The 705th Military Police Internment and Resettlement Battalion has been essential to detention operations for the government of Iraq and U.S. Forces-Iraq since coming to Iraq for its second tour in August 2009.
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 705th, currently assigned to the 49th MP Brigade Tactical Command Post, was instrumental in transferring the operations of the Taji Theater Internment Facility and Reconciliation Center to Iraqi control last March. The unit, which provides corrections Soldiers in support of the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, is now working to transfer the operations of the last major USF-I detention facility, the Cropper TIF, to the Iraqi government.
The 705th deployed to Iraq in 2006 to support detention operations at Camp Bucca. While there, the unit’s Soldiers developed strong relationships with the Iraqi Corrections Services. The relationships fostered with the Iraqis in 2006 helped them accomplish their mission this time around.
When the 705th arrived at Camp Taji in 2009, it operated in a joint service environment with 2,600 service members, including Navy and Air Force personnel. According to Sgt. Maj. Christopher Sommerville, operations sergeant major for the 705th, the unit integrated the staff to overcome the language barrier between the services, and to build a common operational picture for everyone.
The unit’s major responsibility at Camp Taji was to run the TIFRC and to provide care, custody and control of the detainees.
“It was easy for the 705th to transition from its responsibilities by running the detention center in Taji. We drew from the experiences back home and implemented the same standards using the corrections-based model to improve the conditions in Iraq,” said Maj. Daniel Rempfer, executive officer for the 705th.
The 705th’s Soldiers used their knowledge of corrections operations to refine a plan to help leaders evaluate the Iraqi corrections officers. The plan included progress reports that measured the duties and responsibilities involved in supporting detention operations. These reports significantly helped the ICS by identifying and correcting leadership weaknesses, thereby increasing workforce productivity.
Troops of the 705th also built relationships with their Iraqi partners to help them take control of the Taji TIFRC and develop plans to maintain the facility’s operation.
“Our Soldiers built close relationships with the ICS staff to teach them about the daily operational concept of how to operate a prison,” said Maj. Daron Settles, 705th operations officer. He said they applied the Army’s “crawl, walk, run” method of training as they mentored the Iraqis.
“We stepped back, once we saw they could handle operations on their own,” Settles said.
Members of the ICS also received inmate behavior management training from the MPs of the 705th. The Iraqi corrections officers learned about the rehabilitation efforts applied in Kansas and helped implement a corrections-based reward system. This helped them understand behavior modification based on quid pro quo.
“Detainees who followed the rules were rewarded by being transferred to housing units with increased recreational opportunities. These rewards consisted of allowing them to watch TV, more recreational time and many other (privileges),” Rempfer said.
Like any detention facility, life support services are critical, and detainees at Taji received medical services by professionals dedicated to their care. Maj. Lara Nunez, the battalion’s surgeon, worked with the Iraqi Ministry of Health and brought their personnel into the medical clinic. She made medical recommendations, provided clinical guidelines for detainee health care and made sure all Army and U.S. federal regulations for medical care were followed.
Lt. Col. David Deadrich, 705th MP I/R Battalion commander, brought to the table his background as the former deputy commandant of the USDB in Kansas. He provided guidance and direction to the ICS. Deadrich organized weekly meetings between ICS members and the International Criminal Investigation and Training Assistance Program, U.S. advisers with extensive experience operating jails. Deadrich also oversaw the logistical support for detainees and ICS supplies and put contracts in place to provide maintenance support for the facility after the transfer.
“We did everything we were supposed to by setting the conditions of long-term contracts to feed the detainee population, provide fuel for generators, and integrate ICOs into our operations,” Deadrich said.
In March, the 705th became the first unit in the Army to turn over a detention center and detainees to the Iraqi government when the $107 million Taji TIFRC was successfully transferred to the Ministry of Justice.
Following the transfer, the battalion moved to Camp Cropper. The 49th MP Brigade Tactical Command Post is in charge of the Cropper TIF, the last major U.S.-operated detention center in Iraq. The 705th took on a brigade-sized mission in April as the command-and-control element for the 49th Tactical Command Post, which is in charge of the Cropper Theater Internment Facility. The 705th now oversees the operations of three subordinate battalions and provides support to 3,000 service members.
The Cropper TIF is a multimillion dollar facility that currently houses less than 2,000 detainees. It’s scheduled to be transferred to the Iraqi government in mid-July.
The 705th sets high standards in the business of detention operations and will return home later this summer to resume custody and control services at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks.
Because these detainees may eventually be released back into Iraqi neighborhoods, Deadrich said, it is important for jail administrators to apply the corrections type model not only to provide custody and control of that population, but also to implement some sort of program to make their reconciliation possible.
“Providing a reconciliation program and treating the detainee or prisoner with dignity and respect will help him or her become a better contributor to society,” Deadrich said.
