Photo By 1st Lt. William Marquez | At an entry control point into the International Zone in Baghdad, an Iraqi police...... read more read more
BAGHDAD — The International Zone is the center of Iraq's government and the home of America's New Embassy Compound. As the location where America partners with Iraq at the highest diplomatic and military levels, when the IZ is not secure, the Iraqi and American partnership is threatened. The 571st Military Police Company, of Fort Lewis Wash. every day helps ensure that this strategic relationship between Iraq and the US can develop in a safe environment.
From sunrise to sunset, and throughout the night and early morning, the 571st of the 336th Military Police Battalion, 49th Military Police Brigade, performs security missions that help defend the IZ against violent extremists. Whether Soldiers from the 571st are working with the Iraqi police at entry control points to sensitive sites or are responding with the Iraqi Army to attacks and possible threats, the 571st is continuously engaged in operations that help make the IZ a place where the business of government can be conducted without fear.
At entry control points located near Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission, Soldiers of the 571st support the Iraqi Police as they check vehicles and pedestrians on their way to the IHEC. The IHEC is where the millions of ballots cast in the most recent national parliamentary elections were counted. In the words of the commander of the 571st, Capt. Daniel Naab, "The IHEC is the center of gravity immediately following Iraq's elections."
An important tool the 571st uses to support the Iraqi police operating near the IHEC is a Back-Scatter Van. Soldiers call the Back-Scatter Van "the milk truck." It is a plain small van that is completely white, except for its tires and darkened windows. The van is used to detect possible threats that cannot be identified with the naked eye. "When we see something suspicious, we will ask Iraqis to stop the vehicle and search it. The Iraqis will stop any vehicle we need searched. They seem to like us helping them out," said Cpl. Paul Zelaya.
The noncommissioned officer in charge of the Iraqi Police who control the entry point that Zelaya's team supports, Sgt. Maj. Ali, sees his police and Zelaya's team sharing the same job. "The Coalition and my team have respect for security. We help each other, the Iraqi people, and the Iraqi government. We have the same mission," said Ali.
A female Iraqi police officer, Mont-ha, who is responsible for searching females at the control point, admires 1st Lt. Angela Zecca, the platoon leader responsible for assisting the ISF at the entry control points around the IHEC. "She is a woman in a leadership position. She checks on her guys, commands, holds meetings, and makes sure everyone is OK," said officer Mont-ha. "Everybody likes Zecca because she loves to talk to people. She is nice."
An employee of the IHEC, Mohammed Othman, who passes through Zecca's and Mont-ha's control point at least five days a week, feels the Iraqi police and the Americans at the ECP are making his workplace safe. "I feel very safe. The Iraqi police and Iraqi army do a very good job. They do not miss anything. They do full searches and are very professional. They treat everyone the same," said Othman. As for the Americans at the control point, Othman said, "They are here to help us. They are not here to hurt us."
Zecca's 2nd platoon is not the only platoon in the 571st defending the IZ with Iraqi Security Forces. First platoon of the 571st also assists the Iraqi Security Forces in the IZ. Upon request of the Iraqi army, and whenever American personnel and facilities are threatened, First platoon is ready to respond within minutes. First platoon is one of the few Quick Reaction Force elements in the IZ. The leader of 1st squad, 1st platoon, Sgt. Shawn Collins, believes the safety of the IZ is strategically important to the legitimacy of Iraq's government. "The IZ is a hot-spot. If the enemy can attack the IZ, it will look bad for the government of Iraq and Iraq's Security Forces," said Collins.
Collins, who worked with the Iraqi police in a previous deployment to Iraq, has confidence in the abilities of the Iraqi Security Forces. He has seen the ISF progress, and he has seen the relationship between the ISF and American forces change. "During my last deployment, I told them what to do. This time, it is different. If they need our help, we will assist them. They are pretty high-speed and on-point," says Collins.
Capt. Haider Mousa, a commander in the Iraqi Army's 56th Brigade, agrees with Collins that the relationship between American forces and the Iraqi Army is one of partnership with ISF in the lead. "We work as one team. When we can't find a solution, the Americans help us when we ask for assistance," said Mousa.
The 56th Brigade is the ISF element primarily responsible for defending the IZ. With the help of the 571st, the 56th is committed to the progress of Iraq's young democratic government. As Mousa says, "Democracy is a victory."
| Date Taken: | 04.06.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 04.06.2010 03:49 |
| Story ID: | 47723 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 634 |
| Downloads: | 383 |
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