4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division

Story by Spc. Luisito Brooks

BAGHDAD—As the sun sets over a dusty patch of land surrounded by a wall of dirt, Iraqi army and U.S. Soldiers take time to improve their rifle marksmanship and build a stronger relationship.

Members of the 6th Iraqi army division and 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division met, Nov. 6 to exchange training tips and ideas at the range on Forward Operating Base Constitution.

"We meet up with guys from the Iraqi army very often," said Sgt. 1st Class James Denison. "We share our stories and training with them and they share with us."

This range took a new turn for the Americans as IA Soldiers demonstrated to the how to handle, load and fire their AK-47s at the range.

"The AK-47 was very fun to shoot," said Pfc. William Knights, from Scottsboro, Ala.

The U.S. Soldiers also allowed the IA Soldiers to fire their weapons as well, including the M240B machine gun.

"The American Soldiers have very nice weapons," said Maj. Yessn, a company commander with the 6th IA Div.

"The Americans and us have a common goal of seeing the Iraqi people do well," said Lt. Miutz, a military police officer with the 6th Div.

As the sun went from a tiny speck to nothing, the IA soldiers finished firing and began to picking up what brass they could find.

"Our relationship with the IA is very important and we have to make every attempt to make that relationship better," said Denison.

Associated Images

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