Power of cooperation: Military Police, Iraqi Police work together

Photo By Sgt. Joshua Risner | Staff Sgt. Preston O'Neal (left), a squad leader assigned to 463rd Military Police Company, 93rd MP Battalion, 8th MP Brigade, hands a flier to a local in the Amariyah neighborhood, April 29.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

05.01.2009

Story by Sgt. Joshua Risner 

Multi-National Division Baghdad

BAGHDAD — The heat of the day is rising as military policemen of the 463rd Military Police Company, 93rd MP Battalion, 8th MP Brigade, along with their Iraqi police counterparts, move through a market in the Amariyah neighborhood, April 29.

They move through an intersection that looks just like the others they have encountered during the day but this one has significance, according to Staff Sgt. Preston O'Neal, a squad leader assigned to the 463rd MP Co.

"You see this intersection here, there used to be a lot of [improvised explosive devices] at this intersection," the native of Dixon, Mo. said. "Now people let us know if they see somebody placing something."

This peaceful intersection is indicative of the security progress made in Amariyah, said O'Neal, who attributes it to the increased competence of the Iraqi police.

"One thing a lot of the people wanted to know today was the phone number to the police station, so they could call them in the future if something bad happens," he said.

The patrol through a market in Amariyah was not just about keeping the bad guys at bay, O'Neal explained. It was also about letting the IPs take the lead to establish a presence in the community and to be involved with the concerns of the local populace.

The IPs, along with the 463rd MPs, stopped by several shops to talk with shop owners.

"We just asked them, you know, how business is and how things are going in the community," said O'Neal. "It helps show the people that we care and that we're concerned with their well-being."

When children would happen past, the IPs handed them gifts: boxes of colored pencils and other things, to cultivate good will.

"We bought some things from one of the local stores to help the economy and then let the IPs hand it out to kids," O'Neal said.

But gifts were not all that was handed out today. Part of the mission involved the distribution of anti-RKG-3 anti-tank grenade fliers.

"It has a picture of an RKG-3 on it; what to do if a local sees one lying around and how to identify if somebody is carrying one around," O'Neal explained. "That way they can notify the [Iraq security forces] and hopefully we can get it before it's deployed."

At the end of the mission, the IPs and MPs travelled back to the Amariyah Station and conducted an after action review. After discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the day's mission, the two units, differing in culture but united in purpose, parted ways. The 463rd MPs returned to Victory Base Complex, confident that their operation had contributed to the continued security of Iraq.

• Date Taken: 05.01.2009
• Date Posted: 05.01.2009 01:54
• Story ID: 33076
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