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The 705th Military Police Internment and Resettlement Battalion has been essential to detention operations for the government of Iraq and U.S. Forces-Iraq since coming to Iraq for its second tour in August 2009.
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 705th, currently assigned to the 49th MP Brigade Tactical Command Post, was instrumental in transferring the operations of the Taji Theater Internment Facility and Reconciliation Center to Iraqi control last March. The unit, which provides corrections Soldiers in support of the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, is now working to transfer the operations of the last major USF-I detention facility, the Cropper TIF, to the Iraqi government.
The 705th deployed to Iraq in 2006 to support detention operations at Camp Bucca. While there, the unit’s Soldiers developed strong relationships with the Iraqi Corrections Services. The relationships fostered with the Iraqis in 2006 helped them accomplish their mission this time around.
When the 705th arrived at Camp Taji in 2009, it operated in a joint service environment with 2,600 service members, including Navy and Air Force personnel. According to Sgt. Maj. Christopher Sommerville, operations sergeant major for the 705th, the unit integrated the staff to overcome the language barrier between the services, and to build a common operational picture for everyone.
The unit’s major responsibility at Camp Taji was to run the TIFRC and to provide care, custody and control of the detainees.
“It was easy for the 705th to transition from its responsibilities by running the detention center in Taji. We drew from the experiences back home and implemented the same standards using the corrections-based model to improve the conditions in Iraq,” said Maj. Daniel Rempfer, executive officer for the 705th.
The 705th’s Soldiers used their knowledge of corrections operations to refine a plan to help leaders evaluate the Iraqi corrections officers. The plan included progress reports that measured the duties and responsibilities involved in supporting detention operations. These reports significantly helped the ICS by identifying and correcting leadership weaknesses, thereby increasing workforce productivity.
Troops of the 705th also built relationships with their Iraqi partners to help them take control of the Taji TIFRC and develop plans to maintain the facility’s operation.
“Our Soldiers built close relationships with the ICS staff to teach them about the daily operational concept of how to operate a prison,” said Maj. Daron Settles, 705th operations officer. He said they applied the Army’s “crawl, walk, run” method of training as they mentored the Iraqis.
“We stepped back, once we saw they could handle operations on their own,” Settles said.
Members of the ICS also received inmate behavior management training from the MPs of the 705th. The Iraqi corrections officers learned about the rehabilitation efforts applied in Kansas and helped implement a corrections-based reward system. This helped them understand behavior modification based on quid pro quo.
“Detainees who followed the rules were rewarded by being transferred to housing units with increased recreational opportunities. These rewards consisted of allowing them to watch TV, more recreational time and many other (privileges),” Rempfer said.
Like any detention facility, life support services are critical, and detainees at Taji received medical services by professionals dedicated to their care. Maj. Lara Nunez, the battalion’s surgeon, worked with the Iraqi Ministry of Health and brought their personnel into the medical clinic. She made medical recommendations, provided clinical guidelines for detainee health care and made sure all Army and U.S. federal regulations for medical care were followed.
Lt. Col. David Deadrich, 705th MP I/R Battalion commander, brought to the table his background as the former deputy commandant of the USDB in Kansas. He provided guidance and direction to the ICS. Deadrich organized weekly meetings between ICS members and the International Criminal Investigation and Training Assistance Program, U.S. advisers with extensive experience operating jails. Deadrich also oversaw the logistical support for detainees and ICS supplies and put contracts in place to provide maintenance support for the facility after the transfer.
“We did everything we were supposed to by setting the conditions of long-term contracts to feed the detainee population, provide fuel for generators, and integrate ICOs into our operations,” Deadrich said.
In March, the 705th became the first unit in the Army to turn over a detention center and detainees to the Iraqi government when the $107 million Taji TIFRC was successfully transferred to the Ministry of Justice.
Following the transfer, the battalion moved to Camp Cropper. The 49th MP Brigade Tactical Command Post is in charge of the Cropper TIF, the last major U.S.-operated detention center in Iraq. The 705th took on a brigade-sized mission in April as the command-and-control element for the 49th Tactical Command Post, which is in charge of the Cropper Theater Internment Facility. The 705th now oversees the operations of three subordinate battalions and provides support to 3,000 service members.
The Cropper TIF is a multimillion dollar facility that currently houses less than 2,000 detainees. It’s scheduled to be transferred to the Iraqi government in mid-July.
The 705th sets high standards in the business of detention operations and will return home later this summer to resume custody and control services at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks.
Because these detainees may eventually be released back into Iraqi neighborhoods, Deadrich said, it is important for jail administrators to apply the corrections type model not only to provide custody and control of that population, but also to implement some sort of program to make their reconciliation possible.
“Providing a reconciliation program and treating the detainee or prisoner with dignity and respect will help him or her become a better contributor to society,” Deadrich said.
