Sons of Iraq members transition to join Iraqi Police force in Adhamiyah

Photo By Staff Sgt. Zachary Mott | Abdul Jabar Dahar, Hadar Jabar Jassim and Ayad Muhammad Hussein, all former Sons of Iraq members now serving as Iraqi policemen in Suleikh, speak about the improvements of being an IP versus an SoI while on a break at Joint Security Station Suleikh in northeastern Baghdad, Dec. 21.  

IRAQ

12.22.2008

Story by Sgt. Zachary Mott 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

By Sgt. Zach Mott
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

SULEIKH, Iraq – Fifty former members of the Sons of Iraq program are now protecting the streets of Suleikh, they no longer wear the mix-matched uniform of their former service, but don the bright blue of the Iraqi police.

The men, who along with more than 400 other former members of the much publicized SoI program from Baghdad's Adhamiyah District, are now Iraqi policemen charged with protecting the streets and the people of northeastern Baghdad.

The SoI program officially fell under control of the Iraqi government, Oct. 1, with the intent to transition up to 20 percent of the contingent to the Iraqi security forces. In late September, a recruiting drive elicited more than 1,000 applicants to joint the IP.

From that number, 600 were initially selected to attend training at the Al Furat Academy; the number was further whittled to 475 for Adhamiyah after some either did not complete the course or did not show up in early December.

In Suleikh, which lies along the Tigris River in northeastern Baghdad, benefitted greatly from the presence of the SoI and the IP leaders in that area are hopeful the transition will continue the same result.

"We are working together to share a job and be a part of the future of Iraq," said Col. Khadhir Sallah Abdullah, who commands the Suleikh IPs and is now charged with training 50 of the former SoI members who are now part of his force.

The men are being trained on the various tasks an IP must perform. These include, among others, operating security check points, patrolling the streets and facilitating warrants issued by an Iraqi judge.

"We have a department to take care of us," said Khudir Jassim, a former SoI, who now serves with the Suleikh Iraqi Police. "We are now Iraqi Policemen. It's our responsibility to take care of the people."

Once employed at their IP station, the former SoI members are under a 90-day probationary period, during which they are trained on their various tasks and duties as well as evaluated on their ability to continue serving as an Iraqi policeman.

"We hope to protect and defend the area," said Ayad Muhammad Hussein, a former SoI now serving with the Suleikh IP. "We didn't feel safer before, but now that we're IP, we feel safer."

• Date Taken: 12.22.2008
• Date Posted: 12.22.2008 10:34
• Story ID: 28007
• Location: IQ