BAGHDAD, Iraq, Aug. 26, 2004 The Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement, as part of the Iraqi governments continuing effort to provide peace and security to the citizens of Iraq, is establishing a new and comprehensive training program that will produce a fully trained, equipped, and professional force of 11,000 officers by the end of December 2004. The program, under construction with Coalition and U.S. Department of Homeland Security assistance, will call for the initial training of 600 border enforcement officers and an additional 72 Iraqi trainers capable of teaching future iterations in their respective disciplines. Classes are slated to kick off in Amman, Jordan, at the Jordan International Police Training Center Sept. 1. It is the most important problem for Iraq, a senior Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement official said (name withheld for security reasons). Right now our borders are open ports for enemies and weapons to come into our country. If we are to have a safe and secure Iraq, we must stop the problems at our borders, he said. But right now this doesnt exist. An assessment the chief Coalition-provided assistant to the mission concurs with. The Iraqis have got to be able to secure the borders and stabilize the country before any progress can be made here, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Country Director for Iraq, Doug Melvin said The concept is to not only establish a program of instruction, he added, but to develop lesson plans tailored to fit each region in Iraq. The plan calls for 600 personnel to be trained every four weeks in a respective discipline within the border enforcement area of responsibility. Currently the department handles customs and immigration duties in addition to border security responsibilities. We want to enhance the ability of the Iraqis to provide their own security, Melvin said, thus disengaging from the Coalition side. To do that, Melvin said, the Iraqis have got to be able to train themselves. |