Iraqi Marines train on access control, improves security

Courtesy Photo | An Iraqi Marine inspects the engine compartment of a vehicle during the snap vehicle checkpoint training at Iraqi Marine Base, Umm Qasr, Sept. 10. The U.S. Marines from the Iraqi Marine Base, trained more than 17 Iraqi Marines with the train-the-trainer training to improve their security to support and sustain their infrastructure.  

UMM QASR, IRAQ

09.10.2011

Story by Staff Sgt. Edward Daileg 

United States Forces – Iraq, Deputy Commanding General (Advising and Training)

UMM QASR, Iraq - In the military, living or working in a secure and safe environment is a way of life. All military installations have entry control points that mitigate unauthorized persons, vehicles and materials from entering.

Although ECPs play a big part in keeping installations safe, training personnel to conduct “Snap Vehicle Check Points” to increase security by checking vehicles unexpectedly on the perimeter of an installation is equally important.

U.S. Marines from Iraqi Marine Base, Umm Qasr, conducted Snap Vehicle Check Point Training Sept. 10, to more than 17 Iraqi Marines to improve installation security and sustain their infrastructure.

“The Iraqi Marines trained on how to establish, set up and conduct a snap vehicle check point,” said U.S. Marine Sgt. Skyler Feller from Watseka, Ill., and a combat arms senior noncommissioned officer with Iraqi Marine Corps Training Team-03 (IqMTT).

“The training included selecting the resources to establish a VCP, choosing the most ideal location, and managing time for setting up and breaking down the VCP,” he said.

During the training, U.S. Marines showed their Iraqi counterparts how a Snap VCP can be used to their advantage by highlighting the effectiveness of the check point against the enemy, using the element of surprise.

“Unlike an entry control point which is a permanent established check point found at the entrances of bases, a Snap VCP can be set up and broken down quickly,” said Feller. “The Snap VCP is set up for a limited time and can be moved from one tactical location to another to catch the enemy by surprise.”

According to Feller, the training was a refresher for the Iraqi Marines as a Snap VCP is nothing new to them.

“The Iraqi Marines showed a lot of interest in the training,” he said. “Establishing VCPs are not new to them; they already had an idea of what is supposed to be done.”

“We want to show them how to use the VCPs as an effective tool to provide additional security to their areas of responsibility,” he added.

This training is part of a train-the-trainer program established by the Iraqi Marine Corps Training Team-03 to work with the Iraqi Marine leadership to provide them with additional knowledge to develop their NCOs.

As U.S. forces prepare to depart, the training conducted by IqMTT-03 improves the Iraqi Marines ability to protect themselves, those with whom they are charged with protecting as well as the installation. The training helps them continue to develop the Iraqi Marines through train-the-trainer programs that establishes their training priorities and mission standards.

• Date Taken: 09.10.2011
• Date Posted: 09.20.2011 11:35
• Story ID: 77315
• Location: UMM QASR, IQ