Multi-National Division - North www.1ad.army.mil Volume 1 Issue 46 Page 1 Sep. 22, 2008 IP Stations set to open across Salah ad Din The al Answar station is the The Answar station rated high Story and photos by first in a flurry of police stations marks from its police transition Sgt. Rick Rzepka set to open in the expansive team mentors, who assessed the 1st BCT, 101st Airborne Div. northern province in the next station’s readiness on a scale of several months. Thirteen more one to four. raqi security in the Salah ad stations in the province are A station that requires a great IDin province got a shot in the scheduled to be validated by deal of logistical and training arm as the first in a series of local Coalition Forces, said Capt. support from their Coalition police stations opened its doors James Bloom, 1st Brigade partners is rated as a four, while to join the fight to secure Iraq’s Combat Team, 101st Airborne stations that demonstrate a high streets. Division provost marshal. level of competency in logistics Dozens gathered in the midst A station that meets the and community policing are of a dust storm, an IP station validation criteria means they no given a rating of one, said Bloom. validation ceremony marked the longer require Coalition support “The guidelines are very clear,” opening of the al Answar Police in the areas of training, logistics he said. “They either meet them Station in the town of al Secour, and basic police skills, said or they don’t.” part of the Tikrit police district. Bloom. While the readiness assessment takes into account logistical factors, such as availability of weapons and body armor, it also weighs the policemen’s capacity to conduct rudimentary policing skills. Being able to respond in a timely manner to a call or to conduct a low level investigation is critical not just to the station’s rating, but to the people it serves. “Overall the Iraqi public believes that the Iraqi police are a force that can and will protect them,” said Bloom, who attributes the decline in violent attacks in Salah ad Din to a more confident, proactive police force. The focus on community level policing is a major factor in the turnaround here, said Bloom. An Iraqi Policeman stands guard near the new al Answar Police Station in al Secour, Iraq. The station is the first in a series to be validated by the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. See IP Stations on Page 3 Page 2 Sep. 22, 2008 Iraqi Police take care of business vehicle searches, marksmanship, Story and photos by dismounted patrolling and Staff Sgt. Kyle J. Richardson detainee procedures, said Capt. 11th Public Affairs Detachment Tony Massari from upstate N.Y., the commander for Company B, ne… two… three—the 1-8 Inf. Regt. “I’m confident in Osignal is given; with a fierce the ability of the ISF. They are kick, the door crashes open. taking initiative; they’re getting Before the door makes contact out there, planning missions and with the adjacent wall, the ordering clearances. Every now Emergency Response Battalion and again we’ll get word that 4 flood into the living room of the IP just conducted a clearance a house in a small village in the operation. Sgt. Eric Dupuy a team leader with Company B, eastern region of Mosul, Iraq. 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, and 1st Lt. Soldiers with the War- Zachery Brown, a platoon leader with Company B, The ER 4 is one of several machines helped to clear several 1-8 Inf. Regt., approach several Iraq Police officers special tactics units within the who are attached to the Emergency Response homes, however, their main Team 4, in the eastern part of Mosul, Iraq. ER 4 is Iraqi National Police force. ER mission was to provide guidance comprised of more than 100 IP. 4 is comprised of approximately and over-watch security 100 Iraqi Police. while the IP cordoned-off the people respond better when ER 4 applied the training neighborhood and searched they see one of their own trying provided to them by the War- homes door-to-door. to restore the order and peace machines, Company B, 1st “Today was hands off in their village, said Spc. Eric Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment for us,” said 1st Lt. Douglas Allen, a native of Elizabethtown, during a clearing operation. Bogdanowitz, Ft. Worth, Texas Ky., radio operator for Company We’ve trained units on native, a platoon B, 1-8 Inf. Regt. during clearing leader for the operations. 