Part 2: Fort Polk Trains Troops for Iraq

Department of Defense Photo Essay

  • U.S. Army soldiers prepare to provide security to a fictitious Iraqi town set up on Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La., in a role-playing exercise designed to teach them to train Iraqi forces once deployed, May 15, 2009. In this exercise, U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant John J. Griffin leads the 3rd Platoon in providing security during the opening of a new police station in the fictional town of Suliyah, Iraq. The soldiers are assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division's Company C, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael J. MacLeod
  • A gunner helps to provide security for the fictitious opening of a new Iraqi police station as part of a training exercise at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La., May 2009. The soldiers are assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division's Company C, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael J. MacLeod
  • As a show of confidence in the area’s security prior to the opening of a new police station in the fictitious town of Suliyah, U.S. Army Col. Mark R. Stammer, commander 82d Airborne Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team strolls to the ribbon cutting ceremony with a role-playing Iraqi general, commissioner and police chief as part of the brigade’s training on the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La., May 15, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael J. MacLeod
  • U.S. paratroopers work in with role-playing Iraqi Security Forces to search a suspected security threat in the fictitious town of Suliyah prior to the opening of a new Iraqi police station as part of the brigade’s training on the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La., May 15, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael J. MacLeod
  • Role players gather for a speech by the police chief of a fictitious Iraqi town opening a new police station during 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82d Airborne Division’s rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La., May 15, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael J. MacLeod
  • Role players gather for a speech by the Qadaa commissioner in a fictitious Iraqi town during the opening a new police station. Seated is U.S. Army Col. Mark R. Stammer, commander, 82d Airborne Division's1st Brigade Combat Team, which is providing backup security to role-playing Iraqi Security Forces during training exercises on the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La., May 15, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael J. MacLeod
  • The Qadaa commissioner and an Iraqi general, both role players, open a new police station in the fictitious Iraqi town of Suliyah. At right is U.S. Army Col. Mark R. Stammer, commander, 82d Airborne Division's1st Brigade Combat Team, which is providing backup security to role-playing Iraqi Security Forces during training exercises on the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La., May 15, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael J. MacLeod
  • U.S. Army Lt. Col. Trevor Bredenkamp listens to a role-playing Iraqi Qadaa commissioner express frustration with local security during the opening ceremony of a new police station in the fictitious Iraqi town of Suliyah as part of the brigade’s training at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La., May 15, 2009. Bredenkamp is commander, 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael J. MacLeod
  • U.S. Army Lt. Col. Trevor Bredenkamp listens to role players as a reporter interviews an Iraqi general regarding the opening of a new police station in the fictitious Iraqi town of Suliyah as part of the brigade’s training at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La., May 15, 2009. Bredenkamp is the commander of the 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael J. MacLeod