Kirkuk Police Academy Trains Women in Northeastern Iraq

By Army Staff Sgt. Margaret C. Nelson Special to American Forces Press Service

KIRKUK, Iraq, Aug. 18, 2008 – Thirty-seven Iraqi women attended their first day of training Aug. 16 at the Kirkuk Police Academy in northeastern Iraq.
Officials said it’s been a year since the academy has seen any women recruits, and a class of this size is unprecedented.

\”We need these females badly,\” Lt. Col. Muid, a cadre member at the academy, said. \”It is our religious custom not to touch our women, so we cannot search females. Our female [Iraqi police] will be extremely important to use at checkpoints and government buildings throughout the province.\”

Muid also noted that the women would bring a different perspective to policing. \”Women think differently than men,\” he said. \”They will bring fresh ideas to how we conduct business.\”

The class’s 37 women are split into squad-like elements. Each squad will have a U.S. military policewoman from the 10th Mountain Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team helping out: Army Sgt. 1st Class Sumalee Bustamante, who has 16 years of Army service and is a former drill sergeant, and Army Spc. Jennifer Swierk, who has served for two years.