By Lance Cpl. Christopher ZahnRegimental Combat Team 6
HABBANIYAH — Marines from Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, recently conducted their first joint security patrol with the Iraqi Police since arriving in Al Anbar late January. The historic operation marked a turning point for the future of Habbaniyah. The local populace has grown accustomed to seeing Marines and Iraqi Army soldiers patrol the streets, but not with the Iraqi Police.
The mission of the day was to pass out Iraqi Police recruiting pamphlets, search suspicious vehicles and establish the presence of police forces. Unlike the Iraqi Army soldiers, who are recruited throughout the country, the Iraqi Police are locally recruited. By joining forces with the Marines, the IPs are ensuring the safety of their own neighborhoods.
“I think we definitely turned some heads out there,” said Staff Sgt. Michael S. Richard, 30, from Merrimack, N.H. “The Iraqi people saw that the Iraqi Police are here to rid their neighborhoods of bad guys.”
(PHOTO: Staff Sgt. Michael S. Richard, 30, from Merrimack, N.H., speaks to an Iraqi civilian while on patrol with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, and the Iraqi Police. The IPs, pictured here wearing ski masks to avoid being identified, face a constant threat of death from insurgents frustrated by the diligent work of policemen dedicated to cleaning up the streets of the city. The combined efforts of both Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police mean a safer environment for the people. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Christopher Zahn)
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