3-1 Cav. Regt. Leaders Attend NP Graduation

Policemen of the 3rd Brigade, 1st National Police Division qualify with their AK-47 rifles at the National Police Team Leaders Course taught by Soldiers from the 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment’s National Police Training Team in Tameem, Iraq.

By Sgt. Natalie Rostek
3rd Brigade Combat Tea, 3rd Infantry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Soldiers and leaders of the 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment attended a National Police Team Leaders Course graduation ceremony Jan. 26 in Tameem.

Policemen from the 3rd Brigade, 1st National Police Division, attended a week-long course where they learned basic policing skills such as first aid, casualty stabilization, room clearing, and AK-47 rifle marksmanship.

“Graduates from this course are taught the basic skills necessary not only to lead national policemen during the execution of security operations, but also to teach others,” said Lt. Col. John Kolasheski, from Loudon, Tenn., 3-1st Cav. Regt. commander. “Team leaders will reinforce those skills through joint missions with coalition forces as the primary responsibility of local security transitions from coalition forces to Iraqi security forces.”

Members of the 3-1 Cav. Regiment’s National Police Training Team led the course and provided the curriculum and training to the policemen.

According to Capt. DaMond Davis, from Montgomery, Ala., 3-1 Cav. Regiment’s fire support officer, the course was modeled after the U.S. Army’s Warriors Leaders Course, a two-week long course attended by specialists and junior non-commissioned officers.

“The National Police Team Leader Course lays the foundation for basic Soldier skills that are sustained through training and execution,” he said. “This course builds on the confidence and competence in junior NP leaders which not only leads to more effective operations in the field but builds ISF capacity.”

Davis explained the national police are seen by local citizens in the area as “Iraq’s police force” and are viewed in high regards. He said the national police have worked with local leaders to provide security for government-run projects.

The 3-1 Cav. Regt. is assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March, 2007.