Posted on 11/29/2008 8:54:17 AM PST by SandRat
BAGHDAD — With chests out, arms to their sides, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their brothers in arms, 142 emergency response brigade graduates swore an oath of allegiance to Iraq during a ceremony, Nov. 20.
“This organization, the ERB, is an elite force – a different force – with the best leadership, the best equipment and the best training,” said Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq commander and NATO Iraqi Training commander, to the class during the graduation ceremony. “When we get the toughest missions, we will ask for you to lead the way, and I know you will.”
The brigade, which operates under the authority of the Iraqi Ministry of Interior, consists of a select few who are trained, organized and equipped to complete the most difficult, most specialized and most demanding security missions in the country, according to ERB officials.
“Side-by-side with the elected (Iraqi) government … we’re going to build a new, (better) future for this country,” said Iraqi MoI Jawad Bolani to the graduates. “The world will be (pleasantly) surprised at what they will see from you in the future.”
Iraqi Brig. Gen. No’man Dakhil Jawad, ERB commander, felt taking an oath of commitment to securing the safety and security of Iraq, and establishing peace was imperative for his newly trained men.
“Keep doing what your brothers did before you – be fierce, attack terrorists, be elite, love the country and put Iraq in your hearts,” he said.
This most recent group of elite graduates, and their trainers, achieved several milestones on the road to developing as a self-sustaining fighting force.
Trained by Iraqi instructors and advised by Coalition forces, these men were led through specialized-training courses, which included small arms proficiency, close-quarters-battle techniques, hand-to-hand combat, urban movement and rigorous physical fitness.
In a class that began with 4,800 applicants, Baghdad, Mosul and Tikrit Special Weapons and Tactics units vetted and refined the group. The units narrowed the group to 217 candidates, who then began the operator selector course. Twenty-six Iraqi instructors then weeded out the weak from the strong, until they selected 142 men for graduation to serve in Iraq’s ERB.
Beginning Oct. 17, and continuing for five weeks, instructors challenged students to their mental and physical limits and left only the best standing – a feat historically only a small number accomplish.
“This is a remarkable achievement,” Helmick said. “I pass on thanks and congratulations to all … we are very proud of you, and your country is proud of you.”
Although the ratio of originating applicants to graduate is 22:1, this class remains a cut above those before it, with an unprecedented 65-percent pass rate.
“The drop-out rate for this class was approximately 40 percent lower than previous classes,” said a CF representative. “We (Coalition forces) moved from a training role to a mentoring role, so perhaps the students are more receptive to their own instructors. Whatever the reason may be, the numbers speak for themselves.”
This is a significant shift in responsibilities, demonstrating a strong sense of progress on the part of the Iraqi Police. After two years of familiarization and training, Iraqis have three years of experience as instructors and are now capable of training with little advising from CF.
“This is the fruition of five years of partnership with Iraqi Forces,” a CF representative said.
This particular fighting force also had a higher degree of formal education and experience than previous graduating classes. This class was comprised of 50 high-school graduates, a handful of college graduates and a few with Iraqi Army experience.
“I was in the old Army before and had three or four similar classes, but this class had better training techniques to learn the tactics that we need,” said the top student in the class.
As newly trained justice warriors, the fearless attitude and dedication to finding and arresting criminals is a common link – from the commander to the instructors, down to every last graduate.
“If you (criminals and terrorists) go to the hill, we will be behind you,” an ERB member said. “The hand of the government is too strong for you (to run from).”
As the first class to graduate since the expansion from an emergency response unit to a full brigade, the men will be assigned to several locations to fulfill needed missions throughout Iraq, said an ERB official.
With approximately 670 men, there are plenty of men to accomplish the ERB missions in Baghdad; however, with the expansion of SWAT units in Kut, Tikrit, Hillah and Mosul, there is a need for additional members.
The next selection course is scheduled to begin mid-December, according to a CF spokesman.
In all, Iraqi instructors feel at least six more groups of graduates will complete the brigade. Seeing the progression and development of this graduating class, instructors and CF advisors are hopeful future classes will be just as successful.
With bravery in their hearts and fearlessness in their eyes, the men are now ready to answer their country’s call for help, according to an ERB official.
“We are ready for you all the time to bring justice to this country,” a graduate said. “We are certain of this and promise to pursue the terrorists wherever they go (to bring them to justice).”
Editor’s Note: Source identities were removed due to operational sensitivities and the nature of the ERB mission.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.