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Military News : Allies Last Updated: Apr 13, 2007 - 4:10:48 PM
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Publications Iraqi Police: Three provinces graduate officers; making one team, one fight Email this article Go
By Maj. Eric Verzola, 4th BCT (Airborne), 25th Inf. Div. Printer friendly page
OF INTEREST Apr 13, 2007 - 4:08:01 PM All Categories
Employment Over 5000 Searchable Articles
Links Blackanthem Military News, KALSU, Iraq — The feeling in the air was
a mixture of happiness, pride, satisfaction, and a hint of melancholy.
Photo Gallery Allies
The bright Iraqi sun hung in the sky like a glowing ember of coal, as
Weapons graduates of the third Iraqi Police Sustainment Training program Latest Headlines
Contact staged their luggage and books for movement back to their Photo : Partners in Security
Veterans can obtain respective home provinces April 10.
Iraqi Police: Three provinces
information on how to use This was the first class that included IP from the three provinces of graduate officers; making one
their benefits to get a Babil, Karbala, and An Najaf. Babil sent 17 police officers, Karbala team, one fight
VA Loan 20, and An Najaf 10.
VISIT TO HELP SUPPORT JCC hosts town council
This diversity in provinces, while training as one unit was reflected in meeting
the graduation class remarks of Lt. Col. Greg Bell, commander, 2nd
Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade ISOF Continues Push Through
Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division. Fallujah
Iraqi Police Detain Suspects
“This graduation truly symbolizes that the IP train and fight as a
team,” said Bell and an Oak Hill, W. Va., native. Involved in Chlorine IEDs
Iraqi Police officers from An Najaf, Babil and Karbala
The military liaison instructor for the class, Sgt. 1st Class Matt Ivacic, provinces work together in a team building exercise at
a military policeman and native of Orange County, Calif., saw Forward Operating Base Kalsu during Iraqi Police
firsthand the effect of having the three provinces together for this Sustainment Training Class 07-03 April 2. The program is
program. designed to increase and sustain law enforcement skills that
will be valuable in peace enforcement in the three provinces.
“When this class started, I could see that the class divided on a The course ran from April 1-10. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st
provincial level,” said Ivacic. “But as the class went on, I could see Class Matthew Ivacic)
them grow closer and build ties.

“Today, at the end of the program, in very short period of time, these men have formed life long bonds by working and living together
for only 10 days, but where the real root took hold was the deep understanding that occurs when they see that they share the same
struggles and hardships that all law enforcement personnel share and, even more so here where the dangers on your life as an IP
are tremendous,” Ivacic said.

The instructors in the program, called Iraqi Police Liaison Officers, feel that the 10 days of training offered in police work is just the
right time to sustain and develop peace officers for a more secure Iraq in the future.

“One way we are able to see the fruit of our labors is going out to the stations and doing visits with the IPs, along with Police
Transitions Teams,” said Nathan Wheeler, an instructor and a native of Faulkton, S.D. “These visits let us see the men perform on
the job and we can see that they do stand out from their peers.”
Wheeler reflected on the motivation he observed as he trained the class.

“I could clearly see that these men are eager and willing to go out and do their duties as law enforcement officers,” said the former
Sioux City Police Department officer. “Most Americans back home don’t always realize that the IP face a tremendous challenge,
unlike anything most law enforcement personnel in the U.S. usually faces on a daily basis.

“While this program is a great resource, many of the IP face tremendous challenges due to the amount of training they may have
received, and the equipment challenges they have; you might say that the challenges they face are a different kind of challenge than
what American law enforcement faces because we get what we need to go out a do our job, but in Iraq it is a challenge,” said
Wheeler.

In some cases, he noted that the families of some Iraqi policemen are targeted by insurgents because they support the government
of Iraq and are willing to enforce the law with illegally armed militias.

But he stated that as he goes out and sees the Iraqi policemen in action, he recognizes more students he has worked with through
the course doing an exemplary job despite the challenges, which gives him great hope for the future in Iraq.

This hope is realized through this program designed to improve the IP in their security and law enforcement missions.

The three ancient provinces represented in this graduation class can be proud and confident in these men who will fulfill their duties
as Iraqi Policemen.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:

Iraqi Police officers from An Najaf, Babil and Karbala

Iraqi Police officers from An Najaf, Babil and Karbala
provinces share a humorous moment at Forward Operating
Base Kalsu during Iraqi Police Sustainment Training Class 07-
03 April 2. The program is designed to increase and sustain
law enforcement skills that will be valuable in peace
enforcement. The course taught classes in theory of law,
practical law, and human rights as well as hands-on training
in self-defense and police work. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st
Class Matthew Ivacic)
provinces observe instruction in hand-to-hand combat at
Forward Operating Base Kalsu during Iraqi Police
Sustainment Training Class 07-03 April 5. Sgt. 1st Class
Scott Self, a level four Army combatives instructor who hails
from Omaha, Neb., but now lives in Anchorage, Alaska,
demonstrates a take down on Sgt. 1st Class Matt Ivacic,
military policeman from Orange County, Calif., to their Iraqi
students. The course ran from April 1-10. (U.S. Army photo)
 Iraqi Police officers from An Najaf, Babil and Karbala
provinces take aim at the range at Forward Operating Base
Kalsu during Iraqi Police Sustainment Training Class 07-03
April 9. The program is designed to increase and sustain law
enforcement skills that will be valuable in peace enforcement
in the respective provinces. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st
Class Matt Ivacic)

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