These Joint Expeditionary Tasking Airmen patrol into history

Photo By Craig Lifton | Airman 1st Class Ronisha Thomas and Staff Sgt. James Wutz, security forces members with the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, high-five during a foot patrol in the International Zone, March 6. Wutz, a native of Elgin, Okla., and Thomas, a native of Lithonia, Ga., are deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

03.17.2009

Story by Tech. Sgt. Craig Lifton 

332d Air Expeditionary Wing

BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL ZONE, Iraq – The International Zone holds such landmarks such as the Iraqi Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Al-Rasheed Hotel and the brand-new U.S. embassy, which sits on the banks of the Tigris River. This marks the patrol area of the IZ police, which is currently the responsibility of the Joint Expeditionary Tasking Airmen from the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Detachment 4.

Under the U.S.-Iraqi Security Agreement, the daily law enforcement of the IZ will transfer to the Iraqi police - so these Airmen may be the last Air Force security forces to do this job.

Since 2005, the IZ has been patrolled by 732nd ESFS Det. 4 Airmen. Now, they mentor and assist the IP to police on their own by helping them reinforce basic police techniques and tactics.

"Here in the IZ, we do basic law and order like you would see in other departments," said Tech. Sgt. Matt Lancaster, a security forces journeyman deployed from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. "We look for things like regulations violations or unauthorized individuals."

On this day, a young Iraqi male trying to work on Forward Operating Base Prosperity is discovered as being barred from being on a FOB. Staff Sgt. Steven Brauman, a security forces journeyman deployed from Vogelweh, Germany, and Airman 1st Class Ronisha Thomas, a security forces apprentice from Dyess AFB, Texas, are dispatched to the call. They escort the individual off the FOB and release him to an IP patrol waiting nearby.

"We are training the IP and have them ride along with us right now," said Lancaster, a native of Aurora, Ill. "We teach them what we do day to day, like checking IZ badges and investigating unsecure vehicles."

As they finish their shift, Lancaster and his junior partner, Airman 1st Class Adam Richmond, wash the truck they have been patrolling in and refuel it.

"This mission is fun and different," said Richmond, a security forces apprentice also deployed from Dyess AFB. "It's been a great experience, if nothing else."

The patrol drives past the Crossed Sabers paradegrounds with waving Iraqi soldiers sitting on Hummers.

"The best part is dealing with the local nationals," said the Marysville, Ohio, native. "We see how they live their days."

The Airmen do several dismounted patrols inside the IZ during their tour of duty, walking past houses and stores alike and talking to the residents of Baghdad.

Before going home, they go to the 14th of July Bridge to check the identification cards of Iraqis entering the IZ. Hundreds come over the bridge on foot, headed for work. The security forces, with the help of their two Iraqi interpreters "Snake" and "Sarah," look for trouble and ensure only those who are authorized to be in the IZ come through.

Baghdad, the largest city in Iraq and the third largest in the Middle East, is considered to be one of the most dangerous cities in the world. The IZ is set inside the city along the Tigris River and is inhabited by coalition forces, foreign diplomats, Iraqi government officials and more than 5,000 Iraqi residents.

At the end of their shift, the two defenders remove their gear and say, "good morning" to their relief. One day, in the near future, they will come off duty in the IZ for the last time and say "hello," to their Iraqi relief.

• Date Taken: 03.17.2009
• Date Posted: 03.17.2009 08:29
• Story ID: 31244
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