BAGHDAD - The Soldiers of 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment have spent the last six months refining their tactics, techniques and procedures in northeastern Baghdad. Raids, detainee searches, questioning suspects, cache searches and evidence collection were everyday occurrences for the cavalry scouts of Blackhawk Troop, until the Security Agreement transformed their mission June 30.
Now, they pass their knowledge, skills and experiences to their National Police counterparts during an ongoing block of classes titled Wolf Academy, at Joint Security Station Istaqual, here, July 28.
"Now with the new Security Agreement, we want to make sure the NPs know what they're doing so they have confidence when they get out in sector [patrolling the streets]," said Spc. David Croft, a cavalry scout gunner assigned to the 1st Sqdn., 7th Cav. Regt., 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cav. Division, after he finished showing the class how to properly search a detainee.
"They're always out there [on patrol] and since June 30, we're here [on the base] for their support," added Croft, a native of Plant City, Fla. "We give' em these classes so when they're out there taking care of their own country they will have the know-how to collect evidence and if a guy goes to jail, they can show the judge the intelligence they've collected."
The instruction for the day focused on the aftermath and the proper steps to take following a successful raid.
"These classes allow the ISF to further develop sites they raid," said 1st Lt. Aaron Shattuck, a cavalry scout platoon leader from West Point, N.Y., assigned to 1st Sqdn., 7th Cav. Regt. "We've been out on quite a few raids and cache searches and when we give these classes, we tweak them a little so it's effective for this environment."
About 30 National Police asked questions and participated in collecting and labeling evidence, searching detainees, cross-examining suspects and searching areas for weapon caches.
According to Shattuck, the students learn a basic level of knowledge that is tested in combat daily.
"Whenever we go out in sector, it's ISF lead," explained Shattuck. "We pass off our knowledge to them...so when we go out in sector they'll be able to show us what they've learned in the classes we've taught them."
The tactics learned by the Soldiers while patrolling are integrated into the academy and, in turn, are soaked up by the NPs before they test the lessons on the streets. Not learning the information presented during Wolf Academy by the battle-tested cavalry Soldiers could have dire consequences for the students.
"Of course it might save my life, or the life of one of my fellow shirtas [policemen]," said policeman Ali Abas Kadhem, assigned to the Iraqi Emergency Reaction Unit. "If you get into a house and don't know this training, it's very dangerous."
Throughout the day's lectures and practical exercises, the students remained aware of the importance of the lessons learned.
"It's useful and very important classes," Ali continued. "I feel very proud and thank the Coalition forces for that. It's a big responsibility for us to be out in the community and we're proud that we keep them [the Iraqi civilians] safe."
"The NPs are very efficient with doing things on their own," added Croft after the classes finished for the day. "The biggest thing is trying to give them our know-how so they can take over and try their best to be as efficient as us...we just can't leave them high and dry."
And according to Shattuck, the scouts of Blackhawk Troop won't. Their tactics, techniques and procedures are being absorbed and adapted by their ISF partners in a new phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom by the joint venture called Wolf Academy. Though they may not be patrolling the streets every day any more, they're at ease knowing their six-months of battle-tested experiences are still out on the streets.
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