Photo By Sgt. Mike MacLeod | Maj. Falah, an assistant training officer with the Abu Risha brigade of the Iraqi...... read more read more
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RAMADI, Iraq — Nearing the end of its mission in Iraq, a team of Missouri National Guardsmen training the Ramadi-area Abu Risha Federal Police Brigade successfully handed over training to the brigade's own officers March 31.
Maj. Rick Radford, operations officer for the Ar Ramadi Federal Police Transition Team, said that, while training will continue for another few weeks, the officers of the Abu Risha Brigade have taken ownership of what has been since September 2009 an American-led training program.
"We've come full circle with our 'training the trainer' concept," said Radford, who is also the chief financial officer for St. Charles Public Schools in St. Charles, Mo.
"When we first started with the brigade back in September, the officers would stand in the back and be very critical of us. But as you can see," he said during the Iraqi-led traffic-control point training, "they are out in front now."
The transition team is attached to the U.S. Army's first "production-model" advise-and-assist brigade, 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist), whose mission is to professionalize Iraqi security forces.
Col. Ala, the Abu Risha Brigade training officer and a former tanker who served in the Iraqi army during the Iraq-Iran War and the Gulf War, said the success was due to two years of hard work by his men and well-constructed, consistent training by the guardsmen.
The progress was in spite of significant challenges, not the least of which was the force's mission, according to Radford.
While the federal police can operate in cities — something the army cannot do — FP cannot arrest suspects or conduct investigations, two of the cornerstones of law enforcement, said Radford.
"Everything they do has to be funneled through the local Iraqi police," he said.
Originally meant to fill in the gap between army and police, the FP are still trying to find their mission, he said.
Gaining the support and respect of locals is an ongoing challenge. The brigade's name, Abu Risha, represents an effort by officials to strike a familiar cord with local Anbaris.
Sheik Abdul Sattar Abu Risha is a local hero who led the 2006-07 revolt to throw al Qaida out of Al Anbar province.
Though Abu Risha was killed by an al Qaida improvised explosive device in 2007, his brother, Sheik Ahmed Abu Risha, took over leadership of the movement.
As part of the ministry of interior, the federal police are short of funds, said Master Sgt. Troy Hoskins, non-commissioned officer in charge of the training team.
All enlisted "shurta" are paid as new recruits regardless of rank, and there have been no promotions since the brigade was stood up in May 2008. Additionally, there have been involuntary transfers to support the force in Mosul, he said.
"At times, morale is challenged," said Hoskins.
Supply issues experienced by the Abu Risha Brigade have hit close to home for the National Guard Soldiers, said Sgt. 1st Class Parrish Taggart, a visual information specialist and 24-year veteran of the Guard who was retrained as a communications specialist prior to this deployment.
"Their supply system is not unlike the Guard's. They have no inventory of parts," he said.
Repairs to the police-band radios are made off the local economy and paid for out of pocket, not unlike what Guard units have to do back in the States, he said.
In spite of the challenges, Taggart said working with the federal police was a very rewarding experience.
"It really beats doing combat patrols through their cities," he said.
Since September 2009, the transition team has taken a "train the trainer" approach, with special emphasis on skills the shurtas would need for national elections. After the elections, the team was asked to develop a year-round training cycle, said Maj. Mark Turner, the training team's intelligence officer.
Supporting the training's effectiveness is the Abu Risha Brigade's record. None of its members have been arrested or killed, and all of their missions have been successful, said Sgt. 1st Class Damon Hall, Turner's assistant.
"So far they seem to be regarded as trustworthy," said Turner.
During the final weeks of training, the guardsmen will conduct a review of all the training to date. Selected individuals will also be taught public affairs skills.
"Public affairs is one of the most important departments," said Maj. Falah, who ran the first Iraqi-led training exercise.
"They create an archive of the brigade, which can be used as evidence of our accomplishments to [the] leadership in Baghdad. It also gives us a public voice and introduces us to our neighbors," he said.
"The media is also well-known as the 'Fourth Estate,'" he said. "As the Fourth Estate, it is a tool against corruption, which is very important."
By the end of April, the Iraqi transition team will conclude its mission at Blue Diamond, a former estate of Saddam Hussein and home to the Abu Risha Brigade. The team does not anticipate being relieved in place by a follow-on unit, said Radford.
| Date Taken: | 03.31.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 04.04.2010 14:15 |
| Story ID: | 47677 |
| Location: | RAMADI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 319 |
| Downloads: | 211 |
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