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Last Air Force PTT completes mission

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Sanjay Allen
  • Air Component Coordination Element-Iraq Public Affairs
CAMP STRYKER, Iraq --  The 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Detachment 2 completed their mission as the final Air Force Police Transition Team in Iraq in a ceremony here July 26 as they have brought the Iraqi Police to a self-sustaining level.

In addition to going "off mission," they transferred authority to the Army's 94th Military Police Company who will be taking over in an advise and assist role with the Iraqi Police.

"We're officially the final Air Force Police Transition Team in Iraq," said Maj. David Lederer, Det. 2 commander, deployed from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. "Reapers, we are finally off mission."

The team of 160 defenders from 56 bases began their mission at Camp Shelby, Miss., for training in October and assumed their mission Jan. 10. They were joined with their medics, mechanics, intelligence, communications, administrative and supply specialists and linguists once they arrived on Camp Stryker.

The Airmen were tasked with training Iraqi police in general police tactics and techniques and they assisted the local Iraqi Police with community policing, cordon and search, weapons cache searches, weapons training, and humanitarian missions.

The team also conducted missions supporting the investigative task force and exploitation task force, assisting Iraqi Police with investigations of improvised explosive devices, vehicle-borne IEDs, explosions, murders and assassinations in the greater Baghdad area.

"You can measure your success in the proficiency of the men and women you train, and by a heightened public confidence in Iraqi police across Baghdad," said Lt. Col. Dustin Sutton, 732nd ESFS commander.

Colonel Sutton used the March 7 elections as an example of the Reapers' success in training the Iraqi Police saying the world watched and waited to see if the elections would be successful.

"Significant events in your (area of responsibility) were lower than any area in Baghdad province," the Browns Mills, N.J., native said. "Large scale and complex attacks were minimized and defeated through an Iraqi Security Forces integrated security solution that you developed, taught and monitored."

The colonel, deployed from Misawa Air Base, Japan, described other significant successes the detachment had over the years, saying attacks throughout Baghdad have been reduced dramatically and public confidence in the Iraqi Police forces have soared to their highest levels since the 2003 invasion.

"The success of the police transition team and mission in Baghdad is a direct result of you outstanding men and women who have served in this detachment for the past few years," Colonel Sutton said. "Your partnership with the Iraqis resulted in the development of a professional, mature and capable police force."

The team's success with the Iraqi Police is something they can be proud of.

"You all should leave this deployment proud of what you've done," said Major Lederer, a native of Altus, Okla. "Thank you for all you've done. This (transfer of authority) today, closes a chapter in Air Force history."

Once Det. 2 cased their flag, the 94th Military Police Company uncased their flag and assumed the Reapers mission.

"The torch has officially been passed to us," said Capt. Benjamin Hall, 94th MPC commander. "Our mission set will be challenging but critical to the success of the Iraq Security Force. I ask every one of you to devote 110 percent to the advise, train, assist and equip mission that brings us here today. We are the most advanced and professional army in the world. We'll utilize the resources and knowledge we have and empower the Iraqi police ensuring country stability for years to come.

"732nd ESFS, thank you for your efforts," he said in closing. "94th MP Company, it's time for us to step up and answer the country's call. Hua!"