division - Baghdad
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq – Radio communications can be the difference between life and death for Iraqi security forces.
Whether it be reinforcements or medical aid arriving at the scene of an incident in time to save a life, it can come down to a simple transmission of radio communications between an Iraqi policeman on patrol and his patrol station monitoring the radio network to provide necessary assistance if and when required.
The Iraqi police force's effectiveness in helping its citizens comes down to whether or not it can respond quickly to problems in its area of operations.
"People will die if communications aren't working," said 1st Lt. Christopher Gehri, native of Edmond, Okla., and Multi-National Division-Baghdad's 18th Military Police Brigade police transition team officer. "Communications is one of the primary systems you need to be a successful police force."
"Without an effective communications system in place, you won't be able to address people's problems," said Gehri.
A function of the 18th MP Bde.'s police transition team mission in Baghdad is to assess and develop IP systems. The brigade has developed the enhanced police transition team in an effort to focus on improving the systems of the Iraqi police organization.
"Iraqi police have grown in numbers – now their systems need to grow to match those numbers," said 1st Lt. David DeLong, a native of Delmar, N.Y., who is a communications officer with the 18th MP Bde.
Delong is part of the PTT in the 18th MP Bde. that visits IP stations higher headquarters in Baghdad to examine the IP communication systems as part of a program to assess and determine the higher requirements needed to develop a legitimate police force.
"The Iraqi police were very happy to have someone who knows communications to talk with them and lend some additional advice," said DeLong. "I was impressed with the knowledge of their communications systems that they have and that they knew where they wanted to get to in the future with their systems."
Internet communications is important and vital for the passing of information between the IP stations and headquarters in Baghdad, DeLong added.
During his visit at the IP headquarters, Delong observed areas related to the internet connectivity between the IP stations that could be improved. "They have shortfalls with internet connectivity, and their staff is now trying to fix these shortfalls with our assistance," said DeLong
After visiting different stations in the organization, Delong went to the Baghdad Patrol headquarters communications center April 30 to further examine the IP communications system in place.
The Baghdad patrol headquarters communications center is where the organization's communication systems are issued, repaired, installed and tracked for use by Iraqi police stations and patrols.
"We keep track and repair all radio equipment that the IP use in Baghdad," said Col. Ass'd Abdaleahra Mousa, commander, Iraqi patrol police headquarters communications center, referring to the communications center that opened in 1963.
The PTT mission for the day was to fully examine how the IP communications process works.
"We are learning how the IP communications distribution system works and seeing what we can do to help," said DeLong, while touring the communications facility April 30.
During the visit to the center, the police transition team examined the center's storage facilities, repair shop and had professional discussions about communications operations with Mousa.
After the visit, the PTT was very impressed with the IP systems that are in place.
"They have a good system in place the way they track and repair the equipment they retain," said DeLong. "The IP were able to demonstrate they have ability to maintain and account for their equipment."
The PTT was also impressed with the ingenuity the IP use to repair and maintain their radio systems and how they integrated earlier recommendations from coalition forces in the past visits.
"The systems were a lot like the systems we have," said Gehri, after touring the facility.
Gehri noted a significant difference between CF's system and IP system was the IP system were still not automated.
"The difference is that our system is on computers and the IP system is on paper," said Gehri.
The next step for communications in the IP force is to recommend and request the ministry of interior to supply additional radios to the Baghdad facility in order to support the IP on patrol and to propose that the IP automate their current systems for future efficiency purposes.
"They have good accountability of their equipment," said DeLong. "Now we (CF) can proceed and help them get more equipment from MOI."
After assessing the communications facility, Delong came to the conclusion that the hardest step in improving the communications system in the future is for the IP to expand its capabilities.
"The hardest part of this mission is getting the IP automated," said DeLong. "Once we have accomplished that, we will be one step closer to getting the job done."
The job DeLong is referring to is improving the IP systems in Baghdad so they can independently move towards a rule of law in Baghdad.
"The IP leadership is taking advice from the PTTs and taking responsibility for their stations, while feeling better working with the recommendations made by the ePTT subject matter experts, who are improving the IP systems in Baghdad," said Lt. Col. Thomas Lombardo, operations officer, 18th MP Bde., during a recent assessment of the police transition teams operations in Baghdad.
Now that the IP are using the advice the CF are giving them, the ePTT and PTTs are very encouraged about the IP forces success in the future.
"What we saw today was very encouraging," said Gehri, referring to the Baghdad Iraqi patrol police communications center. "The IP were very organized in their operations."
"We are doing a lot to help the Iraqis," continued Gehri. "IP are taking steps in the right direction, moving closer to Iraqi self-reliance."
| Date Taken: | 05.01.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 05.01.2008 14:18 |
| Story ID: | 18999 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 262 |
| Downloads: | 234 |
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