River Police Lock It Up

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs  

11.07.2010  Story by Pvt. Deangelo Wells AMARAH, Iraq – A group of 25 Iraqi river policemen graduated from a five-day training course instructed by soldiers assigned to 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, at the Iraqi Police Academy Oct. 27.

The honor graduates for the police training pose for a picture with Capt. Thomas Nelson, from Williams Bay, Wis., Company B commander, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, and Lt. Col. Jabar Majid, Iraqi Training Center commander  Photo by Pvt. Deangelo Wells

The course included classes on

room clearance, urban maneuver techniques, close quarter combat drills, raid entry, and detainee search procedures. Iraqi policemen were taught how to correctly search, raid, and detain criminals.

“The Iraqis showed a lot of interest in the classes we held for them,” said 1st Lt. Jerad Linder, from Leavenworth, Kan., platoon leader, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. “Some took control of the situation in certain exercises, and displayed their abilities to be future team leaders.”

The river policemen demonstrated their skills on the final day, when they maneuvered in formations, breached and cleared rooms, and secured a building.

The Iraqi policemen were honored in a graduation ceremony after completing the course. Two students distinguished themselves from the rest of the class by showing a deeper understanding of combat medical training and were awarded honor graduate plaques.

Lt. Col. Jabar Mahid, the Iraqi Training Center commander, spoke to the river police on their achievements and his expectations for their future.

“They performed well here and showed me that they want to do something good for Iraq,” said Linder. “I believe that these guys want to improve Iraq as much as possible.”