3rd HBCT Soldiers Work With National Police

At the farewell dinner for the policemen of 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st National Police Division, Baghdad, Nov. 6, Lt. Col. Mark Sullivan, from Huntsville, Ala., the commander of the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment presents Sgt. Maj. Mohammed Shane, 1/3/1 NP, a certificate of appreciation for the hard work his policemen put in during seven days of joint operations at Forward Operating Base Hammer, Iraq. (Photo/Sgt. Natalie Rostek, 3rd HBCT Public Affairs)

Story by Spc. Ben Hutto
3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Iraqi national policemen from the 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st National Police Division, Baghdad, spent seven days working with Scouts from Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, at FOB Hammer Oct. 31 - Nov. 6.

On their final day together, the two groups conducted a search at a large brick factory, east of Nahrwan, Nov. 6.

“The national police did all of the searches,” said Capt. Jared Albright, from Lancaster, Pa., the commander of Troop B, currently attached to the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment. “We were just here to provide support.”

Command Sgt. Major James Pearson, from Philadelphia, the command sergeant major of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, was present to see the operation and liked what he saw.

“Troop B did a rehearsal with them, and you can tell,” he said. “I thought it went well.”
A Soldier from Troop B was with each NP squad as they performed searches, pulled security and cleared buildings at the factory. The Soldiers observed and offered suggestions to their Iraqi counterparts.

At the farewell dinner for the policemen, Lt. Col. Mark Sullivan, from Huntsville, Ala., the commander of 1-10th FA Regt., presented Sgt. Maj. Mohammed Shane, a leader with the national police element, a certificate of appreciation and complimented his battalion on their hard work.

“It’s an honor and a pleasure working with the national police,” Sullivan said. “It is the national police who are heading the fight.”

Albright was sorry to see the policemen leave FOB Hammer and return to Baghdad.

“I would like to have them back,” he said. “They are very professional and have good leaders."

The 1-10th FA Regt. and 3-1st Cav. Regt. are assigned to the 3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div., from Fort Benning, Ga., and have been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March.