1-8 Inf. Regt. “The Iraqi citizens like to war-machines. have the presence of the police We’re here around; it makes them feel a to provide little more secure,” said 1st Lt. security while Zachery Brown, a platoon leader the IP conduct with Company B, 1-8 Inf. Regt. business as Although no munitions or usual. weapons caches were found, the Coalition ER 4 detained five individuals Forces are listed on their high-valued stepping back individual list. to allow the Today was the beginning of IP to step-up a solution, said Massari. “The and regain IP are starting to take control of control of their their streets. Today was a good A member of the Emergency Response Team 4 patrols the streets of Quds during a clearing operation in eastern Mosul, Iraq. The ER 4 team detained neighborhoods. day, and the IP continue to work five individuals who were listed on their high-valued individual list. The Iraqi for a better future.” Commanding General: Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling Contributing Writers: Sgt. Rick Rzepka, Staff Sgt. Kyle J. Richardson, Public Affairs Officer: Maj. Margaret Kageleiry Pfc. Adam Carl Blazak Public Affairs NCOIC: Master Sgt. Nancy Morrison Layout and Design: Spc. Karla P. Elliott, 14th PAD Editor: Staff Sgt. Mark Albright, 14th Public Affairs Detachment Contact the Iron Strong at VOIP: 242-1190, DSN: 318-849-0089 or email [email protected] The “Iron Strong” is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of the “Iron Strong” are not necessarily official veiws of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the Task Force Iron. All editorial content of this publication is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the Task Force Iron Public Affairs Office. Page 3 Sep. 22, 2008 IP Stations from Page 1 The province has more than 15,000 active policemen walking the beat and approximately 117 police stations that have been mentored by the 1st BCT’s Police Transition Teams during the past year. The transition teams, which are similar to Military Transition Teams, are made up of highly trained Soldiers who pass on experience and expertise in the area of security and policing to their Iraqi counterparts. They focus and assist on the The main bridge over the Tigris River connecting Mosul and Baiji near Qayyarah suffered heavy damage basics of police administration after insurgents used a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device to damage a section of the crossing to increase efficiency and last year. The bridge is currently being reconstructed by an Iraqi contractor who is funded by the Government of Iraq. enhance the management of the IP stations,” said Maj. Richard Dixon, 1st Brigade Combat Team Bridging the way to a better infrastructure police transition team chief. The teams have been out to help its people. A local mentoring Iraqi policemen in Story and photo by contractor was hired to repair the Salah ad Din for the past 12 Pfc. Adam Carl Blazak damaged 65 meters of the 300 months and have had a dramatic 11th Public Affairs Detachment meter bridge after excavating the effect on their confidence, concrete, which had fallen into the proficiency and competency in fter the main bridge over the river. community policing, said Dixon. ATigris River connecting Mosul “This is putting an Iraqi face and Baiji suffered damage from a on improving their infrastructure,” vehicle-borne improvised explosive said Colorado Springs, Colo. native device in November of last year, the Master Sgt. Alfred R. Ronneburg, U.S. Army jumped in to the rescue. operations non-commissioned The immediate reaction was to officer for 1-3 ACR. put in an armored vehicle launch But in order to even start the bridge so U.S. security forces construction a land jetty or a could continue to logistically temporary prier was positioned in resupply Troops, said East Lansing, the river so heavy equipment could Mich. native Capt. Andrew M. get to the center of the bridge, Chegwidden, assistant S3 for 1st Chegwidden said. Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Now, almost a year later, Regiment. the bridge is well on its way to But the crossing was too completion. important for the local population “It’s expected to finish in April to limit it to military convoys. of next year,” Chegwidden said. “This is used as a main trading This is another example of route,” Chegwidden said. how the Iraqi Security Forces are Again, the U.S. Army stepped taking the lead in their own country, in to help by placing an assault Ronneburg said. float bridge 100 meters south of This shows Iraq’s ability to the crossing. The main roads repair damaged infrastructure, were rerouted to the AFB, which Chegwidden said. caters to both civilian and military “They paid for it, they planned vehicles. However, this is not a it and now they are executing it,” permanent fix. An Iraqi Policeman stands silhouetted against he said.