An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | April 29, 2010

Tennessee MPs prepare to train Iraqi police

By Ryan Morton Fort Dix Public Affairs Office

FORT DIX, N.J., - Tennessee Army National Guard Soldiers from the 253rd Military Police Company are currently here at Army Support Activity-Dix preparing for a mission in Iraq, where they will train, mentor, and assist the Iraqi police force.

As U.S. forces scale down the numbers of combat military personnel throughout Iraq, the mission of assisting the IPs, who are now the leaders in securing the nation, remains paramount toward continuing the establishment of the country's independence and ability to govern itself.

The unit from Lenoir City, Tenn., will spend its tour working toward getting the IP force ready to assume full control. The U.S. is scheduled to pull all combat troops out by the end of August of this year and pull all troops out of the country by the end of 2011.

Capt. Dallas Clements, the 253rd's commander, talked about how the role of the U.S. working with the IPs has changed from where it was a few years ago.

"The main difference is [the U.S.] are not the lead in the security," he said. "Now the leader is the Iraqi Police. We'll now back them up and let them take the lead. Ultimately they are the gatekeepers to Iraq's future stability."

The Soldiers, said Clements, will work with the IPs at various stations and security checkpoints in and around the area southeast of Baghdad.

The 170-Soldier unit has many servicemembers with prior combat experience as well as other prior Air Force and Marine Corps personnel. It also has a good mix of veterans and younger Soldiers in its ranks. The organization's force adds to the quality and effectiveness of the unit, Clements said.

"The people who have been there before have a better understanding of what is coming up and they can help impart the wisdom on Soldiers who have never been there before," said Clements, who deployed to Iraq in 2003 as a communications officer.

The Soldiers, in preparation for their tasking, have conducted training at ASA-Dix including first aid, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle driving certification, and mission scenarios.

The 253rd arrived here in March and is scheduled to deploy to Iraq in May.

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Army Pvt. Fatmata Kaikai, assigned to the 1067th Composite Truck Company, 228th Motor Transport Battalion, 213th Regional Support Group, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, climbs a rope during an obstacle course July 22, 2025, at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. The obstacle course challenges Soldiers’ physical stamina and is usually a precursor to the Air Assault School.
Pennsylvania Guard Completes Confidence Course
By Capt. Angela Clemons, | July 23, 2025
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa.— Soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guard's 213th Regional Support Group pushed their physical and mental limits when they completed a confidence course July 22.The event brought together...

Members of the 102nd Civil Engineer Squadron's (CES) electrical systems shop and 374th CES electrical systems shop work together to enable safe replacement of a damaged airfield sequence flashing light on Yokota Air Base, Japan, July 3, 2025. During a deployment for training (DFT), the 102nd CES integrated with its active-duty counterparts within the 374th CES to accomplish hands-on training during a series of key base enhancement projects
Massachusetts Air Guard Squadron Completes Deployment for Training in Japan
By Senior Airman Julia Ahaesy, | July 23, 2025
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan - The Massachusetts Air National Guard’s 102nd Civil Engineer Squadron completed a deployment for training, or DFT, July 1-12 on Yokota Air Base, Japan. Members integrated with their active component...

U.S. Air Force dental technician completes a dental X-ray for a local resident during Operation Healthy Tennessee, Rhea County Middle School, Evensville, Tenn., July 10, 2025. Operation Healthy Tennessee provides no-cost medical, dental, vision and veterinary services to the residents of Bledsoe and Rhea County, as well as the surrounding areas while satisfying training requirements for active-duty, reserve and Air National Guard service members and units.
Operation Healthy Tennessee: Where Readiness Meets Relief
By Staff Sgt. Sarah Stalder Lundgren, | July 22, 2025
EVENSVILLE, Tenn. - More than 200 service members from the U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard, U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. Navy Reserve and U.S. Air Force Reserve participated in Operation Healthy Tennessee, part of the...