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Fallujah police candidates screened

Marine Corps News

Story Identification #: 20054152445
Story by Lance Cpl. Evan M. Eagan

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Apr. 10, 2005) -- Marines patrol the streets of Fallujah every day providing security for military operations and maintaining the general stability of the area. With Iraqi’s taking control of their own government and rebuilding the city, there are many responsibilities ahead, to include a force that can police the region.

With the help of Iraqi Security Forces, Iraqi Police Section, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), local citizens are receiving an opportunity to man the force.

More than 200 potential Iraqi police candidates were screened April 9 and 10 at the Civil Military Operations Center located in the heart of city.

“We’re looking for people with no obvious bad ties,” said Maj. David Barnes, ISF, IPS and Columbia, S.C., native. “Anyone tied to criminal activity or human rights violations, we do not want. Out of the whole group we might get 90-100 [qualified] people.”

Before II MEF took command, DynCorp International, a contracted security company, was in charge of processing and training the police candidates, said Ross Deck, international police liaison officer, DynCorp International.

The screening process consists of three stations.

“They come in and fill out paperwork, which has a background check and a literacy test,” said Barnes. “Then they have their picture taken. After that they are run through the BAT [Biometrics Automated Toolset] network.”

The BAT network is a way of identifying and tracking individuals and is currently being used throughout Iraq and Afghanistan. It consists of fingerprinting, a mug shot and an iris scan.

“The iris scan takes a picture of the eye and is 99.9 percent accurate,” said Cpl. Robert Johnson, 21, ISF instructor, Regimental Combat Team 8, and Good Thunder, Minn., native. “If they have been [screened] in the past, their information popsup on the screen from a huge database and we will know exactly who they are.”

Because of the efficiency of the BAT network, a few applicants were identified as having ties to criminal activity and were taken away for further questioning.

The next step of the screening process is conducted at the East Fallujah Iraqi Camp where the ISF Marines and civilians get a better idea of who will be considered for further training.

“When they get to the advanced screening at the EFIC they do a physical exam, physical fitness test and a more in depth interview,” said Barnes. “There, we can see what their physical abilities are and get a better idea of who they are.”

Once the screening at the EFIC is completed a final decision is made to determine who goes on for formal police training.

“The Marines of Iraqi Security Forces, RCT-8 and the Iraqi Ministry of Interior review their books and make the final decision of who will be sent to Jordan for an 8-week police academy. From there, they will be sent out to work in the outlying areas and cities.”