U.S. forces hold instructor-trainer course for Iraqi police

Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Jayson Price | An Iraqi policeman volunteers for a mock search during an instructor-trainer course conducted by the U.S. military aboard Camp Habbaniyah, Iraq, July 30. Thirty-three Iraqi policemen graduated from the training and are now qualified to instruct their peers at their own police stations.  

AL ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ

07.18.2009

Story by Staff Sgt. Jayson Price 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq — The U.S. Department of Defense has invested years of training into Iraq's military to help them become a formidable force against terrorists.

"The Iraqi army is surrounded by danger," said Capt. Mohammed Khalif, an Iraqi police officer, through a translator. "And the police face the same dangers."

In recognition of this, U.S. forces have been focusing on more detailed training with Iraqi police.

One service member from each branch of the U.S. military traveled to a police academy aboard Camp Habbaniyah, Iraq, July 18, to conduct a two-week course that included training in everything from crime scene investigation techniques to improvised explosive device awareness.

"We brought subject matter experts from those fields," said Gunnery Sgt. Michael D. Nutting, an explosive ordnance disposal officer for Multi-National Force - West. "The [Iraqi police] seem to appreciate it very much."

Nutting provided training on IED awareness and taught the 33 students how to identify components, pieces and parts of an IED. He also taught them how to identify unexploded ordnance by type and design and reactive procedures upon finding IEDs and UXO.

IED and UXO training is vital because Iraqi policemen have lost their lives dealing with such deadly devices. Instructors also provided classes that help police find the people responsible for these types of incidents.

To further the Iraqi police forces' ability to track down criminals who seek to disrupt peace in Iraq through acts of terrorism, the crime scene investigation training included lectures and demonstrations on subjects like taking evidence photographs, evidence documentation, finger printing and investigative techniques.

"This was something special," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Joshua Strang, an instructor from Weapons Intelligence Team 7. "So now that we've trained them and they are confident that they know what they are doing, they can take this information back to their [Iraqi police] stations and train the rest of their force."

"Their lectures were very professional," said Khalif, who attended the course. "We've already made paper and CD copies of the training, and we will develop our own lectures and pass the training onto officers at our police stations."

The type of training the U.S. provides in the future is up to the Iraqi police. If they ask for more training, the U.S. military will do everything it can to provide it.

"We continue to look for new training," said Col. Khalid Kharbit, training director for Camp Habbaniyah's police academy and the Habbaniyah district chief of police. "We want new courses, and we want to avoid past mistakes."

One of the main ideas behind the training is to ensure both the Iraqi military and Iraqi police have the information and knowledge necessary to work together. In a sense, sending an instructor from each service branch was a way to lead by example, showing the Iraqi police that it is very possible and very effective for separate organizations to work together toward the same goals.

• Date Taken: 07.18.2009
• Date Posted: 09.12.2009 04:53
• Story ID: 38654
• Location: AL ANBAR PROVINCE, IQ