Transition Team Braves Attacks to Train Iraqi Police

U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Ryan Swinford, from the Florida Army National Guard, talks with Iraqi police officers at one of their stations in Tal Afar, Iraq . Swinford is part of a police transition team, which works daily to train Iraqi police forces to operate autonomously. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Daniel Bearl.





By Spc. Daniel Bearl
25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs

TAL AFAR, Iraq — The morning is chilly as Sgt. Alexis Medina briefs his squad on its mission.Medina and his soldiers, from Company D, 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment from the Florida Army National Guard, are one of several squads that make up the police transition team working in Tal Afar. Their mission is to see that the Iraqi police are properly trained so that they can operate on their own.

As they prepare to go to a meeting with local Iraqi police leaders, Medina updates his squad on route conditions and recent enemy activity.

Once he's done, the soldiers don their protective armor and climb into their vehicles. It's a short drive to the police station, but recent suicide bomb attacks give reason for extra caution and vigilance as they roll out. Full Story.

If you find it difficult to read CENTCOM's version, you may read it here.