Iraqi Security Forces take traffic control point training to the streets

By Sgt. Christopher Kozloski, 3rd HBCT, 1st Cavalry Division Public AffairsApril 14, 2009

Iraqi Army Lt. Salim Ahmed receives a hearty handshake from Lt. Col. Quinton Arnold, the commander of 3rd Bde., 1st Cav. Div. Special Troops Bn., after receiving a Traffic Control Point Certification course certificate of graduation from Iraqi Army L...
Iraqi Army Lt. Salim Ahmed receives a hearty handshake from Lt. Col. Quinton Arnold, the commander of 3rd Bde., 1st Cav. Div. Special Troops Bn., after receiving a Traffic Control Point Certification course certificate of graduation from Iraqi Army L... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

MOSUL, Iraq - Imagine standing in 100 degree heat in the middle of an Iraq summer, with a ballistic vest and helmet on, and checking every vehicle and pedestrian as they pass through a checkpoint. For Iraqi Security Forces in Mosul, this has become common place and they are dedicated to making it work.

With that dedication in mind, 36 members of Iraqi Security Forces became the first graduating class of a traffic control point certification program on April 9.

Class 04-09 stood tall during the graduation ceremony and proudly accepted certificates of graduation from Iraqi Army Lt. Col. Hussein Abid Abdulla, commander of 6th Bde., 2nd IA Div. and a well deserved congratulatory handshake from the commander of the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Bn., Lt. Col. Quinton Arnold.

"You have received very detailed training," Arnold said to the graduates. "Your performance has been fantastic. Take what you have learned and teach others. Fortify your checkpoints. Your people are counting on you."

The Iraqi Security Forces with the cooperation of the 351st Military Police Co. and 3rd Bde. Special Troops Bn. hosted a six day training syllabus that included topics such as establishing deliberate and hasty checkpoints, proper escalation of force techniques, the use of working dogs, vehicle and personnel searches, employing explosive detection systems and establishing and operating a vehicle checkpoint.

"It was a huge benefit," Lt. Salim Ahmed Sa'ad of the Sustainment and Support Bn., Ninewah Operations Center, said. "We can now take this training and teach others."

After the graduation, guests and graduates enjoyed refreshments and each other's company. The Iraqis were upbeat and excited about the training they received and hoped to see more of this type of instruction.

"This is the best training we have received," Sa'ad stated. "We would like to see more training like this."