Communication specialist, Staff Sgt. Todd Walker, walks and jokes with a local Iraqi boy at the Iraq-Syria border March 22. Walker is one of several members on the Point-of-Entry Transition Team, stationed at Combat Outpost Heider. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Paula Taylor, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SR# 032407-45
March 24, 2007

By Sgt. Paula Taylor
4th BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

COMBAT OUTPOST HEIDER, Iraq – With weapons loaded and at the ready, they walk their beat in full battle-rattle, carefully making their way through the crowd.

All eyes are on them—heads turn and people nudge one another for a better look. This isn't just a routine patrol and they aren't your average cops. They are members of the Point-of-Entry Transition Team, or POETT, and their “beat” is to help secure the border between Iraq and Syria. Their home stations range from Fort Bragg, N.C. to Fort Huachuca, Ariz., and their jobs range from military intelligence to military police officers. The team works around the clock in shifts and hand-in-hand with the Iraqi security forces to ensure everyone entering the country has a legitimate reason, passport and goods.

"Our job is to assist the Iraqis the best we can to create a functional, safe and organized point of entry between Syria and Iraq," said Staff Sgt. A.J. Lyons, a military intelligence representative on the POETT from Fort Huachuca. "We try to help them interdict any contraband, [improvised explosive devices] or foreign fighters trying to cross the border."

Since the team arrived one year ago, Lyons said the point of entry has significantly improved.

"It's gotten a lot better. The security measures that have been put into place, such as the addition of T-barriers and a computerized passport system that checks and maintains records of travelers, has resulted in several arrests. We've also done a lot of training with the Iraqis, as far as weapons training, developing a security plan and how to respond to a catastrophic event such as a car bomb. We've also given them medical training, gotten a lot of the POE soldiers qualified in [combat lifesaver] and equipped the medical staff better than they were before."

To help the POETT get the Iraqi border and customs police officers trained, and to augment their team, several military police officers from the Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division were brought up to the border from Forward Operating Base Marez, just outside Mosul, Iraq.

"The M.P.s brought a lot of police expertise and a police mentality to the team," said Lyons. "They've taught a lot of classes on vehicle searches, personnel searches and customs laws. They are teaching the Iraqis better policing techniques. They've been a huge help and a welcomed addition to the POETT."

"On a day-to-day basis, we interact with the Iraqi security forces a lot," said Spc. Charles Holt, military police officer, STB. "Mostly, we deal directly with the customs police. We're making sure the people entering the country are being properly taxed and that they're not bringing in any weapons or illegal contraband. Everyone has to get searched, have their passports checked and stamped, and their vehicle inspected," the Slaton, Texas, native added.

The Iraqi border and customs personnel are grateful for what the POETT has done to help them.

"The team supports our troops on the point of entry," said Gen. Wahled, point-of-entry director. "Without them, we would have insurgent's actions here. They keep the [Iraqi border staff] motivated to do their jobs and do their jobs better. The Coalition Forces have also helped supply us with food, weapons and uniforms. They have provided the Customs Security Battalion training, as well as the customs police and inspectors."

Lyons, who is scheduled to leave within the next week to return to his job as an instructor at the Military Intelligence Center and School in Fort Huachuca, said he has enjoyed his tour and feels confident his team has made a positive impact on border security. "We're lucky to have such a good group [of Soldiers] that were willing to come together and work together," said Lyons. "It's definitely been a team effort. I think we've done a really good job."

A new POETT has arrived to COP Heider and is scheduled to begin training to take over the mission March 24.


Military police officer Staff Sgt. Johnny Nelson, Special Troops Battalion, unlocks the gate in the early morning March 23 at the Iraqi border. Nelson, a Cerro-Gordo, N.C. native, was chosen to participate in border security missions on the Point-of-Entry Transition Team and has been living at the border since February 2007. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Paula Taylor, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


An Iraqi customs police officer checks the passport of a driver entering Iraq from Syria. Once the passport is checked, the driver will pull forward, show his manifest and get his load x-rayed. Based on the amount and type of goods being brought into Iraq, the driver will pay a load tax before being authorized to travel inside Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Paula Taylor, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


Point-of-Entry Transition Team chief, Lt. Col. Michael Landers, inspects the load and passport of a citizen at the drive-thru checkpoint on the Iraqi-Syrian border March 22. Landers and his team are responsible for training the Iraqi border and customs police officers and assisting with security at the border outside the city of Rabiyaah. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Paula Taylor, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


Military police platoon leader, 1st Lt. R.J. Henderson, Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, uses his hand-held radio to communicate with other members of his team at the Iraqi-Syrian border March 21. Henderson, a San Luis Obispo, Calif., native, works at the border to help provide training for the Iraqi customs police and border police officers, as well as providing security. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Paula Taylor, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


Iraqi border police practice casualty evacuation procedures under the direction of Coalition Forces of the Point-of-Entry Transition Team Feb. 17. The purpose of the training was to enhance the border security forces’ ability to react to catastrophic emergencies. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. John Keenan, Special Troops Battalion, 4th BCT, 1st Cav. Div.)


A member of the Iraqi border security forces addresses a group of citizens at the Point of Entry at the Iraqi-Syrian border Feb. 21. The citizens are lined up waiting to have their passports checked before being permitted to enter Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. John Keenan, Special Troops Battalion, 4th BCT, 1st Cav. Div.)

Labels: 1st Cavalry Division, 4th BCT, Combat Outpost Heider, Iraq, POETTs, US Army