Over 300 Sons of Iraq graduate Iraqi Police training in Kirkuk

By Staff Sgt. Margaret C. Nelson

Kirkuk Police Academy recruits pose with their instructor prior to their graduation ceremony, May 15, in Kirkuk, Iraq. Over 300 Sons of Iraq members from the Hawijah District of the Kirkuk Province became the first SOIs to transition into the ISF as IPs, filling IP vacancies within the Hawijah District, therefore filling a critical need for police in the northeastern region of the country. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Margaret C. Nelson, 1-10th Mtn. Div., PAO)

Kirkuk, Iraq -Over 300 former Sons of Iraq members are now Iraqi Policemen after successfully completing eight weeks of training at the Kirkuk Police Academy during a graduation ceremony May 15, in this northeastern province.

The ceremony was attended by Kirkuk City and provincial government officials and Iraqi Security Forces, alongside Coalition force leadership.

"The Kirkuk Province has shown tremendous progress in the last year. Events like this prove we are taking the necessary steps to show the world this province will stand together to defeat terrorists and establish rule of law," Col. David Paschal, 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division told the graduating class.

Over three hundred former Sons of Iraq 'pass n review' in front of Brig. Gen. Robert Brown, Deputy Command General (S) 25th Infantry Division (visiting guest), Kirkuk Provincial Police Chief Maj. Gen. Jamal Thaker Bakr, Col. David Paschal, 1st Brigade, 10th Mtn. Div., and Kirkuk Police Academy Commandant Kawa Garib Abdul-Rahman after successfully completing an eight week training course to become Iraqi Policemen, May 15. All 399 will return to Hawijah as Iraqi Policemen filling IP vacancies within the Hawijah District, therefore, filling a critical need for police there. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Margaret C. Nelson, 1-10th Mtn. Div., PAO)

All the IP graduates are residents of the district of Hawijah located approximately 60 miles southwest of Kirkuk City. This area was once considered 'the Anbar of the north,' where the region's worst violence against civilians, Iraq Security Forces, and Coalition forces were formerly perpetrated by terrorists, with military records reporting 10 to 15 attacks daily against civilians, ISF and CF.

"This is a great day," Badri, 22, said. "I am so grateful to the Coalition forces and Lt. Col. Vanek who gave us an opportunity to join our Iraqi Security Forces and serve our country and our people."

Lt. Col. Christopher Vanek is the commander of the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment whose area of operation covers the Hawijah District, which has an SOI program with more than 7,500 members.

Over three hundred former Sons of Iraq from the Hawijah District of the Kirkuk Province prepare to pass n review, concluding their eight weeks of training at the Kirkuk Police Academy during a graduation ceremony, May 15. All 399, will return to Hawijah as Iraqi Policemen filling IP vacancies within the Hawijah District, therefore, filling a critical need for police there. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Margaret C. Nelson, 1-10th Mtn. Div., PAO)

The new recruits will be returning to fill IP vacancies within the Hawijah District, therefore, filling a critical need for police there. For many, this milestone is the direct result of the security gains in the region, specifically in Hawijah, which has seen over an 80 percent drop in violent attacks against its citizens and their security forces, including the CF, since December's inception of the SOI program there, according to Paschal.

"I was once a farmer unable to earn enough to feed my family. I had no choices," Ghafli, 29, said. "I will now return home with my head held high with a job and in an IP uniform."

A Kirkuk Police Academy instructor straightens the beret of one of the 399, Iraqi Police recruits prior to their graduation ceremony in Kirkuk, Iraq, May 15. All the graduates were former Sons of Iraq members in the Hawijah District of the Kirkuk Province marking a milestone in this northeastern province. They will return to Hawijah as Iraqi Policemen filling IP vacancies within the Hawijah District. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Margaret C. Nelson, 1-10th Mtn. Div., PAO)

The proud and confident attitude of 'wearing the IP uniform in public' is also a sign, to the majority of the 'Hawijah 400' who were interviewed, that better days await them.

"I would never have considered becoming an IP a year ago," Badri, 22, said. "And if we did," Ghafli added. "We would never wear the uniform. It was a mark of death."

Iraqi Police recruits and Kirkuk Police Academy staff demonstrate riot control procedures during a graduation ceremony held, May 15, in the Kirkuk Province of Iraq. This marks a milestone in this northeastern region as the 399 IP recruits were former Sons of Iraq members from the Hawijah District of the Kirkuk Province. They completed the eight week IP training course and will return to Hawijah as Iraqi Policemen filling IP vacancies within the Hawijah District, located approximately 60 miles southwest of the city of Kirkuk. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Margaret C. Nelson, 1-10th Mtn. Div., PAO)

As to how the predominantly Sunni-Arab graduating class felt about their multi-ethnic environment at the academy, whose instructors are comprised of Kurdish, Turkman, Christian, and Arab ethnicities.

"We took an oath to serve and protect Iraqis. That is what we are and it is our responsibility to uphold the rule of law - what you are does not matter," Monir, 28, said. "We are all brothers."

judythpiazza@newsblaze.com

   _   _