Hard Training and Teamwork Pay Off for Thar-Thar Police

Photo By Staff Sgt. Russell Klika | Iraqi Policemen of the Thar-Thar Police Station execute a drill for the 978th Military Police Transition Team, of Fort Bliss, Texas, on how they will defend their station in case of attack in Samarra, Iraq.  

SAMARRA, IRAQ

07.01.2006

Courtesy Story

133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

SAMARRA, Iraq (July 01, 2006)"Months of hard work and constant training are paying off as a well trained Iraqi Police force emerges in Samarra where one did not exist before.

The Police Transition Team, 978th Military Police Company, from Fort Bliss, Texas, attached to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division are witnesses to what hard work can do.

After months of hard training and teamwork, they are finally able to see the end result as policemen from the Thar-Thar Police Station in Samarra demonstrated to them their ability to defend their station.

When Coalition Force Soldiers first started to train the Iraqi Police in December, the policemen at this station had no training at all. They now have a training calendar in place and are improving their proficiency every day.

"The first thing we did when we started the training was to identify the five strongest IPs and put them in charge of the five training sections," said Staff Sgt. Victor Hendricks, a PTT member.
The five sections include logistics, training, operations, investigations, intelligence plus the maintenance of the Detention facilities.

"Once these sections were up and running, we started to train them in areas they never had training in," said Hendricks.
The Soldiers started teaching the IP patrol techniques and worked them up to force protection and checkpoint techniques.
"They now do all three very well," said Hendricks. "As the training progressed, and friends were made, the IP started to bring us food and sharing family photos with us."

The Soldiers also taught the IP search techniques and how to conduct curfew patrols.
"They have come a very long way in a very short time. It was evident in the way they conducted their drill today," said Hendricks. "It was a great experience for all."

The unit as a whole was very happy to have a hand in taking the IP from a low level of training and experience, and bringing them to a higher level to facilitate their success.

"This was a great learning experience for all of us," said Hendricks. "It was a very rewarding mission. One that I'm glad I was involved in."

• Date Taken: 07.01.2006
• Date Posted: 07.05.2006 13:04
• Story ID: 7038
• Location: SAMARRA, IQ