II Marine Expeditionary Force (Fwd)

Story by Cpl. Triah Pendracki

In recent years, American Military Transition Teams have played a huge role in the ongoing effort to build a solid and professional Iraqi army that will eventually assume full security responsibilities for its own country.

In years past, MiTTs were the driving force behind Iraqi army forces, providing operational leadership, logistical support and even participating in combat operations alongside Iraqi forces. However, as Operation Iraqi Freedom prepares to enter its seventh year, most MiTT members find they have less and less to do as the Iraqis continue to step forward as a professional military force.

When soldiers from the Iraqi army's 7th Division recently conducted a live-fire shooting course aboard Camp Mejid, they did so with minimal assistance from their American advisors and in the face of high winds and blowing sand.

Participating in the shooting course were members of the 7th Division's commando battalion, engineer regiment, and military police company. The IA was in control of all aspects of the course – giving the safety brief, providing marksmanship tips and instructions, and overseeing the course of fire.

"The 7th Division conducted the range in a very professional and efficient manner," said Capt. Rusty Tuten, an artillery officer serving as the operations advisor for the 7th MiTT. "As the focus of the army shifts from combat operations to garrison functions, increased emphasis will be placed on their ability to conduct essential training evolutions."

"The 7th Division has placed training as one of its top priorities, setting the example for the rest of the Iraqi army to follow," said Tuten.

Under the Marines' tutelage, the Al Anbar province-based 7th Division has emerged as one of Iraq's most capable units, and has been used to combat insurgency outbreaks throughout Iraq – mostly outside its home province.

The live-fire course was the first time the soldiers fired their Kalashnikov assault rifles on the range since it opened in November 2008. What made this particular training evolution important was the presence of an inspection team from the Iraqi Joint Headquarters based in Baghdad.

The senior member of the headquarters inspection team, Iraqi army Brig. Gen. Hamza, and the deputy commanding general of the 7th Division, Staff Brig. Gen. Sahbah, were among those officials present for the training.

After each relay, the officials made their way to the target points to score the shooters, and the results gave Hamza and Sahbah a basic idea of the marksmanship problem areas upon which the Iraqi soldiers needed to improve.

Off the range, the soldiers are working hand-in-hand with the MiTT Marines in many others aspects of a basic military skills such as intelligence, logistics, explosive ordnance, and military police operations.

The shooting range is yet another example of the increasing independence being forged by Iraqi forces, and the ever decreasing need for U.S. forces to take an active role in Iraqi security efforts.

Associated Images

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