Taguba Report Annex 73: Testimony of First Lieutenant Warren E. Ford II, Headquarters Company Commander, 320th Military Police Battalion

On 9 February 2004, a team of officers, directed by Major General Antonio Taguba, conducted the following interview. Major General Taguba was appointed as an Investigating Officer under the provisions of Army Regulation 15-6, by Lieutenant General David D. McKieman, Commanding General of the Coalition Forces Land Component Command (CFLCC), to look into allegations of maltreatment of detainees, detainee escapes and accountability lapses, at Abu Ghraib, also known as the Baghdad Central Confinement Facility (BCCF). The panel also inquired into training, standards, employment, command policies, and internal policies, concerning the detainees held at Abu Ghraib prison. Finally, the panel looked into the command climate and the command and supervisory presence The following persons were present: COL_ MP, CFLCC — PMO, Interviewer
LTC C — SJA, Interviewer
LTC 705th MP Battalion, Interviewer
1LT HEC, 320th MP Battalion, Respondent
SSG , 27D30, CFLCC — SJA, Recorder

The interview is summarized as folfows:
My name is My social security number is _I am currently the Headquarters Company Commander of 320 th Military Police Battalion, at Abu Ghraib BCCF. I am Reserve. I was involuntarily transferred from the 305 th Military Police Company. There, I was company commander for a short time, platoon leader, and a squad leader prior to that. For us unfortunate Reservist, they force you from the unit you're in, to a unit that has a vacancy that's deploying.
My orders to the 320th are dated 27 November 2002. My role is basically to train for the unit's mission; prepare for deployment; manage supply motors. But, as far as mission, I don't have any operational responsibility for the confinement piece. The operation aspect falls to the S3, once we become operational. I maintain supply motors, and support of headquarters company personnel. After that, when it comes time to re-deploy, then I put together the re-deployment piece.
My orders are dated November, but we conducted the change of command inventory in January. The first time I came to the unit was in January. I finished up and drilled with my old unit in December, to wrap up administrative matters and duties that I had with the 305th, before reporting to the 320 th in January. We call it "drilling on a 1310." Basically, you drill with another unit for that month, if your command approves you to drill with another unit.
When we got over here, we were at Camp Bucca, first. Then, we moved to Abu at the end of July - the 23 rd. Our duties remained the same.
A-I-it-le,* "7 3
It's tough for me to address a lot of the training — any training that occurred prior to us leaving. I was there for one drill. The drill that I was there, was geared primarily toward equipment maintenance, licensing, and DRS training for Si and inprocessing personnel. The training that was conducted prior to that, I can't comment on, because I wasn't there. I have to assume that the unit was trained on Internment/Resettlement Operations, because that's the unit's mission. As part of the 305 th, we did our annual training normally with the 320 th, which always involved IR Operations.
Training was ongoing, because we constantly had to adapt to the mission. When we first
arrived, very little of what we did involved U.S. Army doctrine, because we took over a
British established facility. We had to fall into their program, which was a good bit
t:ifferent from what we had trained on. So, we constantly upgraded and adapted to what
we were doing.
Specific training, as far as mission goes, I can't address, because I'm not at those shift change briefs, guard mount briefs, when they have that kind of ongoing training. My role is more in the company area, than in the confinement area. I do occasionally go down there, only to talk to soldiers, to see how soldiers are going. I never have any input to the soldiers on ground in the facilities, as far as the operational mission, here, because that's not my role, and I don't want to step into something that runs counter to what they've been told by the S3 or the Operations Sergeant Major. Because, it's very confusing for soldiers as it is to have a Company Commander, and an S3 and an Operations Sergeant Major, because it's like they have two masters. They work for me, when they go home, when they go to work, they work for someone else. So, when I go into those areas, I deliberately stay away from talking operations. After we got on the ground here, that training piece belonged to Operations, because they're the ones with their ear to the ground. They identify training needs, and address those needs as they go along. Of course, we conduct EO, Sexual Harassment training, and Rules of Engagement training. I do those pieces.
