Iraqi National Police Build Small-arms Range

Soldiers from 3/3rd Inf. Div. and representatives from 1st Iraqi NP Bde. discuss construction efforts for the new small-arms range in Salman Pak June 19

SPC. BEN HUTTO
3/3RD INF. DIV. PUBLIC AFFAIRS

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq

A Michigan National Guard unit is helping to train the 1st Iraq National Police on the importance of learning a skill and then maintaining it.

The construction of a new small arms range is underway in Salman Pak for the 1st Battalion, 1st Iraqi National Police Brigade. They are receiving guidance from a National Police Training Team from 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, with the Michigan National Guard.

The National Guard unit is attached to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.

The 1st Iraqi NP has been stationed in Salman Pak for the last five months after completing training at the National Police Training Academy in Numaniyah. They will use the range to sustain their training and improve the skills of new Iraqi policemen.

The range is part of a bigger push to conduct more training with the 1st Iraqi NP on medical skills, dismounted patrols and checkpoint operations.

“The fact that the 1st National Police Brigade is conducting daily operations and maintaining a focus on training speaks very highly of the unit,” said Maj. Dewey Boberg, from Anaheim, Calif., an executive officer for 3rd HBCT. “In the U.S. Army, we are always training for the next mission, regardless of mission requirements.

Our National Police partners are now doing same.” Soldiers of 1-15 Inf. have begun operations to eliminate insurgent sanctuaries to the southeast of Baghdad as a part of the Multi-National Division Center’s Operation Marne Torch.