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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
May 16, 2012 - 4:45:44 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| An Iraqi Soldier of the 7th Iraqi Army Division pulls the charging handle of his weapon as he prepares to engage targets during a live-fire exercise with his platoon. He is a part of the first Iraqi Army unit to go through the new 25-day "all-inclusive training' course" developed by the 4th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Reg., 3rd AAB, 4th Inf. Div. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Jelle) |
AL ASAD, Iraq - High on the windy plateaus of Al Asad Air Base, an Iraqi army battalion is going through some of the newest training ranges in Iraq, thanks to the 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.
"Tadreeb al Shamil," or "All-Inclusive Training," is the squadron's third mission during its year-long deployment. The purpose is to build a training center for the Iraqi army similar to those in the United States.
After the unit and two companies from sister battalions moved from Contingency Operating Base Basra to Al Asad Air Base and settled into their new living areas and offices, the Soldiers immediately began construction on the barren plateau tops that overlook the lush palm trees of Abraham's Oasis, a site of Biblical history.
The new training grounds needed to accommodate 14 separate training events, ranging from individual tasks, like weapons qualification, to more advanced training, like squad and platoon patrolling.
The squadron's Soldiers had to procure tents for shelter, lumber for benches and walkways, barriers for protection, and sandbags for everything. Physically building the training sites was only half the challenge. With a new mortar-fire range so close to an air field, they had to coordinate and plot the restricted air-space and impact areas for obvious safety reasons. Signs in both English and Arabic to mark the range areas capped off the list of products the Blackjack troops created to allow for a safer training area.
Many of the squadron's officers and noncommissioned officers attended qualification classes to become certified in conducting the new ranges.
The unit also had to help set up an encampment area capable of housing a whole Iraqi army battalion of more than 700 Soldiers for a 25-day training period.
"The difference is huge," said Spc. Taylor Collins, a Troop C cavalry scout from Fayetteville, N.C., who described the barrenness of the site outside of the few existing small-arms ranges.
"It wasn't too hard," said Collins. "Our leadership had a pretty good timeline set out. They told us what they wanted and where, and we set out to do it."
Within 16 days of the squadron's arrival to Al Asad, the first company of Iraqi Soldiers began training. The first week started off with medical and first-aid classes and then moved on to weapons training with the M16 rifle, machine gun, rocket-propelled grenades, and a hand-grenade course.
The Iraqi Soldiers aren't just going through the training course. They are also being taught how to conduct the training themselves.
"The whole purpose behind this is, we're training them to become the trainers in the long run," said Spc. Fransisco Pianas. "That way when they get new guys in, they're able to teach them how to do this and they're able to do this themselves without us being there to watch over them."
Some of the training, like the RPG class, is already being solely taught by the Iraqi Army leaders, while others like the hand-grenade course have become more of a joint effort.
Staff Sgt. Christopher Shnuck, one of the assistant trainers assigned to Troop C, said he is impressed with how involved in the course the Iraqi army soldiers have become.
"Their platoon leaders and platoon sergeants are very into the training," said Shnuck. "They're really motivated to learn and it's really good to see them try and get their soldiers to do the right thing."
After the individual tasks, the Iraqi troops began classes and drills to learn how to move as units, first as a squad, then as a platoon, and ultimately as a company.
The training units don't just learn tactical skills on the battlefield. They spend time learning the logistical elements of supporting and sustaining this large-scale training event. These staff units become responsible for things like organizing unit movements, supplies and ammunition management.
The training course culminates with a live-fire exercise, where each element of the training battalion will tactically maneuver and overtake stationary targets using the techniques learned throughout the course.
"It feels good, doing this training," said Capt. Andrew Kendzierski, an observer-controller for the platoon live-fire range assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, who is finishing up his second deployment. "You get to see how far they've come along over the years, and it's good to see that they are taking the initiative and that a lot of the leadership is coming from the Iraqi Army itself."
Roughly 25 trainees will stay at the training course and become permanent trainers after their unit has finished the rotation. As more units move through the course, they will begin to build a larger permanent staff, as U.S. forces continue to draw down.
The 4th Sqdn., 10th Cav., will see one more Iraqi battalion rotate through the training before redeploying home to Fort Carson, Colo.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
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| A platoon of Iraqi Soldiers of the 7th Iraqi Army Division move toward their objective during a live-fire exercise. They are a part of the first Iraqi Army unit to go through the new 25-day "all-inclusive training' course" developed by the 4th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Reg., 3rd AAB, 4th Inf. Div. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Jelle) |
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| An Iraqi Soldier of the 7th Iraqi Army Division pulls security after engaging targets during a live-fire exercise with his platoon. He is a part of the first Iraqi Army unit to go through the new 25-day "all-inclusive training" course put together by the 4th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Reg., 3rd AAB, 4th Inf. Div. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Jelle) |
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