We did have a couple of escapes. Assaults? No, I didn't hear anything. After our situation at Bucca, my guys are gun-shy about doing anything that would be considered abuse. If I heard anything, I would immediately report that to the Battalion Commander. It is the Battalion Commander's responsibility to take actions, but if he didn't, I would go to then next higher commander or the IG, to make sure the issue is brought forth.
Obviously, we could address it at my level from a UCMJ standpoint. But, in my personal opinion, any issue that deals with abuse of detainees is not appropriately handled at company level.
There is no policy, withholding jurisdiction to the Battalion level for certain cases. I know where Tier IA and Tier 1B are at. I'm not aware of any of the policies at the prison. I've been at the hard site one time.
I'm also responsible for motors, promotions, administration, food, clothes, water — everything but operations. I don't make up operations training. If the S3 asks me to train on something, I'll do that training. But, as far as creating operational training, that would be outside my lane.
We just finished training the CJTF-7 Rules of Engagement, which were published in
December, I believe. We follow the standard theatre rules of engagement, which now
include detainee pieces, because of some issues that happened during some riots several
months ago. We don't publish or post a ROE different from the existing CJTF-7 ROE.
We print it off directly as it is published, and post that at all the towers, guard posts, in
the tents, etc... There is no separate or alternate set of rules that we have within the
facility.
I think the latest Rules of Engagement more than adequately addresses what actions should be taken with escaping prisoners, prisoners that are endangering the lives or safety of MP's or Coalition personnel. And, we have a Battalion SOP, which addresses rules of interaction, as far as dealing with detainees in general. I can't think of anything that is not covered in those two documents.
We are void of military police personnel. Each compound should have, I believe, 8 MP's. Most of our compounds have two, augmented by a clerk, a cook, and a supply soldier. We've lost 27 personnel to REFRAD, since we've come in theatre, and we don't get replacements for those folks. We need El — E4 military police personnel.
Non-MP personnel stand at the gate with a shotgun, they escort detainees on work details, they conduct headcounts, go through the feeding procedures. A lot of the paperwork is handled by the cooks, supply folk, MP's, because we're short clerks. So, everyone on the ground is doing everything.
These cooks, clerks, supply personnel work side by side with the MP's since this started. Essentially, they've been on a "right seat ride" from day one. So, they know exactly what MP's do, because they've been there seen it, and watched it for months, before we plug them into a position. Now, they're locked into those positions, because of their knowledge and the time that they've spent with MP's in that role. There are always MP's at the compound with them. I don't believe any of them work in Tier 1A or Tier 1B. They only work at Camp Gancy with Security detainees. I've been to the hard stand, once. My soldiers don't work with the MI at all, so I can't address what their mission is.
My Battalion Commander is LTC11.11111. I see LTA...several times a day. He lives right across the courtyard from my CP. It's not uncommon for me to go to lunch or dinner with him, and I see him at daily staff call.
At staff call we discuss staffing. The Operations goes through a rundown of the previous day's events — any riots, searches, contraband that was discovered, supply shortages, feeding problems. It's like sitting in on a mayor's meeting at a village.
Issues that I've brought up are always handled within very short order. We had a Sergeant First Class (Promotable) that had an EC, complaint, and he stepped outside of what was outlined in he reprisal plan, and I recommended to LTC Phillabaum, that UCMJ action be taken, and it was. A female soldier felt she was sexually harassed, and the case was expeditiously handled, by the Battalion Commander.
The only issues we've had at BCCF were a couple of escapes that happened early on. In those instances things were identified that we need to do differently, and were addressed. None of the escapes were the fault of my soldiers, specifically, but we did go back and re-train.
The panel stopped, to discuss 1 Ll statements.
Finished with their discussion, the panel gave 1LTIllia list of items, to be addressed, and brought back on a Sworn Statement.
SWORN STATEMENT
For use of Itis form. see AR 18045; t he proponent Ppm is ODCSOPS
PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT
AUTHORITY: Hi. 10 USC Section 301: Title 5 USC Section 2951: E.O. 93S7 dated Novenae' 22. 1943 ISSN/.
