Arizona Guard MPs Reflect on Iraq Deployment

Defend America News ^ | Spc. Karl Johnson

[SandRat]

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Jon Cope, of Phoenix, Ariz., holds a little girl he called "Gypsy" in the village of Al Risallah, located near the Abu Ghraib district of western Baghdad. Cope and his unit, the 860th Military Police Company from the Arizona Army National Guard, spent a year in Iraq working to train Iraqi police officers and to forge a bond of trust with local citizens. U.S. Army photo courtesy 860th Military Police Company
Arizona Guard MPs Reflect on Iraq Deployment
Heading home after a yearlong deployment, Arizona National Guard MPs look back upon their year training Iraqi police officers and remember fallen comrades.
By U.S. Army Spc. Karl Johnson 363rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq, March 2, 2006 — A yearlong deployment to Iraq offers soldiers both opportunities and challenges. For one Arizona National Guard Military Police unit, going home after a tough deployment provided them the opportunity to look back upon the accomplishments, as well as the costs, of their deployment. "We got the Iraqi police on their feet and headed in the right direction. I hope the people back home continue to give us a chance to do our job – and they too will start seeing the changes." U.S. Army Sgt. Chris Palmer “I’ve seen the most violent parts of life and, at the same time, the greatest humanity ever,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Jon Cope, 860th Military Police Company, reflecting on his year in Iraq. The MPs spent the majority of their year working side-by-side with Iraqi police officers, training them in the techniques necessary to enable them to one day take over complete responsibility for securing the Iraqi streets. Their “beat” was the Abu Graib district of western Baghdad. Success in the mission was by no means guaranteed. In fact, several of the MPs said they had their doubts as to whether the Iraqi police could be brought up from their meager beginnings to operate independent of U.S. forces. “When we first arrived in Iraq, the Iraqi policeman were wearing slippers and walking around with AK-47s,” recalled Cope, a Phoenix, Ariz., native. Over the course of the next year, the 860th MPs worked tirelessly to reverse their initial impressions of the Iraqi forces. With hard work and dedication, the MPs were able to help transform an inexperienced group of men into a professional force ready for the challenges of autonomy. “We definitely made a difference here,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Chris Palmer, 860th MP Company. “From day one until (the day) we left, we could see with our own eyes their improvement.” “The Iraqi police that we worked with now do their jobs the right way without any help or supervision,” Palmer said. “I wish everyone back home could see the difference we’ve made.” When asked what major factor contributed to the unit’s success, the MPs were quick to point out the willingness of their Iraqi counterparts to learn new things. “The Iraqi police in our area were very willing to learn, and they really want to make a difference in their country,” said Palmer. The soldiers from the 860th MP Company left Iraq Feb. 14 to begin the journey back home to the U.S. They leave behind the Military police patrol the streets of Al Risallah, located near the Abu Ghraib district of western Baghdad. The 860th Military Police Company from Arizona Army National Guard spent a year in Iraq working to train Iraqi policeman and forge a bond of trust with local citizens. U.S. Army photo courtesy 860th Military Police Company	Children in the village of Al Risallah, located near the Abu Ghraib district of western Baghdad, wave to the 860th Military Police Company soldiers as they patrol. The unit from the Arizona Army National Guard spent a year in Iraq working to train Iraqi police officers and to forge a bond of trust with local citizens. U.S. Army photo courtesy 860th Military Police Company knowledge that they have made a positive and lasting effect on the country of Iraq and the police officers who patrol it. The friendships formed between the MPs and their Iraqi counterparts will last a lifetime, but the strides made in Iraqi police development will last even longer, Cope said. “After a while working with them, we made friends with the Iraqi policemen – and we really care about them,” said Cope. “If one of our [Iraqi police] was harmed, we took it like they were one of us.” “There is a very good lieutenant, an Iraqi policeman that I consider a very good friend,” he said. “It would break my heart if anything ever happened to him.” The tragic loss of a soldier is something every unit hopes to avoid, but when a U.S. or Iraqi police officer fell, the loss was felt on both sides. All of the MPs know they paid a heavy price to help ensure another country’s freedom. “I lost three close friends while I was here,” said Cope. “I’ve lost some hearing in both ears, and I deal with several other aches and pains every day, but I haven’t lost time in life. I think all the time I’ve been here and everything I’ve done has been for a purpose.” Despite the many sacrifices made by the MP unit, much was accomplished in its year in Iraq. Along with the success the MPs experienced with the Iraqi police, they also helped to forge positive relationships with the Iraqi people. “I can’t tell you how many times our medics have treated families who needed medical care,” said Cope. “We also visited villages to check on the well-being of the local people.” With the donations supplied by a not-for-profit civilian organization, the MPs were able to deliver toys and supplies to Iraqi citizens in their area. The MPs said they felt that it was gestures like this one that made a significant difference in how the local Iraqi citizens responded to them. Belief in each other and in their mission is what pulled the 860th MP Company through a challenging year in Iraq, they said, adding that they hope their accomplishments will make the job of the units that follow them that much easier. “We got the Iraqi police on their feet and headed in the right direction,” explained Palmer. “I hope the people back home continue to give us a chance to do our job – and they too will start seeing the changes.” At the end of a year marked by both success and sorrow, the 860th MP Company leaves with a lifetime of memories and the knowledge that their presence in Iraq made a difference in the lives of the Iraqi people.

[SandRat]

AZ ARNG MPs!!!!

[mystery-ak]

My son's MP Bn is heading to Iraq this summer....

[SandRat]

Well hanging out here and in the FR-Canteen you know how to be a part of the Unit Chain of Concern and a Unit Mom!

[bayouranger]

95BRAVO BUMP!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT