Centcom News Feed - Apr 28

ISF IMPROVE SECURITY IN TARMIYAH
The citizens of Tarmiyah have seen a substantial reduction in violence over the past four months, which can readily be seen throughout the vibrant market places midday on April 17th as consumers packed the markets to purchase needed goods from vendors. “Things have been very quiet in Tarmiyah over the past four months,” said Staff Sgt. Mikey Fernandez, who is attached to Troop A, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team “Warrior,” 25th Infantry Division, Multinational Division – Baghdad. “You would not see the markets the way they are now four months ago. The people of Tarmiyah are no longer afraid to come out of their homes,” added the New York native.

Fernandez said he credits the city’s success in fighting violence to the fact that the Iraqi army, Iraqi police and Sons of Iraq in Tarmiyah are all working together to reduce criminal activity in the area. “The combination of the three – IA, IP and SoI – working together to improve security is what has helped decrease violence here in Tarmiyah,” said Fernandez, whose mission is to oversee the Iraqi army training of the Iraqi police at the Tarmiyah local police station. “There is a constant Iraqi security force presence in Tarmiyah,” he added. There are SOI checkpoints set up down the winding roads on the way to the Tarmiyah city center, and Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and Coalition Forces security patrols constantly travel the routes while checking on security.

The ISF not only work together on the streets, but they also are seen working together while training to become more proficient in performing their missions. Fernandez, an Iraqi police advisor, along with members of the 411th military police company police transition team, oversee the training of the Iraqi police force at the Tarmiyah Joint Service Station. “There is no language barrier when the Iraqi army instructors teach the IP,” said Fernandez. “This makes the classes run smoother, and the IP respond very well to the IA instructors.”