PRINCIPAL PURPOSE 1-, nil:yelp commanders and law entorcerrumt offoats with means by which mlomsaten may be accurately identified
ROUTINE USES -. t 0 Acia1 secunty turner Es used a an aoditionailatirmaie mains of identificalesn in fecitme fine and retrteya ¦
DISCLOSURE Ds closuie ul your social leanly flamer U voWntary.
1 LOCATION 1 2. DATE IITYYMMODI 3 TIME II FILE NUMBER
BCF. Ahu (ilira iri 11.1,4_\ PO_A E 09335_ 2004/02/09 202(1
5_"_ -, ; NAME 1 G. SSN GRADE/STATUS 02/I!SAR
' MUM 8 ORGANIZATION 311AnORE;!• 1-11-1(..._320th_ki...1.11;1_I ..\ !'o' kc liattalion. BCF. Ahu Ghraih. Iraq .APO AE (19335
9
. WANT TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT UNDER OATH.
I . C \ plath . 'al_, it_.:_, quo:1m commander and your relationship with operations.
My rule as HH(' I otrii.tialer. once in the theater of operations. can be compared to that of a parent._I am responsible for makins
sure that all battalion personnel have a place to live. water to drink. food to eat, clothes to wear. vehicles to drive, and that all of
their admit-list rail n i ilv•CON arc met. When necessary. I counsel and punish. I have a small group of about 10 soldiers who report
directly to me :1nu help me I( i ensure that all of the above mentioned tasks are accomplished. I am not involved in direction of
battalion personnel in .ii:..-oinplishment of the unit's defined mission. In this case. intemment/resenlernent operations. _That job
belongs In the S-3 -aa-tion_I would liken the S-3 to one's boss. _When the soldiers leave the living area and 20 to work, they belong 10 Hperai 1. ,, ,_ant not at all involved m what they do during that time. As soon as their shift ends they belong to me
, 1, i I
twitri. Thee ti -ori fm tins but they have to live with me. During peacetime operations. I am responsible for basically the same
things mentioned :move hut ! am also responsible for planning. conducting and documenting all training to support the unit's
mEtt... Hm‘ eve' . operminns is heavily involved. My relationship with the operations section is excellent._We communicate -
dad:: on uniusoldier nccds and requirements and this almost completely eliminates getting into each others lane. _1 am regularly
askt-d Inv opr lion out I arel \ sit in on decision making sessions that involve operational matters._I also regularly ask the S-3 for
his opinions ioai cliallitay
2_Further c).pia11) Pt W. :Ind ROI. _When were they approved. trained and distributed?
The rules lil t'll .2a2..,:111Cla (kine the inherent right to self-defense and the application and levels of forcenecessary to counter a thre.11._The ono Ii: s 1 , ,, ,-11 trained on the rules of engagement several times during this operation._Training is conducted each time the .-uirs change it int' 1:pdated_The initial training on the CFLCC ROE (dated 31 Jan 03) was conducted at Camp Arifjan, Kut' an on 1 7 M ;II ¦ I. Tr:lining was conducted on the 800th MP BDE ROE on 18 May 03 (undated). l S Aug 03 (undated), and 31) Nos 03 «lated '1' Ni, , 03)._Training was conducted on the CJTF-7 ROE in January 04._It should he noted that the first part of .
the :410th MP FIDE Rt 1= closely follows the theater ROE._The second part of the 800th ROE pertains to detainer operations.
The rules of interaction_elate to the_conduct of soldiers when dealing with detainees in situations that du not involve hostile actiok or threats to IJS stltd ter:, The ROI refers to respectful treatment. prohibition against fraternization. respect for religious material. etc._It is a ver ¦ basic guideline for standards of conduct in detainee operations. Our ROI is contained in the battalion SOP that was published on . Feti o.3 ._It was trained during mobilization at Ft. Dix. NJ in March 03 and again at Camp Bucca. Iraq on 18 Ma' 03_Tilt ROI 11.,• •ort changed during the operation.
3._What \\ a, rh ,_: -.I.H_,_ii , support the methodology of placing cooks. clerks. and supply personnel in NIP positions at Camp Gan,.-I
While I \\ as no, 1).11: .1; dic decision making. process. I am aware of why this decision was made._...;iinply. there
`were no MP to til those 1 ¦ ,, s111.11:_1 ht. :.1 it has lost_19 MP for various reasons since deployment._The other units at BCF are in the same situation. There_Is 11, , oil,_-I — -, -_,, the work.
4HHow ,'lien it.. • i,,. .I til me Battalion Commander go into the compounds to interact with the soliders.'_What time of day?
1 on . gc Lithe . , ani :ni:ii.Is around once a week. normally in the morning atter staff call or right anter lunch when they change shins._Most_it iip_inicLiction with the soldiers occurs in the LSA._The Battalion Commander is at the compounds every day at all ottterein lime-_tle spends so much time there that some of the NCO's have complained. Thee feel that at times they get
r
10 EXHIBIT 1 I1 INITIA OF N MAKING STATEMENT I PAGE 1 OF 2 PAGES
ADDITIONAI PAGES MUST .70K EAIN THE HEADING 'STATEMENT Of TAKEN AT DATED

