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President Trump greets U.S. Coalition military commanders and representatives for the first time with a pledge of greater support and commitment to taking down terrorists. USA TODAY NETWORK

In this Feb. 1, 2017 photo, Nineveh police forces train with Spanish coalition members at Basmaya base,southeast of Baghdad. While the battle for Mosul is largely paused, the U.S.-led coalition is ramping up training of Nineveh police forces to move into villages and parts of Mosul retaken from the Islamic State.(Photo: Karim Kadim, AP)

The U.S.-led coalition is training 3,000 Iraqi police and border officers to help provide security in Iraqonce Islamic State militants are pushed out of their last major stronghold in Mosul.

The move reflects a shift from training anadvancing army that has been repelling the militants to building a security force capable of countering the radical group's return to its roots as terroristsutilizing bombs and guerrilla tactics.

When the Islamic State no longerfunctions as an occupying force, the requirements will be a little bit different, said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Joe Martin, who commands trainers and advisers in Iraq.

U.S.-backed Iraqi forces are in the midst of an offensive to drive the militants from Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city.

Martin, in a telephone interview from Baghdad, said Iraqs security forces would likely continue to request training even after the Islamic State, also known as ISIL or ISIS, is defeated in Iraq.

Thats part of the strategic partnership with Iraq, Martin said.

The coalition has been training police for more than a year, but the Iraqi government recentlyrequestedthat more be trained.

After Iraq's military was routed by invading militants in 2014, the coalition began training combat units and providing weapons.The coalition has trained 60,000 troopsduring the past two years.

Last year, Iraqi forces aided bycoalition advisers and airstrikes pushedthe militants out of Ramadi and Fallujah in western Iraq. The offensive to retakeMosul began inOctober.

Michael OHanlon, an analyst at the Brookings Institution, a Washingtonthink tank, said a continued coalition presence is needed to keepIraqs militaryproficient and retain U.S. influencein the region.Its about sustaining a partnership,"OHanlon said.

The U.S. military has about 5,000 troops in Iraq. In addition to training, itprovides air support and advisers to support Iraqi units.

When U.S. ground combatforces withdrew from Iraq in 2011, theyleft behind an effective Iraqi military trained and equipped by the United States.By the time the Islamic State attacked in 2014, Iraqs military had deteriorated because troops weren't being trained and competent commanders were replaced with political cronies of the centralgovernment.

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US-led coalition focuses on training a post-ISIL police force in Iraq - USA TODAY