Two more cities have Iraqi men flocking to join Police forces

Police Recruiting in Nasir Wa Salam a 'Resounding Success' http://www.defendamerica.mil/cgibin/prfriendly.cgi?http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/jun2007/a062907ej3.html

Iraqi citizens pour out to fight al Qaeda. BAGHDAD, June 29, 2007 — Hundreds of volunteers from area tribes, willing to fight against al Qaeda, turned out for a screening to become Iraqi Police candidates in Baghdad’s Nasir Wa Salam and Abu Ghraib neighborhoods starting June 25. "This recruitment drive is a success because the tribes in this area want to reconcile their differences with the Coalition and the Iraqi government and participate in the legitimate legal process." U.S. Army Lt. Col. Peter Andrysiak. The three-day recruiting drive by the Ministry of Interior saw more than 600 men participate. During the recruiting drive, potential candidates were screened for identification, health, and fitness.“The first day was a resounding success,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Peter Andrysiak, deputy commander for 1st “Ironhorse” Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. “The large turn out was not entirely unexpected. We have been working with reconcilable tribal leaders and the government of Iraq to make this happen.” Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment assisted the identification screening process while workers from the Ministry of Interior conducted the heath and fitness screening to determine the candidate’s eligibility for work as Iraqi Security Forces. The additional police presence in the area will allow us to focus our soldiers more on key insurgent leaders and individual insurgent cells,” Andrysiak said. “This recruitment drive is a success because the tribes in this area want to reconcile their differences with the Coalition and the Iraqi government and participate in the legitimate legal process.” In a few weeks, the Ministry of Interior is expected to select 1,700 candidates from area volunteers to begin training as Iraqi Police.

1B) Yusufiyah men flock to Iraqi Police recruitment drive June 28, 2007

http://www.mnfiraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12578&Itemid=128 Multi-National Division – Center PAO BAGHDAD — Over 1,200 Iraqi men came to Joint Security Station Yusufiyah during a three-day police recruitment drive which ended June 25.The drive, orchestrated by the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) from Fort Drum, N.Y., the 23rd Military Police Company, 503rd MP Bn., 16th MP Bde., from Fort Bragg, N.C., and the 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, began June 23 to increase Iraqi Police manning in the 4-31 “Polar Bears’” area of operations.The goal was to find 200 qualified Iraqi Police recruits. When the drive began at 8 a.m., there were almost 200 men waiting in line to apply.Gen. David Petraeus, the Commanding General of Multi-National Force – Iraq, visited the recruitment efforts the first day and spoke to several potential recruits and encouraged them to serve their country.Five hundred seventy-seven applicants were processed the first day. Another 150 were waiting in line the second day and by mid-afternoon 361 had filled out applications and spoken with the troops.Officials accepted 252 applications on June 25.The surplus applications – including one from a local woman - will be kept and as the JSS expands, those individuals will be the first called for new hires.Applicants represented all major Sunni and Shia tribes in the area with the majority coming from Yusufiyah and Mulla Fayad. Also represented was Carguoli Village, a longtime hotbed of terrorist activity, which has recently begun making strides toward peace. Each applicant completed a basic literacy test. Other requirements included being between the ages of 20 and 35, not being part of the Iraqi Army, having no ties to extremist groups, and a willingness to move at the government’s need. Applicants must be Iraqi citizens. The recruits’ records will be checked by the Ministry of the Interior to prevent terrorist groups from infiltrating into the IP forces.