DIYALA, Iraq — After spending the last six months conducting missions with Iraqi police units spanning Diyala province, Iraq, the 66th Military Police Company handed the reigns over to the 512th MP Company, during a transfer of authority ceremony at Forward Operating Base Warhorse, Iraq, July 6.

During their deployment, the War Eagles of the 66th MP Company, instructed over 600 Iraqi policemen on tactics, investigative techniques, and community policing as part of the War Eagle Academy, a “train-the-trainer” program taught on FOB Warhorse. The CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) course they held taught policemen how to gather and process forensic evidence, laying a foundation for forensics to be used for prosecuting criminal suspects.

In addition to these courses, they conducted 600 combat patrols in various communities from the streets of downtown Baqubah, the provincial capital, to remote villages such as Hib Hib.

“I think our tenure here was great,” said Capt. Ranjiai Danaraj, of Redman, Wash., and the commander of the 66th MP Company. “At this stage in police transition operations, it’s a little more difficult to carve out exactly how you should influence the police, but I think we established a great rapport with our Iraqi counterparts. Not only did they learn a lot from us but they taught us a great deal as well.”

The War Eagles initially landed in the province as trainers, working to develop the skills and the techniques of a young IP force. More recently however, the IPs have taken the wheel on unilateral missions as the War Eagles serve in an advise and assist role.

The incoming Titans will continue this advisory position, while they develop their own relationships with the Diyala IPs, to aid the maturing Iraqi police force.

“We are looking forward to doing MP specific missions by developing partnerships with the Iraqi police,” said Capt. Tim Heisler, of Waynesville, Mo., and the company commander of the 512th MP Company. “We are also going to take on the War Eagle Academy and turn it into the Titan Academy to help further develop their investigative skills.”

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