Transfer of Detainee Operations to Iraqi Government Underway: Texas Army National Guard Soldiers Witness History

Courtesy Photo | Maj. Gen. David E. Quantock, deputy commanding general for detainee operations, U.S. Forces - Iraq and Dara Nour al-Deen, minister of Justice Director General, sign the ceremonial certificate symbolizing the transfer of the Taji Theater Internment Facility Center to the Government of Iraq, March 15. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Candace Mundt)  

CAMP TAJI, IRAQ

03.15.2010

Courtesy Story

U.S. Forces Iraq

By 1st Lt. Maria Mengrone

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - U.S. Forces assigned to Camp Taji Theater Internment Facility Reconciliation Center relinquished control of detainees and its facility to the Iraqi government, March 15.

By August 2010, complete detainee operations handover to Iraq control is expected to be completed with the transfer of Camp Cropper, the last U.S. ran internment facility in Iraq.

"Approximately 3,000 detainees are being transferred to Iraq, that's roughly 60 percent of the U.S. controlled detainee population," said Lt. Col. Daniel D. Deadrich, Taji TIFRC commander and 705th Military Police battalion commander based in Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

The handover is part of the U.S. drawdown playing out across Iraq as stated in the Security Agreement, ending with the complete withdrawal of U.S. Forces by December 2011.

"The security agreement says that in order for detainees to be transferred to the government of Iraq, detainees must have an arrest warrant, detention order or conviction," said Deadrich.

"We took all detainees and started to release those without sufficient evidence to prosecute or those that did not pose a significant threat. We averaged roughly 700 to 1,000 monthly releases. This shows that we are abiding by the security agreement."

Along with the transfer of detainees, the Iraqi government will also assume responsibility of the recently built multi-million dollar Taji internment facility and all its property.

"This facility will increase Iraq's capacity to be successful," said Deadrich.

"As Iraq works out its budgetary issues we will continue to provide support in the form of maintenance and fuel contracts, feeding the detainee population [and] maintaining supplies so that the facility will continue to work. After August [2010], this support will become Iraq's sole responsibility."

Engineering projects are on track to connect the Taji facility to the locally existing electrical and water grid lines in an attempt to alleviate future generator fuel and importing water costs.

The handover also symbolizes the change from detainees to inmate status within the Iraqi corrections system.

"Our ultimate goal for this Taji prison is that it will serve as a model facility as how to provide proper care and custody for the Iraqi inmate population," said Deadrich.

For several months, hundreds of Army and Navy personnel have been working side by side with Iraqi corrections officers tackling cultural and language barriers to properly train and ready guards for the historical transition.

Iraqi guards have been trained on how to drive short and long buses in order to facilitate movement of inmates from visitation to medical appointments, said Georgia native, 1st Lt. Robert W. Riedel III, Company C, 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 36th Infantry Division.

"We had to teach them how to drive the buses, which consisted of a classroom portion, actual on the road drivers training and preventive maintenance. We issued certificates and have identified bus drivers," said Riedel.

Many troops are optimistic that their hard work at mentoring and assisting Iraqi guards will pay off in the long run.

"I never thought I'd see myself giving something back to Iraq," said Texas guardsman, Sgt. Sanjay Shiwprasao, Company A, 72nd IBCT, 36th ID.

Shiwprasao said he knows the Iraqi guards are concerned about the care of detainees. The turning point, for him, came when the guards began taking interest in the wellbeing of the detainees.

"Detainees received stale bread with one of their meals and the ICOs took the initiative to call the dining facility and have the problem fixed," he said. "That alone tells me that they care about this job."

Petty Officer 1st Class John C. Provins, Navy Provisional Detainee Battalion, of San Diego, Calif., said taking groups of religiously diverse Iraqi guards and getting them to work together has been rewarding.

"When I first got here, seven months ago, I noticed the ICOs were a little apprehensive in dealing with detainees. [Since then], I have seen them grow and develop into professionals," said Provins.

"They are now at a point where they can operate the facility safely. I hope their success here can be a beacon of hope for Iraq."

• Date Taken: 03.15.2010
• Date Posted: 03.17.2010 07:15
• Story ID: 46786
• Location: CAMP TAJI, IQ