by Sgt. Armando Monroig
5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
MUQDADIYAH, Iraq (Nov. 18, 2006) -- U.S. Soldiers and Iraqi Police combined forces in a patrol Nov. 18 at a village near the Joint Coordination Center in Muqdadiyah, Iraq.
Members of the 6-9 Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 1st Cavalry Division, out of Fort Hood, Texas, met with IP leaders and arranged the joint patrol.
The IPs took the lead as members of a new Iraqi Emergency Reaction Force participated in a joint patrol through the village alongside U.S. troops.
This was a new group of Iraqi policemen who make up the ERF and who were about to go on their first patrol together. They also had a new look as they donned new uniforms that more closely resembled soldier fatigues.
"This was an opportunity for us to get them out in the neighborhood so that the villagers could see an Iraqi police presence," said Capt. Ted Stokes, commander of Troop A, 6-9 ARS, and a native of Orlando, Fla., "and to start developing squad movement techniques and a tactical mindset they need when operating as police."
Stokes said it's important the locals know the Iraqi Police and Iraqi Army are there to secure their village.
"We have to put the Iraqi police and Iraqi Army up front," Stokes said. "At this point they don't have a lot of interaction with the villagers. It's good to get them out there and the people see the IPs are working to make it a safer environment."
While on patrol, IPs can explain to locals why tactical vehicles are being driven through their village and what they are trying to accomplish, he said, which is to prevent insurgents from entering the village and committing kidnappings and murders.
Which is why the JCC is so important to the success of the IP and IA that patrol the area, said Stokes.
According to Stokes, the JCC is the center that controls all coordination and joint operations between the Iraqi Army and Iraqi police for Muqdadiyah.
"It bridges the gap between the two services. It gets the two to work together. That's why the JCC is critical – to pass intel and mutual support between the Iraqi Army and Iraqi police," said Stokes.
Having U.S. troops constantly interact with members of the IP and IA is the best way to help them improve, he said. And by going to the JCC, they do just that.
Stokes said his unit goes into Muqdadiyah about three to four times a week at a minimum to check on operations.
"Our primary mission is to train the Iraqi police and the Iraqi Army. We don't just do it at the individual soldier or policeman level. You have to do it at the command-and-control level also," said Stokes.
Sgt. Fanuaee Vea, a gunner assigned to Troop A and a native of Samoa, has been on several of these missions since arriving in Iraq in October.
"Yes, we still have a lot of people not used to having us here. But we are having a positive impact on the people of Iraq. They want freedom now," said Vea. "We're making a difference. Now you see a change. People come up to us. They don't hide in their houses anymore."
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