Posted on 04/02/2008 5:10:40 PM PDT by SandRat
BAGHDAD — Eerily quiet best described the streets in central Baghdad Saturday. The curfew imposed during recent fighting in Baghdad and Basra reduced traffic, but young airmen of the Air Force 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, who police the International Zone police, still conduct patrols, even under the heightened security measures.
Immediately following an attack, the IZ Police respond and assess the damage. They disseminate information to the control center and take pictures, getting on and off the site as quickly as possible.
Since March 23, there have been more than 80 indirect fire attacks in the IZ. Capt. Thomas Rains, JASG-C liaison to the IZ police said, “It has been harder to do pure law enforcement; now we are first responders giving first aid and taking care of people.”
During the recent indirect fire attacks, Iraqis living in the International Zone report point of impact directly to the local airmen. The airmen, who perform daily patrols on the streets of the International Zone, work hard to build community relationships.
Airman 1st Class Clinton McCarley knows many of the local business owners in the IZ. “There is a tobacco shop, liquor shop, tactical gear shop and we try to visit the shops and ask about unusual activity.”
McCarley patrols with Airman 1st Class Erik Tycksen, both deployed from RAF Mildenhall, U.K., and on their first combat tour. “We help locals with humanitarian aid. We have one family in the IZ who has three children with dwarfism – we got them a wheelchair. Our families from back home also send clothes and toys,” said Tycksen.
The airmen work alongside the Secret Service, FBI, DEA, Department of Justice, Department of State and foreign military personnel.
“This duty is a challenge for young airmen. Iraqis need to have a say in the area. Going back to the U.K. will be boring, because they have been challenged to think outside the box,” said Senior Master Sgt. Clayton Christiansen, a senior noncommissioned officer in the 732nd.
For many of the airmen, the best part of their mission are the interactions with the locals, particularly delivering soccer balls, toys and clothes to children in the IZ. The relationships that are built in the four-square-mile community yielded fruitful information during the indirect fire attacks the week following Easter Sunday.
“We build community relations – build a friendly positive rapport. There is an extra set of eyes working with us,” said Christiansen.
“I am the community relations guy; I am happy to meet people and build trust. The people here know that I’m not gonna do them wrong”, said Staff Sgt. Kory Grant.
Numerous neighborhood children crowd around Grant’s parked vehicle. The children hug him and ask, “What is your name?” to newcomers.
Since Easter, more than 30 local Iraqis have contacted Grant with information about incidents in the IZ.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.