ALBU ISSA, Iraq, June 16, 2007 — The Marines of Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, have been working closely with the Iraqi Police (IP) to provide a security presence in this area. Together they shape a formidable team that is able to overcome many of the hurdles that Marines normally have to deal with on their own. Because the IPs are local citizens, they know the language, the people and the area: things the Marines have to learn as they go. Their professionalism and dedication to defending their homes make them perfect partners for the Marines tasked with making this area safe.
"I think a lot of them feel that theyre ready to operate on their own, and a lot of them are."
1st Lt. Will T. Kerrigan |
“They’re absolute professionals,” said 1st Lt. Will T. Kerrigan, 24, from San Diego. “They know who’s bad and who’s not. They only target who’s bad, everyone else they are there to help.” One of the biggest misconceptions is that Marines only patrol with the police to keep them safe from attack. The reality is actually the opposite. When the two units are on patrol together the IPs usually feel responsible for the Marines they are with and often are the first into any house they search. “They’re out there to protect us, we’re not out there to protect them,” added Kerrigan. “That’s the big piece that I don’t think a lot of people get. Everyone thinks when we go out with the IPs we’re the security for them. Yeah, that may be part of it, but they’re the ones out front, they’re the ones trying to find the improvised explosive devices, they’re the ones taking us to weapons caches. So, they’re out there to protect us.” Searching houses is a task the Marines normally leave up to the Iraqis, because they are intimately familiar with the architecture. That makes them more effective at picking out things that don’t belong. |