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Airmen improve Iraq's security one eye at a time

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Joel Langton
  • U.S. Central Command Public Affairs
BAGHDAD, Iraq - --  Fifteen security forces Airmen helped Iraq become more secure Saturday, when they kicked off a three-day operation to improve identification of Iraqi policemen. 

Members of Detachment 3 of the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, processed 157 new Iraqi policemen into a database that will help ensure the correct policemen are getting paid. By Monday, the team will have added more than 500 new recruits in the database. 

The database includes each policeman's name and background, an iris scan and fingerprints. Tech. Sgt. T.L. Miller, flight chief, said there's a simple reason they are building the database. 

"The iris never lies, the finger print never lies," Sergeant Miller said. 

As a result of the database, there will be more identification control when the policemen are paid. 

"We were seeing odd members showing up on payday. These guys are hired, but they never show up until payday, and we know exactly where the money goes," said Sergeant Miller. "We want to deter money getting into the hands of militias." 

Establishing control in the district hasn't been easy. 

The fifteen security forces members, known as a police transition team, rolled into Camp Black Lion, an Army coalition on their way to a nearby Iraqi police compound. Upon arrival, there were 175 of Iraq's newest law enforcement members waiting. The Airmen, with the aid of interpreters and two full-fledged Iraqi policemen, lined-up the recruits. 

The transition team divided into three parts: one part provided security outside the compound, another part searched each recruit before they entered the processing center, and the last part processed the recruits into the database. The first step in the processing line involved the iris scan, then the new policeman was finger printed and finally, his photograph was taken. Eventually, all the new policemen will give DNA samples. 

Sergeant Miller called the effort a huge success. 

"This had taken thousands and thousands of dollars away from militia and has made the Iraqi Police a stronger force to be able to bring peace here," he said. 

Besides building the identification database, the transition teams train, coach and mentor policemen in the district. They also help recruit Iraqi Policemen and oversee the building of an Iraqi police academy and police stations.