Pfc. Cassandra Groce
133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
TIKRIT, Iraq (February 1, 2006) -- An Air Force Law and Order Detachment moved to Forward Operating Base Speicher, situated outside Tikrit, Iraq recently from Mosul, Iraq, to help enforce internal security here.
The Detachment 1, 732nd Expeditionary and Mission Support Group moved to help supplement the Army's military police already stationed on FOB Speicher. The Airmen will conduct the usual law enforcement duties on the FOB such as criminal investigation, speed enforcement and other common policing.
The Army specifically requested the Air Force come in for support to provide relief for the Army.
"Our initial assessment when we got here, is that FOB Speicher is not the wild west of a lawless society," said Lt. Col. Frank Sullivan, commander of Detachment 1. "But it is evident that there are things we can control so that troops can commit to succeeding in their mission [in Iraq.]"
The policing force will not infringe on commander's control of discipline in the unit.
"We provide commanders and first sergeants a specific expertise to help them find out what is really going on [in a situation,]" said Sullivan. "We support them by being an objective third eye by giving them information they may not be aware of."
The detachment was moved from Mosul when it became evident that the group would better serve Speicher due to the large population.
The force is comprised of Airmen from five different Air Force bases including: Ellsworth AFB, SD., Robins AFB, Ga., Cannon AFB, NM., Tinker AFB, Ok., and the Utah Air National Guard.
"It's a great thing being here," said Sullivan. "We bring a better sense of your safety and security. We're here to help."