Written by Spc. Richard Colletta, 1st Infantry Division Saturday, February 27, 2010
TIKRIT – The Iraqi Police in Salah ad-Din province took a huge step forward recently when they officially opened the doors to a new Iraq Ministry of Interior-funded Police Training Center (PTC) built to replace an older facility.
The new PTC, opened Feb. 22, boasts barracks space for IP and recruits, classrooms, a parade deck, dining facility and a shooting range in addition to other amenities needed to train and house the IP.
Built in only 11 months, the center will
provide advanced training in police operations to new recruits as well as current IP officers.
The Dean of the PTC, Col. Ziad Hamada Salih, said the opening shows they are prepared for the U.S. forces to begin drawing down later this year.
"This project will help a lot to train new Iraqi Police and will also benefit the people of the Salah ad-Din province." he said.
Since 2003, the IP and Iraqi Security Forces have developed force training for surveillance, counter-explosives and forensic investigations. They now have specialized forces including explosive ordinance disposal teams, K-9 handlers and Special Weapons and Tactics teams.
While U.S. forces traditionally have trained the IP, Maj. Victor Baez-An, a Stability Transition Team advisor with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, said recruits at the new center will be trained by fellow Iraqis, and that will be the biggest impact of this center.
"They have an Iraqi instructor, they have an Iraqi cadre, everything is in Arabic and from start to finish they will have a professional, well-organized place to attend classes," Baez-An said. "It's a first-class facility all the way."
As IP and ISF continue to grow and improve, attacks and security incidents have steadily declined.
Baez-An also highlighted the importance of the IP taking charge and leading their own training.
"The fact that they're doing this in their own facility … paid their own money, it will be more meaningful to them." he said.
The Dean of the PTC, Col. Ziad Hamada Salih, said the opening shows they are prepared for the U.S. forces to begin drawing down later this year.
"This project will help a lot to train new Iraqi Police and will also benefit the people of the Salah ad-Din province." he said.
Since 2003, the IP and Iraqi Security Forces have developed force training for surveillance, counter-explosives and forensic investigations. They now have specialized forces including explosive ordinance disposal teams, K-9 handlers and Special Weapons and Tactics teams.
While U.S. forces traditionally have trained the IP, Maj. Victor Baez-An, a Stability Transition Team advisor with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, said recruits at the new center will be trained by fellow Iraqis, and that will be the biggest impact of this center.
"They have an Iraqi instructor, they have an Iraqi cadre, everything is in Arabic and from start to finish they will have a professional, well-organized place to attend classes," Baez-An said. "It's a first-class facility all the way."
As IP and ISF continue to grow and improve, attacks and security incidents have steadily declined.
Baez-An also highlighted the importance of the IP taking charge and leading their own training.
"The fact that they're doing this in their own facility … paid their own money, it will be more meaningful to them." he said.
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