Iraq
BAGHDAD – Task Force Nassir, a four-phase training course here designed to enhance the combat and leadership skills of Iraqi Federal Police, is now taught exclusively by Iraqi instructors.
"The instructors have been great," Renwick said. "We're always here to provide the extra resources and helping hands, but they're doing a great job teaching their [policemen]."
The training in TF Nassir starts with basic assessments and training in a classroom environment, with the later stages moving into real-world scenarios. Basic rifle marksmanship, machine gun familiarization, individual patrol movements and evidence handling techniques are all parts of the second phase of training and are taught by members of 3rd Brigade, 1st Iraqi FP. U.S. Soldiers are present for all classes to provide oversight and assistance.
Renwick, a native of Fayetteville, N.C., said he has been impressed with the enthusiasm and cooperation of the shurta (FP) during the program, which has went through several changes over the past year due to changes in the FP operational environment. Some tasks have been added or modified at the request of the instructors, who brought real-world experience to the course.
For example, traffic control points are a permanent structure in Baghdad, whereas U.S. Soldiers are used to controlling a temporary TCP. The class needed to be altered to fit the local situation.
"We're doing our best to train the shurta. They're being trained on things they really need," said 1st Lt. Haydar Abd Almajeed, 3rd Bde., 1st IFP, the officer in charge of TF Nassir.
Almajeed said he is excited to see the shurta implementing the skills they were taught in basic training and looks forward to seeing them using the new skills learned during TF Nassir.
Leadership on both sides realized the FP had very limited training and experience on large weapon systems and decided a preventive maintenance instruction class should be added to the program. With U.S. assistance, a PMI class was implemented and is taught by Iraqi subject-matter experts.
A similar situation was responsible for the intermediate casualty care training. Due to logistical constraints, training aids had been in very short supply for a 60-man class. Most policemen had received no first aid training prior to TF Nassir.
Spc. Ryan Jorgensen, a medic assigned to TF Nassir, has been assisting Iraqi medics with this part of the course. Jorgensen said he understands medical training can be a lot to absorb, so he has been limiting his class to one or two tasks each day.
The medical instructor for TF Nassir, Sgt. Adel Sadweg, said the FP officers were amazed at first at how much training would be available for this course. He stated that too many ISF casualties occur simply from the lack of tactical field care knowledge.
"We have absorbed a lot of experience from the Americans, and I like them helping us with more advanced [medical] techniques," said Sadweg, who has been a medic with the Ministry of the Interior for more than six years.
Renwick said he and his fellow TF Nassir members are excited to be working with the FP, and hope to continue to build camaraderie and friendship with their Iraqi counterparts as they strive together to strengthen the FP force.
January 19, 2010: Written by Staff Sgt. Jeff Hansen, 366th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Distributed by www.SupportOurTroops.org
