Photo By Maj. Joseph Sowers | Capt. Dave J. Smith, commander of Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry...... read more read more
by Maj. Joe Sowers, 3rd Brigade Combat Team (Heavy) Public Affairs
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Representatives from 3rd Brigade Combat Team (Heavy), Iraqi police, Iraqi army and the government of the Mada'in Qada gathered Sept. 19 at Forward Operating Base Hammer to discuss security issues and initiatives.
The purpose of the meeting was to synchronize the efforts of all units to decrease violence and secure the population of the Mada'in Qada.
Mada'in Qada Mayor Abu Bahar expressed his appreciation of the Iraqi army's participation in the meeting. Iraqi army units are a recent addition to Iraqi security forces in the region.
During the meeting, unit representatives briefed their counterparts on current and future operations. Much time was dedicated to propose improvements to ISF facilities and plans to integrate concerned citizens groups into security efforts.
Concerned citizens groups within the Mada'in Qada are a new development. Leaders from 3rd HBCT estimate about 1,000 local citizens now play a role as part of concerned citizens groups. The concerned citizens are groups of Iraqi volunteers who cooperate with coalition forces to drive terrorists and insurgents from their own neighborhoods.
"This is a huge success," Bahar said through an interpreter. "We would like to expand this concept to other regions."
Bahar also said he has begun discussions with local leaders to initiate additional volunteer groups in areas that currently have no such organization.
Lt. Col. Ryan J. Kuhn, deputy commander of 3rd HBCT, concurred with the mayor that concerned citizens were having a positive effect. He went on to emphasize that 3rd HBCT leadership is prepared to begin discussion with any local sheik interested in establishing a group of volunteers and encouraged his ISF counterparts to actively seek out volunteer leaders.
Brig. Gen. Adnon, the Chief of Iraqi police in the Qada, provided an update on a recent IP recruiting drive. He estimated that 80 percent of the 122 recruits have completed all prerequisites for admittance in the police academy with the exception of physicals.
Maj. Dave Fivecoat, 3rd HBCT operations officer, outlined the brigade's plan to establish two Joint Security Sites. The JSS would serve as command posts with representation from all ISF elements, local government and 3rd HBCT.
Kuhn said the establishment of Joint Security Sites would allow security forces to conduct coordinated security operations 24 hours a day.
"There are a lot of great things going on in the Mada'in Qada due to everyone's hard work," Kuhn said. "We have seen a significant decrease in violence in the Mada'in Qada."
The 3rd HBCT is assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March.
| Date Taken: | 09.20.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 09.24.2007 11:25 |
| Story ID: | 12521 |
| Location: | FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, IQ |
| Web Views: | 140 |
| Downloads: | 129 |
This work, Leaders discuss security issues, by MAJ Joseph Sowers, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
