FOB WARHORSE – Soldiers of the 66th MP Co graduated its first class of 36 IP, Feb. 4. The Fort Lewis, Wash., based MP Co, nicknamed 'War Eagles', recently arrived in theater early Jan., to conduct Police Transition Training, which consists of training, guidance and mentorship to their Iraqi equivalents.
In addition to the PTT mission throughout the Diyala prov., the 66th MPs took ownership of the 'on the FOB training' mission, from the 287th MP Co. "We hit the ground with our boots running," said Capt. Ranjini Danaraj, 66th MP Co cmdr. "66th Soldiers were training IP from the prov. before our TOA (transfer of authority) ceremony."
2nd plt, 2nd squad was tasked with operating 'on the FOB training'. "In the month of Feb., with the assistance of Int'l Police Advisers, we changed the training from crime scene investigations to election security," said 1st Lt. Rachel Morgan, 66th MP Co, 2nd plt leader. During that day, the instruction includes, policing in a democracy and human rights classes.
"The IPs here are very motivated and willing to learn, said Sgt. 1st Class John Meuret, on the FOB training dir. " When they come here in the morning they're ready to start. It's probably because their sgt maj accompanies the policemen all through the days of instructions, so that IPs attending the classes here have a command structure within their training group or ranks," explained Meuret. "That's very similar to the way the US military is setup. During that day, the instruction includes, policing in a democracy and human rights classes."
The last and final day is the class' graduation day. Lt. Col. Aaron Metz, 3rd Stryker Bde, 2nd ID chief, Provincial PTT, addressed the class of IPs saying, "What you've done here is set the foundation for a safe and fair election. We have shared a lot of concepts with you, and a lot of techniques that you can take back to the force, but I ask that your instruction doesn't stop here." He continued, "I need you to take back what you learned here to your district HQ, your local police stations where you work. I need you to share what you've learned with your fellow officers and policemen in the force. "
