Marines and Iraqi police live side-by-side

Marines and Iraqi police live side-by-side

Published: Jan. 7, 2008 at 5:21 PM

BAGHDAD, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- U.S. Marines live and work side-by-side with members of the Iraqi police force to meet with local officials and secure various parts of the country.

Marines and Iraqi police live and work together using Joint Security Stations as their operating bases integrating the units in a single team, a release by the Multi-National Corps at Camp Victory said.

Joint patrols conduct regular missions to improve the security situation in villages such as Habbaniyah, located west of the Iraqi capital.

"We live and conduct operations out of the JSS so, sooner rather than later, these people can stand up on their own and will no longer need our support," said 1st Lt. Alistair E. Howard.

Cpl. Christopher Sevigny, who leads many of the joint patrols, said the patrols contribute to broader measures aimed at ensuring the local population the security situation in their areas is secured.

"It also allows the Iraqi populace to have reassured confidence in their own police and allow the police and Army to become more familiar with their area of operation and the people they protect," Sevigny said.

Howard said the joint patrols contributed to the security of the village.

"We've kicked out the insurgents." Howard said. "And all of this … is to make sure they don't come back," he continued, pointing to the JSS station.

Ellie