A police recruiting drive in Fallujah and Habbaniyah resulted in some 67 Iraqi men signing up as police trainees to serve in their respective hometowns, military officials said Thursday.

No incidents were reported during the drive. Previous ones in the area have been attacked by suicide bombers in an effort to drive away local recruits in Sunni-dominated areas of western Iraq.

“The primary focus is obviously to continue to build the [Iraqi police] forces,” Lt. Col. Race Roberson, Regimental Combat Team 5 police implementation officer, was quoted as saying. “The second goal is to have the [Iraqi army] and the [Iraqi police] working together in order to make a safer Fallujah.”

The applicants completed paperwork, were given medical and physical fitness tests, and underwent security screenings. They next will be shipped to the Jordan International Police Training College for eight weeks of training.

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