Photo By Staff Sgt. Jason Thompson | BAGHDAD - Maj. Timothy Johnston, instructor, Mobile Training Team, 49th Military...... read more read more
By Spc. Jason Thompson, 4th Inf. Div. PAO
BAGHDAD --The 372nd Military Police Battalion, an Army National Guard unit based out of Washington, D.C., assumed control from the 504th MP Battalion during a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Victory Wednesday.
"We plan on picking up right where 504th left off and continue the mission," said Command Sgt. Maj. Jacqueline Whitney, 372nd MP. "The 504th did a great job this past year, and I plan on our unit equaling their efforts of reconstructing the Iraqi Police."
The Multi-National Division " Baghdad military policemen will spend the next year coaching and mentoring the Iraqi police.
"Our mission is to help train the Iraqi police from ground zero, up to a level where the IPs can sustain themselves in providing security for the Iraqi people," said Lt. Col. Aaron Dean, commander, 372nd MP. "Our job is to coach, mentor and provide any further assistance they might need so the Iraqi patrolmen can perform the responsibilities that they are charged to do."
The 49th MP Bde. established a mobile training team to conduct train-the-trainer training for the 372nd MPs..
"Our brigade has the mission to expand the police partnership program that's been established throughout Baghdad over the past two years or so," said Maj. John Wallace, 49th MP Bde., chief, mobile training team.
"Right now, our task is training the team leaders so they may instruct their subordinates, who will in turn work with the Iraqi Police to build up the force and the IP may assume control.
"We're helping to establish a system for the Iraqi personnel to manage supplies, finance and other logistical operations to better help them maintain their own forces."
Once the Iraqi police teams are trained and resume control of the local communities, U.S. forces will continue to have a small presence with the Iraqis to provide support if needed.
"We are planning on having (Police Transition Teams) in all 18 provinces, including additional teams assisting individual stations," said Wallace.
The 372nd MP Battalion is poised and prepared to take over the mission handed down to them from 504th MP Battalion, Dean said. "I have a great group of citizen Soldiers from the D.C. area that I believe are ready to tackle the task at hand," said Dean.
"I look forward to working with them. I also look forward to working with a mixture of both active and reserve component Soldiers within the battalion."
| Date Taken: | 01.24.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 01.24.2006 11:49 |
| Story ID: | 5186 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 419 |
| Downloads: | 50 |
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