| Fallujah Security Continues to Improve |
| Sunday, 22 June 2008 | |
|
FALLUJAH — Marines geared for war walk in tactical columns through the once mean streets of Fallujah, ready for what may lay around the next corner. “Mister, mister shokalata! Shokalata!”shout exuberant children from a crowded neighborhood as Marines and Iraqi police pass out candy. |
Marines with Company B, Police Transition Team 8, Regimental Combat Team 1, have been working diligently over the past few months to help train Iraqi police to take over their respective areas and become self-supportive in day-to-day operations in the city.
Recent increases in the number of Iraqi police have drastically subdued the violence in the city.
According to the Fallujah headquarters Chief of Police Col. Faisal, the number of Iraqi policemen has increased this year by more than 1,000 officers, and that is why security is better than it has been in four years.
“These guys are going out on a daily basis by themselves and coming back with suspect arrests,” said Lance Cpl. Andrew L. Walker, a 20-year-old police transition team member from Crane Hill, Ala. “For the most part, they are doing a really good job with many of the issues going on here.”
Marines with the transition team spend time mentoring Iraqi police and work with them to control the Mauallimeen area. Joint patrols in the city work to strengthen relationships with the IPs and Marines, and offer Marines a chance to evaluate how the police operate in various situations.
Team members work with the IPs and teach them specific weapons skills and how to handle their issued pistols and AK-47 assault rifles safely. Lessons are given on a weekly basis inside classrooms at police headquarters, which teach IPs fundamentals of marksmanship and how to function together as a team.
“The IPs are well trained in individual actions and capable of planning and conducting their own operations,” said Sgt. Stan C. Theisen, a 28-year-old platoon sergeant from Warren, Mich. “When we go on patrol, the IPs function the same a way a Marine Corps rifleman would.”
Iraqi Police are now fully functional 24-hours a day and remain alert for any situation that could arise in the city. The communication between local citizens and the IPs have allowed the IPs to regain control of many neighborhoods in the Fallujah area.
Many areas have bulletins posted on buildings and street corners that have the contact numbers for IP stations. Phones at Fallujah stations remain busy, as locals report suspicious activities to officials.
“We have made significant progress over the past few years, but there is still a lot of room for improvement to be made,” said Theisen. “The IPs still need work on learning that they have a chain of command and how to use small unit leadership.”
Police facilities at headquarters district now have commodities such as air-conditioning and electricity, as well as newly-built structural amendments that have given IPs a safer place to work.
Police use their own vehicles to patrol streets and check for unusual activities reported by civilians on a nearly daily basis. This month, 23 more vehicles have been put into operations to help strengthen security on the streets.
“We hope to one day see the Iraqis training themselves, instead of them relying on us for their training,” said Maj. Eric P. Dominijanni, police transition team leader, 35, and native to Forest Hills, N.Y.
Every day, new steps are being taken towards progress in the city. With the coalition forces’ guidance, the Iraq police are ensuring the safety of its community, and in hopes of one day becoming stand-alone, bringing Fallujah back to a state of normalcy.
| Operational Update: Rear Adm. Driscoll, Maj. Gen. Atta, June 22 |
|
|
Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, USF-I spokesman, and Maj. Gen. Qassim Atta, Iraqi spokesman, provide an Operational Update.
Feature Stories
| Ramadi Citizens Continue to Sign Up to Defend Their City |
|
In 2006, there were very few police in Ramadi when violence engulfed the city, the citizens lived in fear, and al-Qaida had a firm grip on the region. In the first two weeks of 2007, the city experienced an unexpected surge of applicants seeking to join the force. During that two-week span, more than 1,000 applicants sought law enforcement jobs in Ramadi. |
| Five Suspects Detained in Amarah |
| COB ADDER — Five suspected criminal extremists were detained by Iraqi security forces in Amarah June 20.
This brings the total number of detainees in “Operation Sign of Peace” to 17. “Operation Sign of Peace” is an Iraqi led, planned and executed operation in Amarah to enforce the rule of law, reduce criminal safe havens and disrupt weapons smuggling. Coalition forces are providing technical assistance, advice and support to this operation upon request from the GoI. |
| Iraqi Police, U.S. Soldiers Provide School Supplies, Goods to Locals |
|
In Iraq, on the other hand, a Marine gunner passing out pens and pencils to children from his turret or Marines delivering school supplies can always bring a smile to a their face. |
Watering Hole
| Sunday, 22 June 2008 | IPs help clean up Basra |
| Sunday, 22 June 2008 | ISF seize weapon caches, detain 2 (Amarah) |
| Sunday, 22 June 2008 | 7 IPs, 8 citizens killed, 45 more injured during blast (Baqubah) |
Patriotism
| Sunday, 22 June 2008 | ISF detain 5 suspected criminals in Amarah |
| Sunday, 22 June 2008 | ISF confiscate weapons caches in Baghdad |
| Sunday, 22 June 2008 | IA, MND-B Soldiers light up Baghdad neighborhood |
Harness the Power
| Sunday, 22 June 2008 | IPs, SOI, MND-B Soldiers seize weapons (Adhamiyah) |
| Sunday, 22 June 2008 | Iraqi National Police graduate Carabinieri training (Camp Dublin, Baghdad) |
| Sunday, 22 June 2008 | Mosul engineers reinforce the fight |
Business Boy
| Sunday, 22 June 2008 | MND-B Soldiers prevent Special Group criminals from emplacing IEDs, kill six (Baghdad) |
| Sunday, 22 June 2008 | Coalition forces continue to put pressure on AQI networks (Baghdad) |
| Sunday, 22 June 2008 | MND-B Soldiers detain suspected Special Groups criminal |
Stumble It!
