Coalition forces help train police

Photo By Spc. Cal Turner | A group of Iraqi police recruits watch as an Iraqi soldier demonstrates how to assess a casualty during a first aid class at an Iraqi police training school, located near the city of Ad Dujal. The school is a joint effort between the Iraqi army, U.S. military and civilian contractors to train new Iraqi police recruits.  

IRAQ

01.17.2007

Courtesy Story

5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   

By Spc. Amanda Morrissey
5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

AD DUJAL, Iraq – Iraqi police officers stand at attention, straight and proud in their crisp uniforms while the platoon leader inspects the ranks. These men will enter the Iraqi police force in two weeks as the first graduating class from a new Iraqi police training school, located near the city of Ad Dujal.

This police training school is a joint endeavor undertaken by Iraqi army, U.S. military and civilian contractors, set up to train new police recruits in weapons skills and maintenance, medical training, checkpoint tactics, and more.

Training all of the Iraqi security forces has always been an important goal for coalition forces. Since the coalition strategy has been to start with the larger force, the Iraqi army, Iraqi Police have not had the same amount of attention focused in their direction, said Capt. Patrick Blankenship, the company commander for Company C, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment. Blankenship helped to establish the school.

"Now we are shifting our effort to the Iraqi Police, and we are using the Iraqi army, using their expertise ... to assist as trainers and to work side by side through the training process with the Iraqi Police," added Blankenship.

The Iraqi soldiers were eager to help out the police recruits, patiently teaching them techniques in emergency medical care such as evaluating casualties and inserting IVs, as well as drill and ceremony.

"We are working together, and now we're training the IP," said Capt. Maieed Mohammed Hussain of the 4th Iraqi Army Company. "Now, we have the motivation to be one hand against the enemy, which is the one goal for Iraqi Police, the Iraqi army and the Coalition Forces."

The class has been called a success despite the two weeks left till completion due to the progress demonstrated by the students, and because it has helped to inspire trust and confidence between the army and police.

"The combined training is going to give us (the Iraqi Police and army) more benefit because, without the cooperation in the training, there is going to be no cooperation in the mission," said Iraqi Gen. Muzhir Aubed Dharfir, the police chief for the Salad ad Din province.

This sharing of knowledge and training is a step forward for both the Iraqi Police and army, helping each to work towards the common goal of security for their country.

"Building up the Iraqi army and the police is important because the United States can't stay here forever," said Dharfir. "Iraqis must be responsible for security in the area."

The school is unique because it doesn't follow the traditional method of accomplishing the Iraqi Police development mission. Each police station is normally assigned one Police Transition Team (PTT), comprised of U.S. military police and Iraqi Police Liaison Officers (IPLO), who are civilian police officers from the United States. The PTTs normally go to police stations to help evaluate and identify their weak areas, then assist in strengthening those areas.

"Given that I have only one PTT team and 23 stations in our area, there's no way we can cover all those effectively. That's what caused us to start looking into developing (a school) where we can have them come to us, which is a lot easier to facilitate," said Capt. Robert Tindall, the PTT chief with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment.

The Iraqi compound proved to be the perfect place for this school because of the Iraqi soldiers available to assist with the training, the existing buildings on the site which were able to be converted into classrooms, and its close proximity to Forward Operating Base O'Ryan.

Besides the buildings already on site, someone found and repaired a generator, and several people donated items such as uniforms and helmets, said Blankenship. These combined efforts resulted in a school that many believe shows a promise to bring about a positive change for both the Iraqi Police and army.

"I think that this school has the potential to do the things that the American people expect us to do here, which is train the security forces to be something that wasn't here before ...which is trained and in the lead," said Blankenship. "The end result is that the Iraqi people have a competent Iraqi Police and army that will serve and protect their needs."

• Date Taken: 01.17.2007
• Date Posted: 01.17.2007 12:36
• Story ID: 8830
• Location: IQ