Iraqi Security Forces Open the First JCC in Northern Iraq
MOSUL, IRAQ – The Iraqi Security Forces in the Ninevah Province increased their ability to protect Iraqi citizens and to react to emergencies, when they opened the first Joint Coordination Center in northern Iraq June 23. All security operations will operate from the Mosul JCC where a representative from every security force element will be stationed to facilitate coordination.
Representatives from the Iraqi National Guard, Iraqi Police, Facility Protection Services and Iraqi Armed Forces will be stationed at the JCC to efficiently fight crime and terrorism.
“Our security forces will work together as one team to provide security for the Ninevah Province,” said Ninevah Gov. Osama Kashmoula. “This state-of-the-art facility will change how we communicate and handle security problems.”
The operations center of the JCC has three plasma televisions, 20 laptop computers and telephones along with a 5-foot by 5-foot map of the Ninevah province, which helps the JCC officials track the situations in the province and communicate to the units in the field.
The security officials meet daily to coordinate what forces are working where and determine specific responsibilities, according to Lt. Col. Jassim Habib, the operations officer for the JCC in Mosul.
“This is the first time in the history of Iraq that we have had a facility where all of the security forces are in one building working together to provide security,” said Habib. “If something happens, we can all work together to take the appropriate actions. The JCC will allow us to find a solution to a problem immediately and increase our chances of stopping the enemy.”
Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) assisted in the creation of the JCC, but they said the Iraqis command and control the center.
“This is an Iraqi facility that will be ran and operated by Iraqis,” said Brig. Gen. Carter Ham, the commander of Task Force Olympia. “This coordination center would not be possible without the support of Gov. Kashmoula and the security forces in the area. This is a great step forward and will not only benefit the security forces of northern Iraq, but it will also benefit the people.”
Iraqi security forces with the assistance of Coalition forces assume the responsibility for the safety and security of Mosul on June 30. This new coordination center will provide local security forces the means to do this.
Iraqi officials said they plan to build similar facilities in every district in Iraq. Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the commander of Coalition forces in Iraq, said the Mosul JCC is a good example of how the other JCCs should be set up.
“The security forces in northern Iraq are setting the example for the rest of the country,” Sanchez said.
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