Initial Reaction Force
Encyclopedia
The Initial Reaction Force (IRF), also known as the Internal Reaction Force or Extreme Reaction Force (ERF) to inmates, is a type of small scale riot squad
in U.S. military prisons such as the Camp Delta
detention center of Guantanamo Bay
. A squad is suited up and ready to respond, at all times, in instances when one or more detainees are combative or resistive.
One ex-detainee describes an alleged assault by a five-man IRF in these terms:
In another account, a soldier
named Sean Baker
was severely beaten while, unbeknownst to the IRF, posing as a recalcitrant detainee for an exercise drill. Initially hospitalised for 6 days, Baker began suffering major seizures indicative of traumatic brain injury. He received further treatment and received a medical discharge in April 2004.
David Hicks, Guantanamo Bay detainee, in an affidavit claims: "16. I have witnessed the activities of the Internal Reaction Force (hereinafter "IRF"), which consists of a squad of soldiers that enter a detainee's cell and brutalize him with the aid of an attack dog. The IRF invasions were so common that the term to be "IRF'd" became part of the language of the detainees. I have seen detainees suffer serious injuries as a result of being IRF'ed. I have seen detainees IRF'ed while they were praying, or for refusing medication."
Another allegation by ex-detainees is that while the IRF squad is en route to the target detainee's cell they will chant, "IRF! IRF! IRF!" in order to intimidate and terrify the detainee. Part of the allegation claims that, when the squad arrives at a detainee's cell, they shout out demands to comply and immediately use force against the detainee.
Detainees have even coined a word for the treatment: 'To be IRFed', meaning being slammed against a floor by a soldier wielding a riot shield, pinned to the ground and beaten up by five armed men.
Riot control
Riot control refers to the measures used by police, military, or other security forces to control, disperse, and arrest civilians who are involved in a riot, demonstration, or protest. Law enforcement officers or soldiers have long used non-lethal weapons such as batons and whips to disperse crowds...
in U.S. military prisons such as the Camp Delta
Camp Delta
Camp Delta is a permanent detainment camp at Guantanamo Bay that replaced the temporary facilities of Camp X-Ray. Its first facilities were built between February 27 and mid-April 2002 by Navy Seabees, Marine Engineers, and workers from Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg, Brown and Root...
detention center of Guantanamo Bay
Guantanamo Bay detainment camp
The Guantanamo Bay detention camp is a detainment and interrogation facility of the United States located within Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba. The facility was established in 2002 by the Bush Administration to hold detainees from the war in Afghanistan and later Iraq...
. A squad is suited up and ready to respond, at all times, in instances when one or more detainees are combative or resistive.
Controversy
It is alleged by detainees that the unit also acts as a punishment squad for detainees whose level of insubordination doesn't fit the criteria for IRF deployment. Part of the allegations charge that regular guards will create reasons to call on the IRF to brutalize detainees over petty or non-existent infractions; refusing to agree to the third cell search in a day or infractions as slight as placing their toiletries on their shelf in the wrong order.One ex-detainee describes an alleged assault by a five-man IRF in these terms:
In another account, a soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
named Sean Baker
Sean Baker
Sean Baker, a native of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, is a United States Air Force veteran and former member of the Kentucky National Guard, who served during the first Gulf War, and as a member of the 438th Military Police at Guantanamo Bay....
was severely beaten while, unbeknownst to the IRF, posing as a recalcitrant detainee for an exercise drill. Initially hospitalised for 6 days, Baker began suffering major seizures indicative of traumatic brain injury. He received further treatment and received a medical discharge in April 2004.
David Hicks, Guantanamo Bay detainee, in an affidavit claims: "16. I have witnessed the activities of the Internal Reaction Force (hereinafter "IRF"), which consists of a squad of soldiers that enter a detainee's cell and brutalize him with the aid of an attack dog. The IRF invasions were so common that the term to be "IRF'd" became part of the language of the detainees. I have seen detainees suffer serious injuries as a result of being IRF'ed. I have seen detainees IRF'ed while they were praying, or for refusing medication."
Another allegation by ex-detainees is that while the IRF squad is en route to the target detainee's cell they will chant, "IRF! IRF! IRF!" in order to intimidate and terrify the detainee. Part of the allegation claims that, when the squad arrives at a detainee's cell, they shout out demands to comply and immediately use force against the detainee.
Detainees have even coined a word for the treatment: 'To be IRFed', meaning being slammed against a floor by a soldier wielding a riot shield, pinned to the ground and beaten up by five armed men.
External links
- Torture Continues at Guantánamo Bay Truthout
- Human Rights Watch
- Observer Internation (British newspaper)
- Mirror.co.uk online Newspaper