IA, MND-B engineers build relationships, skills during IA enlisted construction training

by Sgt. 1st Class Tracy Ballog
16th Eng. Bde. PAO

FOB KALSU, Iraq – Engineers from 6th Iraqi Army Division and the 16th Engineer Brigade's 62nd Engineer Battalion traveled to Forward Operating Base Kalsu for a month-long Iraqi army construction-training program throughout August.

The initial goal of the program was to teach the IA engineers new construction skills, such as how to build a southwest Asia style hut.

During the Aug. 29 graduation ceremony, 22 IA engineer Soldiers and their four Multi-National Division – Baghdad instructors realized they had each accomplished much more than just completing a training course.

"When we came up with this plan for the program, we only expected you to build one hut, but instead you built two in the same timeframe as the plan for one building," said Command Sgt. Major Richard Cyr, 62nd Eng. Bde., while commending the graduates on their month long effort.

Lt. Col. John Boulè, the commander of 62nd Engineer Bn., also acknowledged the graduates' progress, pride and skill during the ceremony.

"I think that by going through this training, you can see why engineers are the hardest working Soldiers in the U.S. Army and as Iraqi army engineers, you have proven that too," said Boulè.

The construction training was conducted as part of the Iraqi army shadow program. The 16th Eng. Bde created the program. in the hopes of providing IA engineers numerous training opportunities to gain experience in U.S. Army vertical and horizontal construction methods, management techniques, driver and maintenance training, as well as an opportunity to gain leadership experience from their American peers.

"The working relationship the 16th Eng. Bde. has developed with 6th IAD commander, Col. Ahmed and his IA engineers is outstanding," said Brig. Gen. Robin Timmons, commander, 16th En. Bde. "The 62nd En. Bn. did an exceptional job training the IA engineers on vertical and horizontal missions and has set them up for success."

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Diaz, lead instructor, said the IA engineers were incredibly motivated to learn new construction skills.

"The IA soldiers were quick to go from untrained to fully functional. For the first four days of training, the instructors applied pressure to keep them motivated; but after around the eighth day, they had greatly narrowed the gap between our telling them what to do and them taking it on themselves," he said.

The IA engineers developed and refined their construction skills so quickly they started and finished a second hut to house troops at FOB Kalsu even though their training agenda only called for one to be built.

The training included lessons in basic carpentry skills, including safety, conversion of measurement, cutting straight lines, expanded tool belt efficiency to help them conserve time and be more productive, and the correct ways to align angles, said Diaz.

"Initially, we taught them to use hand saws for all cuts," said Diaz. "We knew that there might be times in the future when electricity is not available, and they may have to rely on hand tools to complete the mission. This gave them a greater appreciation of the power tools and accuracy."

Diaz, a former drill sergeant and instructor for the program, stressed discipline and teambuilding as critical elements of their training.

"My gift as a drill instructor is the ability to inspire," he said. "I constantly conveyed to them they are the forefathers of the Iraqi Army Engineer Corps, so they needed to learn everything they can the right way and to the standard so they can teach others."

Diaz said he and his team of instructors, including Staff Sgt. Kirk Duchesne, Sgt. Clifton Haynes and Spc. Alain Colair, all carpentry and masonry specialist with Co. A, 62nd Eng. Bn., found they were doing more than passing on skills. They were also building relationships between the two engineer units and within the IA platoon.

"In the end, this was not just about training," said Diaz. "Despite the challenges of language barriers, cultural differences and the intense heat of August in Iraq, we were able to develop many layers of training that had more to do with developing relationships and discipline. We encouraged them to challenge each other, their leaders to take charge, and the enlisted to follow their chain of command." Diaz said.

"As a teacher, they took me in as a brother, which is an honor in their culture," added Diaz. "I may have been hard on them, but they found it challenging to reach a point when I was not harsh."

"Teachers are a bridge between a hard life and a good life," said Diaz. "I want them to be able to take what we teach them and build not just a building but a better life for their country.

"We wanted them to understand as leaders how to take care of their troop – be harsh if you have to, but always fair – remember mission-completion and improve each day. To me, it was obvious the more they learned, the greater their level of pride and skill."