'Defender' MPs complete tour

Courtesy Photo | Soldiers from 1st Platoon, 545th Military Police Company, work with Iraqi policemen from the city of Sulayman Bak to distribute books and supplies to the children at the city's school. The Soldiers of 1st Plt., 545th MP Company, worked with and trained the Iraqi policemen in the cities of Tuz, Amirli and Sulayman Bak from last July until their final mission, March 31.  

FORWARD OPERATING BASE BERNSTEIN, IRAQ

03.31.2010

Story by Sgt. Johnathon Jobson 

3rd Infantry Division

By Sgt. Johnathon Jobson

FORWARD OPERATING BASE BERNSTEIN, Iraq — The Soldiers of 1st Platoon, 545th Military Police Company, out of Fort Richardson, Alaska, conducted their final combat mission, March 31. The platoon was a Police Transition Team around Forward Operating Base Bernstein.

Training the Iraqi police force to be able to take care to the citizens in their cities and villages was a key function in the PTT mission.

The mission marked the beginning of the end of the platoon's stay at FOB Bernstein.
Since arriving at FOB Bernstein in July, "Defender" platoon Soldiers have worked with their Iraqi police counterparts in the cities of Tuz, Amirli and Sulayman Bak.

"We trained them on first-aid. Not just remedial first aid, it was more like our combat lifesaver course, so that they can provide care for their partners without the help of a medic," said Sgt. Brent Snyder, an MP and the 3rd squad leader. "We also provided training in sensitive site exploitation ... arriving on the scene to collecting and processing evidence. Detainee operations were the third major training that held for them. The Iraqi police were very attentive and engaged in the training."

Each mission that the platoon conducted had its own significance, but some stuck out more than others to the Soldiers.

"My most memorable mission was a raid we conducted in late February, said 1st Lt. John Snider, the 1st platoon leader. "We received information about a guy who was smuggling RKG-3 grenades into the area, and the Iraqis asked us for assistance in capturing him. It was a quick and successful mission. Within three hours of receiving the request for assistance we had conducted the mission, captured the guy and were heading back to FOB Bernstein."

"Our over-night mission in Amirli for Ashura, a religious ceremony to atone for sins, really sticks out in my mind," said Spc. Richard Flores, the bravo team leader for 3rd squad. "We stayed at the district headquarters in Amirli with the Iraqi Police. We got to try their food and made some American food for them, it was a bonding experience."

In their final mission, the Soldiers visited the Iraqi Police District Headquarters and Emergency Response Unit, the equivalent a S.W.A.T. team in a U.S. city, in Sulayman Bak.

"We spoke with Captain Hasif, the acting officer in charge, at the DHQ and Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed at the ERU," explained Sgt. Snyder. "Primarily we wanted to make sure that their logistical support channels would stay functioning after we left. It was a quick and clear engagement to making sure that everything was in order."

• Date Taken: 03.31.2010
• Date Posted: 04.07.2010 03:24
• Story ID: 47780
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE BERNSTEIN, IQ