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    Soldiers train Iraqi police on close quarters marksmanship

    Soldiers Train Iraqi Police on Close Quarters Marksmanship

    Courtesy Photo | Iraqi police from Daquq police station in the Kirkuk province disembark from their...... read more read more

    KIRKUK, Iraqi — The probability of confrontation between law enforcement and criminal elements in a city requires specific training. From hostage situations to a barricaded suspect, police need the skills necessary to resolve a myriad of emergencies, while protecting themselves and innocent bystanders.

    Iraqi police from the Daquq, Iraq, police station located in Kirkuk province set out to develop those skills and learn valuable techniques during training provided by Soldiers from 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Aug. 13.

    "Today's mission was to train the Daquq IPs," explained 1st Lt. Daniel Braud, a Kingwood, Texas, native and platoon leader with 4th Sqdn, 9th Cav. Regt. "We trained them on close quarters marksmanship."

    Close quarters marksmanship instructs students on reflexive fire techniques, which involves proper stance, engaging targets, reloading, and other tasks.

    According to Braud, 11 of the 14 IP being trained had never fired their personal weapons on their own before outside of the initial police training academy.

    "They [IP] were new to the unit so this was a good day for them to get familiarized with their weapons," Braud said.

    Part of that familiarization was to assist the IPs in becoming comfortable with bringing their weapons from the position they carry them to engaging targets between 10 to 25 meters away.

    "Going from a rest position to working the weapon's safety and engaging targets will help the IP learn how their weapons function," Braud said.

    Staff Sgt. Daniel Hepting, a Spokane, Wash., native, and a platoon sergeant with 4th Sqdn. 9th Cav. Regt., instructed the IP on proper stance and movement techniques to minimize injury during a conflict.

    "I instructed them on the proper stance and how to hold their weapons, which involved coming up with a new technique because the AK-47 assault rifle has a different safety mechanism," Hepting said.

    Part of the instruction also involved proper stance so when engaging a target, the IPs body faced forward, rather than sideways, which can lead to injury.

    "[Facing forward] is important because the body armor is on the front of the body and is also more stable and reduces the chances of falling over," Hepting explained.

    After several dry fire exercises, IP went through live fire stress shoot scenarios to demonstrate their new tactics.

    "The stress shoot involved the IPs pulling up in one of their vehicles, disembarking, running to the firing line, and delivering live rounds downrange," Hepting explained.

    According to Hepting, the stress shoot raises their heart rate, places them in a stressful environment similar to one they might encounter one day, and gives them an opportunity to build confidence in their new abilities to handle that situation.

    Despite having only a day to perform the training, the IPs found their footing.

    "They [IPs] had it figured out by the end," Hepting said. "At first the IPs struggled but towards the completion of training, in my group of trainees, one of the IP even took charge and began directing other IPs."

    The training completed with some long range shooting practice at targets at 100 to 150 meters away and plans for additional training in the future.

    "We plan on coming back next week and training on larger caliber weapons, including sniper rifles," Hepting said.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 08.13.2009
    Date Posted: 08.19.2009 07:40
    Story ID: 37694
    Location: KIRKUK, IQ

    Web Views: 208
    Downloads: 113

    PUBLIC DOMAIN