Photo By Spc. Benjamin Fox | U.S. Army 1st Lt. Russell Toll, a platoon leader in 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd...... read more read more
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By Pfc. Ben Fox
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division
KHAN BANI SA'AD, Iraq - Rolling out in two Bradley Fighting Vehicles, Soldiers left their compound in Khan Bani Sa'ad to meet the Iraqi police in Judidah. Despite the intense heat and the cramped space in the back of the vehicles, the ride was completely worth their mission.
"The point of that mission was for American forces to check up and interact with the Iraqi police force operating in Judidah and make sure that everything was going well in that area," said 1st Lt. Russell Toll, platoon leader.
Toll and his Soldiers have been operating in the Khan Bani Sa'ad area since they arrived in October and have been working with the Iraqi security forces every step of the way by sharing a compound with them and conducting joint patrols.
"There is always a presence from Charlie Company down here, so everyday we are working with the IA," said Toll.
"They are becoming more and more autonomous every day," he said. "They are getting more confident, especially when they know they have us backing them."
"Pretty much every time we do a mission, we work with the Iraqi army and Iraqi police," said Sgt. Antwon Monroe, who was on the same mission with Toll. "If we have a mission, then they are involved in one way or the other."
Even just the presence of American forces with the Iraqi's seems to boost their confidence, said Toll.
"Our presence here helps facilitate that because they can go out with the knowledge that if things get too heavy, the Americans will be backing them up," he said.
"They know that and that gives them a great deal of confidence, and our presence here to back them up is why we see a lot of the improvements that we are seeing in this area," said Toll.
"They have had some success attacking gunmen who have been shooting at the marketplace," he said. "They have taken down two snipers and put up (observation points) throughout the villages.
"The civilians see that presence and it gives them confidence, and that is why we see this area improving," Toll said.
When Toll and his platoon arrived at the IP compound, they dismounted and met the Iraqi police commander in his office.
Immediately, Toll and the commander began to exchange critical intelligence.
"The key to getting success in this area is intelligence," said Toll. "When we exchange intelligence, it helps us touch base with each other and helps us understand that we both care about each other's situation.
"So the information that he gives us helps us to identify bad guys and make this area safer," he said.
"The information that we choose to share with him helps the IP make the streets safer for the Iraqi people," said Toll.
After the meeting, the Iraqi police led the platoon to an old cache site where Company C had found materials for several explosively formed projectiles.
"We were going to go inspect a cache where about two months ago we found a significant cache of EFPs," said Toll.
"It was a good opportunity to interact with the Iraqi police, go on a patrol with them and let them see our presence; and also gave us an opportunity to spot check them and see how they conduct themselves on a patrol," he said.
"We patrol (the area) routinely, but it is always good to touch base with them and get first hand knowledge of what's going on," he said.
Toll said they were also there to "check their progress and make sure that they have all of the resources they need, and it helps us plan joint operations for the future."
After checking the cache site in the palm groves and finding it was empty, Toll and his Soldiers went back to the compound.
The next day, Toll was out again, this time with the Iraqi army. And instead of Bradleys, the platoon was in tanks.
The mission was to provide an outer cordon for the IA while they searched suspicious areas for caches.
"The key to success in Iraq is for the IA and IP to police and regulate the streets themselves, to facilitate an Iraqi government and a presence of the people," said Toll.
"They are making significant improvements in the area," he said.
"When we first got here, the level of sectarian violence was substantially high," said Toll. "But after the reconciliation of the sheiks, which was facilitated by the IA and IP, it made this area better for the civilians and the IA and IP alike."
Monroe said it benefits the ISF when the people see them working with the coalition forces.
"The people can see the IA and the coalition working together," he said. "They know that we are here to support the IA and the IA is here to support them."
Monroe said it sends a positive message to the Iraqis.
"These people (IA) are here to help you," he said. "We are just here to help them when they need help."
| Date Taken: | 05.17.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 05.17.2007 12:43 |
| Story ID: | 10433 |
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| Web Views: | 287 |
| Downloads: | 263 |
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