BAGHDAD, Iraq, Sept. 8, 2004 — The first phase of construction at the Sulaymaniyah Iraqi Police Regional Academy broke ground Sept. 2, in response to an immediate need for additional basic training space for the country’s police forces, according to Multinational Security Transition Command-Iraq officials.

In what amounted to just a five-day turnaround from original site inspection on Aug. 29, to the bid selections two days later - finally resulting in on-site work commencement six days ago - the $498,000 project should ultimately last six months. Training operations at the emergency base are slated to begin Sept. 15, with a class of 250 students, according to Coalition officials.

Construction began at ground level with basic tent and trailer facilities and new electrical and sewer systems and will migrate to more permanent facilities as work continues.

The second phase will run another two years and commit an additional $2 million to the project - part of a larger effort to stand up a basic training school capable of running 1,000 students through the eight-week instruction course. The second phase went out for contract Tuesday and will add

the balance capacity of 750 students to the facility, scheduled to kick off operations, Oct. 15.

The emergency effort resulted from current Iraqi Police Service training academies operating at maximum capacity as the Iraq government continues its ongoing mission to train its police forces.

The quick turnaround was made possible by the Coalition’s quick reaction funding program, otherwise known as “QRF.” Phase two will pull funds from the Relief and Reconstruction Fund.

Additional regional training facilities for the police forces will be added around the country in the coming months including one in the Anbar province currently capable of training roughly 100 students.

Najaf will likely receive an academy as well using a similar model.