Iraqi police arming non-commissioned officers with skills to lead their own

Photo By Emmanuel Rios | A Baqubah Special Missions Unit member covers an open door while conducting a dismounted patrol in Tahrir, Iraq, April 22.  

TIKRIT, IRAQ

05.05.2009

Story by Staff Sgt. Heidi West 

Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Arabian Peninsula

TIKRIT, Iraq — As Iraqi security forces take on more responsibility, coalition forces advisors are encouraging the use of non-commissioned officers to fill in the gap between the senior leader and the "boots on the ground."

Thirteen Baqubah Special Missions Unit junior NCOs recently concluded two weeks of training with U.S. Special Forces at Forward Operating Base Gabe in Baqubah, Iraq, to increase leadership abilities within the SMU.

"Our goal was to implement a chain of command ... with their own leaders taking charge and watching over their men," said a USSF staff sergeant and lead instructor for the course. "We molded the company and worked to establish junior leaders who could handle situations and think like leaders, like decision-makers."

Some of the training scenarios in which the NCOs were evaluated included medically treating casualties, leading combat patrols, room-clearing procedures with limited visibility, mission planning and leading assault teams during direct-action operations. Furthermore, the NCOs were expected to grasp the instruction, as well as demonstrate their ability to pass the information on to their squad.

The instructors had the battalion choose 15 new Iraqi police who never received USSF training. The NCOs were then tasked to instruct the trainees on dismounted patrolling techniques, react to contact drills and room-clearing procedures, said a USSF instructor.

"Overall, the NCOs gave excellent blocks of instruction and conducted the training with minimal assistance from the USSF," said the USSF commander, who observed the teaching sessions. The SMU sergeant major and a SMU senior NCO were both very satisfied with the level of performance by the NCOs, he continued.

Taking instruction from the flat range to the streets, USSF instructors led the NCOs on three dismounted patrols through dangerous sections of Baqubah. Instructors assigned NCOs to fill leadership roles and rotated multiple IPs into the positions to provide sufficient leadership opportunities.

"We wanted to take them out to the streets and show the public that we really are working [together] to protect their safety," said the lead instructor. "The IPs performed well, were completely professional and proved they were motivated to apply their instruction."

Just four days before graduation, the SMU participated in a high-profile personal security tasking from the Diyala Operations Center. Iraqi Col. Ali, SMU commander, provided 160 IPs to secure the Diyala Governance Center, April 23, for the inauguration of Dr. Abd-al-Nasr Al-Muntisir Billah as the new Diyala governor.

"Colonel Ali responded well to the challenge as the security force required very little assistance from USSF throughout the day," said the USSF commander. "This is an example that these units are ready to take on a larger responsibility in performing these types of tasks unilaterally in the future."

Not only was the ceremony an excellent training opportunity, but it also provided the Diyala government and populace with a first-hand look at the premier Baqubah police force, said a USSF team sergeant.

"The NCOs learned valuable leadership skills that are vital to the success of the unit," Ali told the trainees during the graduation ceremony a few days later. "I challenge you to continue to show initiative, train and develop your subordinates ... Strength lies in the NCO Corps."

• Date Taken: 05.05.2009
• Date Posted: 05.05.2009 16:47
• Story ID: 33237
• Location: TIKRIT, IQ