THE 60770M GT blf.-;-..11 .1Thi,5Al. 1'.11;i. MUST WAR THE INITIALS Of THE PERSON MAKING rm. STATEMENT, AND PAGE NUMBER MUST BE DE IND/GATED
_
DA FORM 2823. DEC 1998 OA FORM 2823. JUL 72. IS OBSOLETE USAPA VI BO
DODD0A-002803

ren Edward Ford H _BCF 20114/02/09
STATEMENT OF_ TAKEN AT_ DATED
9 STATEMENT .tortiorry..;! by •passed her_1 ( '11111111, so approachable and accessible. \ I is \ oil_ Ht • hods tor trlentirytng. logging or tracking reported problems? I am not ;aw_.1 wirt.ii piocedure or method for identifying. logging. or tracking reported probleiik.
1-la t: lilt: OM ._ named on Genex;a/Hagues.) Where is ii primed.' Ali oi II, inn_i,c I -eel,: trained on Geneva/Hague during haste iraining II was most recent' , ;tamed at Ft Dix. NJ during nu+hillrufun In l•Clu il:0_It I Illy kflOtA•edgC it is noi posted.
AFFlDAYIT__
Warren 1.:.(1w:Itd 1-0Ft1 11 _

HAVE READ OR HAVE HAD READ TO ME THIS STATEMENT
WHI::H BEGINS ON PAGE AVE) ENDS ON PAGE_

2_I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE CONTENTS OF THE ENTIRE STATEMENT MADE
BY ME. THE STATEMENT IS ­
111.1 I HAVE INITIALED ALL CORRECTIONS AND HAVE INITIALED THE BOTTOM OF EACH PAGE CONTAINING THE STA _NT. I HAVE MADE THIS
STA FEMENT FREELY WITHOUT WW1 OF BENEFIT OR REWARD. WITHOUT THREAT OF PUNISHMENT. AND .

OR UNLAWFUL INDUCEMENT.
(Sputum el emir
viiTNESSES Subscnbed owl sworn lb before me. I person outhouse(' by low to
actmsrasler oaths. Iles girl day nl per;

Jooq
01
Y 1 Lrasti
ORGANIZATION OF ADORE:'
EDuu A a* A ve.**04 t CPT, TA
(Typed Name of ends Admenstelinp Oadil
ORGANIZATION OR
Methenty To *implorer antes(
INITIALS OF PERSON MA,:i(p, "ST .': -..MENT
PAGE_2_OF_0_PAGES
PAGE .1. DA FORM 2823 DEC '9:71. 140/1 VI Er
DODD0A-002804