Members of the Iraqi Police hold Iraqi flags during a graduation ceremony at the Furat Police Training Center in Baghdad, Oct. 29. Photo by Sgt. Kenneth Bince, 49th Military Police Brigade.
Posted on 11/08/2009 1:06:23 PM PST by SandRat
BAGHDAD — A training milestone for the Iraqi Police (IP) was reached when more than 1,600 new IP officers graduated the Furat Iraqi Police Training Center’s Basic Recruit Training Course, Oct. 29. Members of the Iraqi Police hold Iraqi flags during a graduation ceremony at the Furat Police Training Center in Baghdad, Oct. 29. Photo by Sgt. Kenneth Bince, 49th Military Police Brigade.
The 100-yard-wide courtyard was filled with multiple company-sized formations of graduating IP. In front of each separate group, one IP proudly displayed the unit's colors. Surrounding this massive formation, dozens of uniformed guards wielded four-foot by six-foot Iraqi flags.
The new IP were all at attention and facing a podium as the top IP officer spoke. "What you are doing here today is making Baghdad safer," said Maj. Gen. Ali Adnan Yunis, commander, Provincial Directorate of Police. He told one of the largest classes of graduating IP officers, "When Baghdad is safer your families at home are safer.”
The ceremony was also attended by Soldiers of the California National Guard, 49th Military Police Brigade (MPB) Police Transition Team (PTT), civilian police advisers and the IP Center's trainers, who stood to the right in a viewing section and faced the crowd.
"The partnership between the three organizations has been seamless, but it has not been without its challenges" said Sgt. 1st Class David Northup, 49th MPB, PTT non commissioned officer in charge.
The training for the new officers is thorough, and some blocks of instruction are similar to the tasks that U.S. Soldiers complete.
"A few of the classes covered [in recruit training] included basic first aid, human rights training, patrol training, small arms training and search techniques," said Northup.
The new Policemen varied in age, but most were in their 20s. All wore light blue shirts and dark pants.
"The IPs standing here are faced with a lot of obstacles just to make it to the training center, but they do the best they can with what they have," said Northup. "I have to give them a great deal of credit to make it to this point and graduate."
Five honor graduate students came forward and received special recognition and awards following a prayer and a speech by graduating students.
The hour-long graduation ceremony also included displays of strength and agility with IP teams conducting martial arts demonstrations with different types of throws and attacks. One IP trainer stole the show when he dazzled the audience of Policemen and visitors as he broke multiple cinder block bricks with his fist, elbow and head.
The road to a secure Iraq is moving forward with every Policeman that completes his training and hits the streets of Baghdad.
"Our mission here has been one of success," said Col. Rudy Arruda, the 49th MPB’s deputy commander. "There are now more Iraqi Police that are qualified to protect and serve the people of Baghdad.”
(By Sgt. Kenneth Bince, 49th Military Police Brigade)
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