Photo By Timothy Koster | Iraqi National Policemen in formation listen to words of praise from their commander...... read more read more
BAGHDAD - A convoy of police trucks arrives in unison to a range house. National police trainees dismount and form a single-file line and approach the door. They stack against a wall and prepare to breach the threshold. The sudden eruption of a flash-bang grenade catches any possible threat inside off guard. The team rushes in and apprehends a high value target. They envelop the person and take him into custody before escorting him to the vehicles outside.
The Ministry of Interior National Police Special Training Academy’s personal security detachment conducted an operations training demonstration at Camp Dublin, July 16. The perfectly-choreographed exercise exhibited that training can make precise tactical movements appear effortless.
Since its inception in 2008, the academy has completed 15 training cycles, qualifying 7,000 national policemen to serve around Iraq. Guided by staff Maj. Gen. Montadher Mohammed Fat'hi, the academy’s mission is to train the federal police and trainees from the MOI.
“We had 58 enlisted trainees and eight officers when we started, now we have over 1,000 enlisted and 60 officers,” said Fat'hi. “I am very proud of the people here.”
The facility has been in construction for the past two years. Since its groundbreaking, the academy has quickly developed into the premiere training ground it is today. It has a great reputation due to its strict standards of training and physical fitness, said Fat’hi.
Inductees must complete two phases of training, basic and advanced, before entering the academy.
U.S. forces and NATO Carabinieri, an Italian training team based at Camp Dublin, assists with the intensive training. In the past, they were the primary trainers. Now, they are observers of the Iraqi policemen training new recruits.
The U.S. forces provided equipment such as plans for building training ranges, blank ammunition for situational training and armored vehicles, said Fat'hi. “It is critical to have the right equipment to provide training.”
The Iraq Train and Assist Mission commander maintains "life support" of the training facility, said Lt. Col. Michael McHall, former ITAM commander. “It was a great event to witness the Iraqis take over training their own recruits, and I have confidence in their success.”
As U.S. forces continue their reposturing efforts, the success of these training missions will fall entirely on the Iraqis who have been selected to train their own.
| Date Taken: | 07.16.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.26.2011 02:18 |
| Story ID: | 74320 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 112 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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