Photo By Staff Sgt. Edward Siguenza | Staff Sgt. Brian Bullock of Morro Bay, Calif. and member of the 49th Military Police...... read more read more
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq — Add another chapter into the 49th Military Police Brigade's history book.
The Fairfield-based unit of the California Army National Guard shared a part of this country's historic effort March 7 when millions voted in Iraq's national election. The 49th sent its own Soldiers into Baghdad to assist Iraqi police with various security operations. And like the nation's citizens, the Iraqi police and the 49th braved a barrage of incidents that tried to lure voters away from polls.
"The role of the 49th was to provide back-up as an on-site security force, in the event one was needed," said Brig. Gen. Donald Currier, 49th commander. "Our role was to provide a back-up direct communications link with maneuver units and to provide advice and mentorship to IP leaders."
Several California Army National Guardsmen got on-hands involvement that day. With assistance from the 229th Military Police Company from the Virginia Army National Guard — one of two subordinate units at Camp Liberty — elements were situated at two locations: Patrol Headquarters and Provincial Directorate of Police headquarters. Soldiers roomed and ate with Iraqi counterparts for days leading up to the election.
Maj. Jeanette Stuart, 49th's officer in charge of Iraqi police services national transition team, led the Patrol Headquarters element. She led a team of six who served as the "conduit" for getting information to and from United States Forces-Iraq and the Iraqi Patrol Police.
"The 49th has been partnering with various IP agencies in Baghdad to provide mentoring, training, support and assistance, as required," said the Reno, Nev. resident. "The Iraqi Police Services successfully assisted in providing security for the Government of Iraq Elections. They were able to prevent violent extremists from influencing or disrupting the Iraqi election process. The public gained confidence in the Iraqi police's ability to provide civil security."
In Baghdad alone, more than 120 incidents, ranging from explosions to other types of attacks, occurred. Most incidents happened within two or three hours after voting sites opened. But even President Obama praised the Iraqi people for not being intimidated.
"Today, in the face of violence from those who would only destroy, Iraqis took a step forward in the hard work of building up their country," the president said (www.whitehouse.gov). "Today's voting makes it clear that the future of Iraq belongs to the people of Iraq."
"Most of the explosions were small explosions, un-aimed rockets and mortars, and sporadic small arms fire designed to scare voters away from the polls," added Staff Sgt. Clinton Bayoneta, 49th's Personal Security Detachment noncommissioned officer in charge, after receiving updates from headquarters. "It kind of sounded like the Fourth of July as we lost count of the number of explosions we heard, but I think it helped my team get a little more focused on what they needed to do."
Bayoneta and more than a dozen PSD members escorted Currier to PDOP and Patrol Headquarters. They drove more than 35 miles through Baghdad, he said. All returned unscathed and ready for another mission.
"With some of the bigger explosions we had to make some detours because of emergency vehicle traffic and the threat of secondary explosions," added Bayoneta of Fairfield.
This election, says Currier, was of special interest. When the 49th deployed in 2005-06, he witnessed the December 2005 general election. The 49th was strongly involved with that process by directing IPs, said the general. But this year, the 49th was in a supporting role. The unit became the important front seat passenger, but not the driver. It observed and provided advice. It let the Iraqis run their own operation.
"The fact that they were able to coordinate their planning and execution with other security forces demonstrated a capability that they did not have a short time ago," Currier explained. "The Iraqi police demonstrated their ability to plan and execute security operations for the elections in Baghdad. That entailed a comprehensive effort to plan and execute polling station security, checkpoints, curfew enforcement, effective vehicle movement restriction and a public information campaign that reassured its citizens that they were as safe as possible."
The role of the 49th represented that of US forces throughout Iraq. At PDOP, the 229th Soldiers over-watched checkpoints manned by Iraqi police. The Iraqi police executed all vehicle and personnel searches. At Patrol Headquarters as well, the 229th served as a 24-hour security unit. Both elements were on stand-by if there was a need for investigative assistance.
Neither the 49th or 229th was called upon. That's credit to the Iraqi police for having control of their operation.
"The take-away from this event is that the Iraqi police have dramatically increased their professionalism, capabilities and leadership," the general added. "They can still benefit from U.S. partnership, but that is no longer a junior-senior partnership. It is a partnership of equals -- each with strengths that benefit one another."
Election preparation was extensive. Stuart set her mission up in three stages. One involved meeting Iraqi Maj. Gens. Safaa and Nadhem, Patrol Police deputy commander and operations deputy commander, respectively. Preparation was days, even weeks out, prior to March 7.
"When our team first arrived they were a little hesitant to have a female [officer in charge] living and working with them in close quarters," Stuart said. "After the first day, the barriers disappeared and they would freely ask me questions and give me information."
Bayoneta prepped his PSD team by having them check and re-check vehicles and weapons. They went through battle drills. They assured their electronic warfare systems and equipment were properly functioning. They secured proper documentation to be on the road.
"We knew about this mission about a week out and focused on preparing for it daily," he said. "We went through extensive battle drills from down vehicle recovery to every member of our team successfully sticking each other [intravenously] the day prior."
Sacramento resident Sgt. 1st Class Arne Eastlund, 49th's NCOIC at PDOP, took majority of his team to the location two weeks earlier. They unloaded cots, water and food. They coordinated with IP's on his team's responsibility as well as what role they would play during the election.
"If we were to do less than what we prepared to do, that's a positive thing for the Iraqi police," Eastlund said. "This is their show. It's their mission. They need to understand we're not going to be here much longer. So they have to work amongst themselves, work together to make it happen."
Back at Camp Liberty, the rest of the 49th tended to daily operations. Soldiers still heard the distant blasts and explosions. To them, it was the sound of a new era in Iraq. It was the sound of courage — of people not deterred by bombs but determined to better their country by voting.
And those 49th Soldiers sent into Baghdad? They not only heard the courage. They witnessed history.
| Date Taken: | 03.19.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 03.19.2010 06:36 |
| Story ID: | 46884 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 800 |
| Downloads: | 484 |
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