Pfc. Jonathan J. Springer was born and raised in Columbia City, and graduated from Columbia City High School in 1998. He attended the University of Saint Francis on a football scholarship and studied communications and business.

Springer enlisted in the Army and graduated from the Defense Information School's journalism school in October 2003. In January, he deployed with the 16th MP Brigade (Airborne) and currently is at Victory Camp, Iraq, where he handles all media relations. He has offered to e-mail periodic reports to the Times-Union.

His parents, Jim and Kathy Spr,inger, and his sister, Jessica, live in Warsaw.

----

Baghdad, Iraq - Setting up a successful Iraqi police force is a mission that is currently under way here; having model Iraqi police stations and well-trained police officers is a must for the sovereign country to be able to stand on its own.

For the past five months, the 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne) has been working to get the Iraqi Highway Patrol up and running, and by providing constant training, new equipment, facility upgrades and supervision, much progress has been made.

"The IHP offers the citizens of Iraq security on the highways. They stop thieves, car jackings and offer emergency assistance for traffic accidents," said Capt. Jim Carlson, assistant for the brigade's highway operations.

Carlson added that the IHP will help control traffic and flow of people and help guarantee the safety and security of Iraqi oil supply convoys as they cross the border in and out of Iraq.

"What we are trying to do here is train these Iraqi policemen to take over this mission themselves. Currently, the majority of highway patrol duties are being performed by the U.S. Army, and we can't do it all; so we are working toward having the IHP handle all of the patrols," said Carlson.

So far, the highway patrol has more than 900 officers, and Carlson said the goal for the force is to have 1,500 officers trained by the year's end.

"This is a brand new unit that we are starting from scratch. We have just gotten approval from the Iraqi Government's Ministry of Interior for a budget of $14.7 million, so things are starting to come together."

Carlson added that with the help of coalition forces, the IHP has progressed nicely with the help of constant training.

"Right now with the help of the U.S. Army, we are teaching the officers involved with the highway patrol to be able to react to mortars, ambushes and coming under fire," said John Henry Wise, International Police Adviser for the State Department and assistant to the Iraqi Government's Ministry of Interior.

Bruce A Young, also an International Police Adviser for the State Department and assistant to the Ministry of Interior, said the goal is for all of the major highways of Iraq to be covered by patrols from the IHP.

"We are still at an early stage of the highway patrol's existence, but there has been much progress made. We've really been working hard to stand up model police stations throughout Iraq, and these officers have done an outstanding job thus far," said Young.

By having the IHP handle all convoy escorts and highway patrols, Young said, it will free up U.S. assets, since the Army will not have to patrol Iraq's own highways.

"I am very pleased with the progress made so far, but we still have a ways to go," said Col. Abdul Ghafwor, commander of the Iraqi Highway Police in country.

Carlson said some of the training thus far has dealt with convoy operations, convoy security and proper convoy disposition.

"Lately, we have been physically doing a lot of route reconnaissance missions, highway checkpoints and many joint patrols with the IHPs. One thing I want to stress is that we are here to basically advise the IHP and not force them to do things our way," said Carlson. "They have many experienced officers who have their own way of doing things and we respect that."

Iraqi citizens need freedom on the highways to travel and visit families as well as deliver and receive food and other merchandise, and Carlson said that is where the IHP comes into play.

"Iraqis need security, and that is what the highway patrol is for," stressed Carlson. "So far, the brigade has provided radios, weapons, ammunition, vehicles, communication devices, and the list goes on and on."

Since this project is one being started from scratch, Carlson emphasized that the brigade wants to set up these officers and the IHP itself for success. "Sometimes it's hard. Out of the 900 officers apart of the IHP, some are new guys and some are experienced at this line of work," said Carlson. "There was some hesitation at first to do patrols by themselves, but now they have got initiative and are really kicking butt."

Without safe roadways and highway systems, Iraq will not be able to prosper as a country. Fuel, food and other merchandise will not be able to be delivered to its targeted destination and citizens will not be able to travel safely and freely without the Iraqi Highway Patrol.

With the help of the 16th MP BDE (ABN), the IHP is well on its way to becoming a viable force here, and one that will keep the roadways of Iraq safe for some time to come. [[In-content Ad]]