US Soldiers teach independence to Iraqis

Blackanthem.com, MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq, April 8, 2005

Though they have only been working with the Iraqi Army for two months, Soldiers of A Company, 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armor Division, are making significant strides to build up the military force in Iraq. Along with providing the basic necessities required for soldiering, the 2-70th has trained the 507th Infantry and 1st Presidential Battalions of the future 4th Brigade, 6th Division, on infantry tactics and maneuver movements. Over the past several months, the training has resulted in the IA gaining loyalty from the local Iraqi community.

Captain David Carey, from Kokomo, Ind., commander of A Co., 2-70th shared a story of an attempt by criminals to launch mortars, an attempt that was stopped by Iraqi civilians. “They (the terrorists) went to put out the mortar tubes, and the local populace actually pulled out their AK-47s and fired on the mortar team,” he said. Carey attributes the actions of the civilians to the Iraqi Army and outlying American patrols.

“That’s a success story,” he added. “You know you’re doing things right when the locals start doing things like that.” Carey, who was in Iraq a year ago for the ground war, explained that a lot has changed since he was last here, especially the focus, mentality, and capabilities of the Iraqi Army. “Both of our battalions are doing really well, we see a lot of improvement from a year ago. They’re able to stand up, and the officers and Soldiers are better.”

Carey’s men have been conducting hands on training with the 507th IA and the 1st Presidential, incorporating overseeing medical and individual level training, as well as conducting joint missions with the battalions. The biggest struggle, according to Carey, appears to be with the lack of equipment. The goal is to get the IA completely self-sufficient on materials, such as uniforms, office equipment, and basic tools required for effective soldiering. Currently, a lot of the funding is still on the American side and is in the process of being transitioned over to the Iraqi government, though it may take a while to iron out all of the wrinkles.

Sgt. 1st Class Christopher E. Booth, a platoon sergeant for 3rd Platoon, A Co., 2-70th, from Fort Riley, Kan., is in charge of training the 1st Presidential Infantry Battalion. He claims that much of the equipment issues have been, or are being, addressed. What he feels they need to concentrate on is developing leadership.

“Right now we are trying to convey to them how the non-commissioned officers are supposed to perform in their jobs, for example, the senior enlisted leadership is performing the duties of his subordinates, but the issue is that the subordinates are fresh privates,” said Booth.

In the US Army, the noncommissioned officer is perceived as the backbone of the enlisted ranks, and with a battalion of brand new Soldiers, Booth sees promise primarily in one company. He feels that these Soldiers have the most potential for leadership, and they are the ones who seem to have a firmer grasp on the big picture. Booth served as a drill instructor for three years, and he noted that taking a civilian off the street and molding him into a Soldier is far easier than trying to groom a good NCO.

“I can take 36 guys and make them privates in 16 weeks, but you can’t make an NCO; it takes three, four, or even five years of experience of being a Soldier, to become one.”

The first step to becoming an NCO is learning the basics of how to be a Soldier, and the Iraqi Soldiers of the 507th Infantry Battalion appear to be on their way. It has been a slow process, considering that none of the troops went through any form of basic training. However, something seemingly as small as properly wearing the uniform is crucial to the disciplined life of a Soldier, according to Sgt. 1st Class Carlos Barnes, a platoon sergeant for A Co., 2/70th, from Fort Riley. His platoon has been assigned to work with the 507th, and he explained that through learning these small tasks, the IA is gaining its independence.

“When we first got here, there were Iraqi Soldiers walking around in flip-flops instead of boots, or even desert camouflage pants with no shirts,” he said.

The senior leadership, though, has recently been enforcing a strict uniform dress code and requiring that everyone adhere to it. Now all Soldiers, from officers down to the lowest enlisted, are showing uniformity.

“It’s small, but it’s still one step closer to the US forces getting out of here, and that’s always a good thing,” said Barnes, adding that the successes of the Iraqi Army are many, beginning with the good working relationship between them and the American Army.

“Most of the (Iraqi) dismounted infantry guys do a lot of patrols and we go with them, generally it’s a squad of Americans and a squad of Iraqis,” he said. He claims that the Iraqi Soldiers love it and it shows in their morale and that the two countries not only work well together, but they also seem to enjoy it. “It’s great, and my Soldiers like teaching the Iraqis what Soldier life is like.”

Along with the elections, the recent pilgrimage of thousands of Shi’i Muslims to Karbala was a major success story for the Iraqi Army. Not only did the IA provide the main security for the event, but they also intercepted attacks that could have potentially been catastrophic. The IA set up checkpoints throughout the route to search vehicles, which resulted in a vehicle born improvised device detonating earlier than planned. Because the IA was searching cars, the line was held up and when the bomb went off, it had not yet reached the large group of civilians that it was targeting, and only the perpetrator was killed.

If you ask Booth, the biggest triumph is the growing loyalty of the Iraqi community to their own army.

“We had to close the routes down and people got frustrated with us,” he said. “When we offered to have the IA come in and escort them, they became relaxed and seemed grateful.”

Carey said that the elections and the pilgrimage were turning points in the way that the Iraqi community views the country’s security forces, and he feels that it’s only going to get stronger.

“The events were huge for the local psyche and we’re seeing more and more that the local populace is coming forward and standing up on their own,” he said.

By the TASK FORCE BAGHDAD Public Affairs Office