Photo By 1st Sgt. Brent Williams | Staff Maj. Gen. Adnon, operations officer for the Iraqi national police, shows off an...... read more read more
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Staff Sgt. Brent Williams
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – Iraqi national police completed another step in setting the conditions for transitioning security operations from the responsibility of Multi-National Division – Baghdad and coalition forces to Iraqi security forces, completing a 10-day academic course that provides hands-on instruction and training on route clearance equipment and operations.
A select group of platoons from the Iraqi national police of the 1st Mechanized Brigade graduated the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division's ISF Iron Claw Academy, July 19, during an inaugural ceremony at a combined combat outpost in the Rashid District of southern Baghdad.
"It is an important day for the national police," said Col. Marc Van Oene, team chief, 6010 National Police Transition Training Team, attached to the 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B. "The 1st Mech. Bde is the first unit to get this kind of equipment and the training on this kind of equipment; and, they are out there keeping the routes safe and secure for the Iraqi people and safe for the coalition forces."
The Iron Claw Academy was initially created by coalition forces to train combat engineers on the necessary tactics, techniques and procedures needed to identify and clear roads and highways of improvised explosive devices, said Capt. Scott Swilley, commander, Company E, 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, attached to the 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B.
The ISF Iron Claw Academy taught at Forward Operating Base Falcon is modeled after the five-day coalition course taught at Camp Liberty that is mandatory for route clearance teams arriving in Iraq, said Swilley.
The Soldiers of "Beast" Co. identified the need for ISF route clearing training after they began to conduct patrols and route clearing operations with the Iraqi national police from the 1st Mech. Bde., said Swilley.
"As we have partnered with the 1st Mech. Bde., we have identified a platoon of engineers within their organization and started training them with grass roots patrolling efforts," explained Swilley, a native of Amite, La. "We then began working into a dedicated 10-day program of instruction to certify the platoon in route clearance operations."
Currently assigned to the 1st Special Troops Bn., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B, Beast Co.'s combat engineers taught the Iraqi NPs how to prepare for patrols, maintain contact with other patrols, integrate explosives ordnance disposal units into their operations and defeat improvised explosive devices, said Swilley, the lead trainer for the ISF Iron Claw Academy.
"The 1st Mech. Bde.'s has been spectacular," Swilley said. "They have shown great promise, and I am very optimistic at the prospect of integrating them into joint patrols and eventual independent route clearing operations."
Swilley said that he plans to continue the academy and hopes the ISF Iron Claw training will become available to other NP units working with the 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., throughout the Rashid District.
"I always feel and I think that most Soldiers on patrol feel that when they have seen route clearance go by they feel a little bit better about their mission," said Command Sgt. Maj. Larry Seaman, 1st Special Troops Bn., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B.
The NPs are eager and ready to begin their mission, said Seaman, a combat engineer, who resides in Harker Heights, Texas.
With the right equipment and the right training, the ISF will be ready to assume responsibility for Rashid, he said.
The Soldiers of Co. E, 4th Bn., 64th Armor Regt., are doing an outstanding job, said Lt. Col. Dave Hill, commander, 1st Special Troops Bn., 4th Inf. Div., MND-B.
The unit led the training and continues to clear major routes with the NPs everyday, preparing the newly graduated class to take responsibility for maintaining Airport Road and other major routes in the Rashid District, he explained.
"I think there is not a better place for the [NPs] to start to demonstrate that they are in the lead than right here," said Hill, who hails from Mountain Top, Pa. "It has been a great experience for us to work with the Shurta Wadaniya [national police]. They are doing a very important job, and we will continue to partner out here so these roads stay safe."
| Date Taken: | 07.21.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 07.21.2008 11:09 |
| Story ID: | 21695 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 230 |
| Downloads: | 210 |
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