thedrifter
02-13-08, 07:25 PM
Marines train Iraqi police
Work has made Ramadi more secure, commander says
BY KEVIN FORSYTHE
2008-02-13 13:10:00
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Ramadi, said Lt. Col. Jay Bargeron, is a much safer city today — something he attributes partly to the success the military has had in training Iraq’s police force.
Bargeron, with the Camp Lejeune-based 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, spoke at length about the progress taking place in Ramadi and the surrounding region during a phone call from Iraq.
“My most recent deployment to Iraq was in Fallujah in 2006. The biggest difference between then and now is that the level of violence has decreased to such a point that we can do what we want to do to help get the Iraqi people and government back to normalcy,” said Bargeron.
This is due in large part to the success of U.S. military personnel in training Iraq’s police force, he said. Bargeron said the training goes beyond simply educating on how to search or apprehend.
“About 75 percent of our battalion lives in the stations with the (Iraqi) police. This is part of professionalizing the Iraqi police and helping them to learn that there’s more to their working than security missions,” said Bargeron.
Improved security in the region, he added, was accomplished through a partnership between the military forces and Iraqi police. Other coalition military transition units are working similarly with the Iraqi Army.
Ramadi is the capital of al Anbar province, which is slated to be turned over in March to Iraqi control, with support from coalition troops there. At least nine other provinces are already under Iraqi control.
Bargeron said the Iraqi police have turned a corner and are largely providing security for the region.
Another sign of the adequacy of the Iraqi police is that they now operate several police stations on their own without Marine assistance.
Bargeron reports that there are more than enough Iraqi citizens wanting to serve on the police force.
“The Iraqi police have set a cap as to how many police they need, and they are at that cap,” said Bergeron.
The Iraqi police have also established their own training center that is operated almost entirely by the Iraqis.
Improved security has served as the foundation for an Iraqi economy and government beginning to make large strides forward.
“We’ve been able to maintain an environment that allows (Iraqis) to carry out the activities of a stable government,” Bargeron said.
He said military representatives attend city council meetings and help identify and prioritize areas in need of refurbishing. Government officials also earmark sections of the city designated as economic zones.
The region’s secure environment has allowed day labor projects to flourish throughout the city. Bargeron said that many Iraq residents have been put to work removing rubble, repairing curbs, sidewalks, roads and other infrastructure components.
In addition, the high level of security has resulted in restoring the region’s business community. Many areas that once were filled with abandoned stores and shops have returned to being viable markets and busy shopping areas.
“The most important thing of all has been the Iraqi police and Marines jointly providing secured areas,” said Bargeron. “When we’ve secured an area, or street, shops seem to open up practically overnight. You can’t discount how important security is to the region.”
While security is a vital component, it is far from the only mission of the Marines.
Refurbishing buildings, winterizing buildings and addressing other infrastructure issues.
Once the Marines secure an area and re-establish sound infrastructure, humanitarian organizations such as International Relief and Development step in to help with seed money and other services to help businesses re-establish themselves.
“We are having great success here, largely because of the improved Iraqi Police force as well as our motivated, dedicated and flexible Marines,” said Bargeron. “It’s a privilege to serve with them all.”
Contact Kevin Forsythe at kforsythe@freedomenc.com or 910-353-1171, ext. 8449.
Ellie
Work has made Ramadi more secure, commander says
BY KEVIN FORSYTHE
2008-02-13 13:10:00
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Ramadi, said Lt. Col. Jay Bargeron, is a much safer city today — something he attributes partly to the success the military has had in training Iraq’s police force.
Bargeron, with the Camp Lejeune-based 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, spoke at length about the progress taking place in Ramadi and the surrounding region during a phone call from Iraq.
“My most recent deployment to Iraq was in Fallujah in 2006. The biggest difference between then and now is that the level of violence has decreased to such a point that we can do what we want to do to help get the Iraqi people and government back to normalcy,” said Bargeron.
This is due in large part to the success of U.S. military personnel in training Iraq’s police force, he said. Bargeron said the training goes beyond simply educating on how to search or apprehend.
“About 75 percent of our battalion lives in the stations with the (Iraqi) police. This is part of professionalizing the Iraqi police and helping them to learn that there’s more to their working than security missions,” said Bargeron.
Improved security in the region, he added, was accomplished through a partnership between the military forces and Iraqi police. Other coalition military transition units are working similarly with the Iraqi Army.
Ramadi is the capital of al Anbar province, which is slated to be turned over in March to Iraqi control, with support from coalition troops there. At least nine other provinces are already under Iraqi control.
Bargeron said the Iraqi police have turned a corner and are largely providing security for the region.
Another sign of the adequacy of the Iraqi police is that they now operate several police stations on their own without Marine assistance.
Bargeron reports that there are more than enough Iraqi citizens wanting to serve on the police force.
“The Iraqi police have set a cap as to how many police they need, and they are at that cap,” said Bergeron.
The Iraqi police have also established their own training center that is operated almost entirely by the Iraqis.
Improved security has served as the foundation for an Iraqi economy and government beginning to make large strides forward.
“We’ve been able to maintain an environment that allows (Iraqis) to carry out the activities of a stable government,” Bargeron said.
He said military representatives attend city council meetings and help identify and prioritize areas in need of refurbishing. Government officials also earmark sections of the city designated as economic zones.
The region’s secure environment has allowed day labor projects to flourish throughout the city. Bargeron said that many Iraq residents have been put to work removing rubble, repairing curbs, sidewalks, roads and other infrastructure components.
In addition, the high level of security has resulted in restoring the region’s business community. Many areas that once were filled with abandoned stores and shops have returned to being viable markets and busy shopping areas.
“The most important thing of all has been the Iraqi police and Marines jointly providing secured areas,” said Bargeron. “When we’ve secured an area, or street, shops seem to open up practically overnight. You can’t discount how important security is to the region.”
While security is a vital component, it is far from the only mission of the Marines.
Refurbishing buildings, winterizing buildings and addressing other infrastructure issues.
Once the Marines secure an area and re-establish sound infrastructure, humanitarian organizations such as International Relief and Development step in to help with seed money and other services to help businesses re-establish themselves.
“We are having great success here, largely because of the improved Iraqi Police force as well as our motivated, dedicated and flexible Marines,” said Bargeron. “It’s a privilege to serve with them all.”
Contact Kevin Forsythe at kforsythe@freedomenc.com or 910-353-1171, ext. 8449.
Ellie