Provincial police in Tikrit train to better serve Salah ad-Din

By Spc. Jazz Burney,3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs, 25th Infantry DivisionMay 6, 2009

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1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. James Halford, wheeled vehicle mechanic, Company G, 3rd Battalion, 7th Field
Artillery Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, points out
and explains important parts of a humvee to Iraqi policemen April 29 during a t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A group of Iraqi Policemen practice first aid techniques while Spc. Brandon Shaffer, combat medic, Company G, 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, observes April 29 during a three-day ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A group of Iraqi Policemen identify parts of a humvee as U.S. Soldiers from Company G, 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division observe April 29 during a three-day course designed to increa... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, TIKRIT, Iraq - After three days of

training and instruction, Iraqi policemen listened intently to questions about first aid,

vehicle maintenance and driving tactical vehicles - questions they quickly met with

enthusiastic answers, proving what they had learned.

Salah ad-Din provincial policemen from the 3rd Emergency Response Unit in

Tikrit increased their knowledge of these procedures to better serve the citizens of the

province. The policemen trained with Soldiers of Company G, 3rd Battalion, 7th Field

Artillery Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at Forward

Operating Base Danger during the last week of April.

"The training was truly beneficial to me, because in these three days of training, I

have learned things that I did not know before," said Rasool Khalil Esmail, a policeman

with the 3rd Emergency Response Unit.

Provincial policemen from three ERU's in Tikrit are training with Coalition forces

to improve efficiency in their operations. Approximately 30 policemen from each ERU

participate in the training each three-day session.

The training provided the Iraqi policemen the opportunity to get hands-on

instruction in three important areas: proper vehicle maintenance, basic first aid and

behind-the-wheel training using the up-armored humvee.

The Iraqi Police force will be issued vehicles at a later time, according to 2nd Lt.

Dan Smith, a platoon leader who helped organize the training.

"Upon receiving the vehicles, they will have a familiarization of how to operate

these vehicles safely - they know what the abilities of the vehicles are, and also the

limitations. This will enable them to use these assets to complete their missions in

Tikrit," said Staff Sgt. Jason Sanford, one of the company's platoon sergeants.

During the medical training, the Iraqi Police learned basic first aid skills in a

manner similar to a first responder's course where individuals react to different medical

trauma scenarios.

"It is important ... to explain not just how to perform the medical procedures but why - so I incorporate basic human anatomy into the course to increase their understanding on these techniques," said Spc. Brandon Shaffer, a medic who taught the first aid classes.

The Iraqi Policemen remained enthusiastic throughout the training and

showcased their aptitude in the final examination day of the course.

"This training is very useful because we will be capable of controlling situations

that present themselves while we are performing our job," added Esmail.