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IA Detainee Operations

Courtesy Photo | An Iraqi soldier from 3rd Battalion, 4th Iraqi Army Division talks to a detainee...... read more read more

BALAD, IRAQ

08.20.2005

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub

By Maj. Chris Belcher
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

FORWARD OPERATING BASE PALIWODA, BALAD, Iraq --As the Iraqi army takes the lead in combat operations they are learning to take the lead in other areas as well.

Captain Fadil Abid Al-Meer, intelligence officer, 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Division, is learning to process the detainees his fellow soldiers capture on their raids.

"I've been trained how to handle detainees," said Al-Meer. "When the (Iraqi soldiers) bring the detainees here, we have to take a statement."

3rd Battalion's intelligence section will take statements from soldiers involved in the capture and any eyewitnesses. They are required to have three statements on each detainee for further processing.

The Iraqi army does more than take statements for the detainees, soldiers also check on their health by providing medical attention if needed.

"We ask about (the detainees) health," Al-Meer said. "If he's sick we send him to the Balad Hospital."

The Iraqis will complete the processing for the detainee once all health issues have been resolved. They will question the detainee and determine if further processing is required.

"If we find out he is wanted for something we will transfer him to the Marshall Hall and the justice will take care of it," said Col. Shuja'a Hasaeen, commander, 3rd Bn. "If we find out he's not guilty we'll release him."

Captain Seivirak Inson, intelligence officer, Military Transition Team, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Liberty, coaches and mentors the 3rd battalion's soldiers on detainee handling and intelligence operations.

The transition team's job is to train and mentor the Iraqis until they are capable of conducting all operations with no coalition assistance.

Inson said the Iraqis have the desire to learn.

"We are slowly transitioning to the point where we turn everything over to them," he added.

When that day comes, the Iraqi army will be ready to serve the people and bring stability to their country thanks to the hard work of Iraq's security forces and the Soldiers who trained them.