Story by 1st Lt. WILLIAM MARQUEZ
December 10, 2009
BAGHDAD, Iraq – On Nov. 25, at Forward Operating Base Prosperity in the International Zone, the 336th Military Police Battalion, 49th Military Police Brigade, assumed authority from the 93rd Military Police Battalion of the International Zone security mission. The 336th, an Army Reserve unit from Pittsburgh, Pa., will assist the Iraqi army's 56th Infantry Brigade with securing Iraq's center of government.
The IZ, located in central Baghdad, is where many of Iraq's national government buildings are located, along with the United States Embassy. Since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003, insurgents and terrorists attacked the IZ using rockets, mortars, automatic weapons and suicide bombers. However, during the last year, the number of attacks significantly decreased.
On Jan. 1, 2009, with the implementation of the Security Agreement between the United States and Iraq, coalition forces handed over responsibility for securing the IZ to the Iraqi army. Currently, Iraq's 56th Infantry Brigade is responsible for securing the IZ. The 56th is known as the Baghdad Brigade.
During the transfer of authority ceremony between the 336th and 93rd, the commander of the 93rd Military Police Battalion, Lt. Col. Thomas Byrd, spoke about the importance of defending the IZ with the Iraqi army. "The IZ is a primary focal point of the enemy. We must continue to successfully work with our Iraqi counterparts in defending this strategic and vital piece of Iraqi property," said Byrd.
 |
| Spc. Michael Lang and Pvt. Amy Grant of the 591st Military Police Company, prepare the colors for casing (photo by 1st Lt. William Marquez) |
According to Byrd, the military police working with the Iraqi army in the IZ is the only operation that consists of a partnership between Army military police and the Iraqi army. American military police usually work with the Iraqi police, and the Iraqi army usually works with American armor and infantry units. Although Iraq's 56th Infantry Brigade did not have military police experience, Byrd was very impressed with his Iraqi army partners. "The Iraqi army made significant strides while we worked with them in the IZ. They were always open to suggestions on how to improve force protection. They are on the right path to providing security for their democracy," said Byrd.
The commander of the 336th Military Police Battalion, Lt. Col. Marc Garcia, made it clear to his soldiers and the Iraqi army leaders at the transfer ceremony that he would work closely with the Iraqi army, continuing the important relationship that the 93rd established with Iraq's Baghdad Brigade. "This is a zero defect mission. There is no room for error. We will continue to strengthen our relationship with the Iraq
|
|
| From left to right, Lt. Col. Marc Garcia, Lt. Col. Thomas Byrd, and Brig. Gen. Donald Currier, pay close attention to Col. Muthanna, commander of Iraq's 56th Infantry Brigade (photo by 1st Lt. William Marquez) |
i security forces protecting the IZ. The drawdown of forces will not affect us. We will help secure the IZ until we go home," said Garcia.
Following the transfer of authority ceremony, Brig. Gen. Donald Currier, commander of the 49th Military Police Brigade, and Col. Muthanna, deputy commander of Iraq's 56th Infantry Brigade, along with Lt. Col. Garcia and Lt. Col. Byrd, went to a nearby Iraqi café where they smoked cigars, drank chai tea, told jokes and discussed how to improve the security of Central Baghdad.
