AMMAN — Jordan continues to be the primary trainer of Iraqi police.
The Jordan International Police Training Center has been processing
about 40 percent of recruits for the Iraqi police. The Amman-based center,
with a capacity to train more than 4,000 cadets simultaneously, has been
operated by U.S. personnel in cooperation with Australia and Britain.
In December 2006, the Jordanian facility graduated 3,537 cadets, Middle East Newsline reported. In all,
the Iraqi police graduated 8,708 police recruits last year.
Officials said the Jordanian facility, which costs about $500 million
and financed by the U.S. government, has not been directly affected by the
insurgency war in Iraq. They said this has allowed the steady training of
Iraqi police cadets.
The other Iraqi police facilities are in Al Alil, Baghdad, Basra,
Hamman, Hila, Irbil, Kut, Mosul, Najaf and Suleimaniya. Officials said many
of the courses were marred by Al Qaida and related attacks on cadets and
facilities.
The courses at the Jordanian facility includes formal law enforcement
studies and tactical policing skills. The Amman center conducts a three-week
course for officers with experience and a 10-week basic training course for
fresh recruits.
Officials said Iraqi instructors have replaced their Australian and
British counterparts in basic training courses at the Jordanian center.
They said the Jordanian facility has trained more than 30,000 Iraqi
officers.
So far, more than 151,000 Iraqi policemen have completed basic training
courses. In addition, nearly 30,000 Department of Border Enforcement and
more than 26,000 National Police have received initial training at
facilities in Iraq and Jordan.
