Iraqi police officers graduate first 'train-the–trainer' class

Photo By Sgt. Dustin Weidman | The first graduating class of the Iraqi police Master Trainer Program, taught by the Mortar Platoon, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, "Gimlets," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, stand in formation waiting to receive their certificate of completion at Joint Security Station Nassir Wa Salam, west of Baghdad, July 24, 2008.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

07.31.2008

Story by Sgt. Dustin Weidman 

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

By Cpl. Dustin Weidman
1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq – The room was dark and quiet as the insurgents were planning their next attack, surrounded by weapons and explosives, when the door is kicked open and members of the Iraqi police flood into the room, "Get down on the ground," the insurgents were caught red-handed.

The date is July 24, 2008, and it is graduation day, for the members of this Iraqi police attack force, and the scenario was their final exam in the Iraqi police Master Trainer Program.

The "insurgents," were played by their instructors from the Mortar Platoon, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, "Gimlets," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

"We designed the Iraqi police Master Trainer Program to try to get the biggest impact from a small element of U.S. Soldiers," said Capt Adam Eaton, mortar platoon leader from Avoca, New York. "The program has changed a great deal from its initial stage through input from everyone in the platoon. We hand-picked Iraqi police who displayed leadership potential at their stations and brought them in for training."

The program lasted five weeks and was taught at Joint Security Station Nassir Wa Salam, west of Baghdad.

The students learned patrol tactics, first aid, room clearing and searching rooms for weapons and explosives.

"These guys have come a long way since the beginning, and they are using what we have taught them," said Staff Sgt. Gary Strickland of Abilene, Texas and instructor for the course. "At the beginning they would run disorganized into a room to clear it, now (the last day of training) they are going into the room in a stack."

Each student was awarded a green tab that can be worn with their uniform when they return to their stations, and are qualified to train the other police officers at their station.

"Overall this group of Iraqi police has made a dramatic improvement in their capabilities since the first day we picked them up," said Eaton. "The program will be successful if they are able to pass that proficiency on to the rest of their force."

• Date Taken: 07.31.2008
• Date Posted: 07.31.2008 01:54
• Story ID: 21995
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