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Scott Airman helps train Iraqi police force

  • Published
  • By Steve Berry
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Senior Airman Justin Hovis answered the nation's call last year when he volunteered for a year-long deployment to Baghdad, Iraq.

He was already part of one of the most deployed organizations at Scott--the 375th Security Forces Squadron, but he volunteered out of cycle to serve on a police transition team training Iraqi police.

His journey began Nov. 18, 2008 with training at Fort Bliss, Texas. After almost two months of training, he left for Iraq Jan. 31, 2009, and returned home nearly a year later on Jan. 16, 2010.

During his deployment he convoyed to various Iraqi Police stations for training, performed dismounted patrols and performed police checkpoint assessments.

Three other Airmen from the 375th SFS deployed with Airman Hovis. The Airmen were Senior Airmen Richard Acosta, Ben Grote and Michael Altenburg.

"Airman Hovis was a great person to work with in Iraq," Airman Altenburg said. "He was knowledgeable about his job and did it well. This was my second deployment with Airman Hovis. We were deployed together two years ago, and he has grown up and matured a lot in his Air Force career."

In Baghdad

Airman Hovis said traveling securely with his convoy to the Iraqi police station was the hardest part of his deployment, but training the Iraqis was also the most rewarding. He said his unit trained Iraqi police on detaining operations, checkpoints and house clearing.

His routine convoy to the Iraqi police station consisted of four or five vehicles, usually two MRAPs and two HUMVEEs.

Another major duty for Airman Hovis was checkpoint assessments. He said his unit helped make Iraqi security checkpoints better.

In addition, Airman Hovis participated in dismounted patrols.

"Dismount patrol is when you go into a neighborhood or a market with four or five Iraqi police intermixed with us guys walking ... meeting the local population and doing humanitarian work," Airman Hovis said.

Delivering humanitarian supplies in Iraq was the most exciting part of the deployment according to Airman Hovis.

"We would stop by a school and do a humanitarian delivery along with the Iraqi police, trying to get the Iraqi populace to trust the Iraqi police."

Airman Hovis, 21, lives in Belleville. He is originally from Effingham, Ill. Off duty, Airman Hovis enjoys sports and hunting.