703rd Brigade Support Battalion transitions Iraqi Security Force logistics efforts

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Jenna Fitzpatrick, Company C, 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat...... read more read more

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Jenna Fitzpatrick, Company C, 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, trains Iraqi army soldiers during the unit's final Advanced Combat Lifesaving Skills Course in November.  see less | View Image Page

ISKANDARIYAH, IRAQ

12.11.2008

Story by Capt. Constance Quinlan 

4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

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By Capt. Constance Quinlan
4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Last week, 10 Iraqi army soldiers graduated from the Advanced Combat Lifesaving Skills course at Forward Operating Base Kalsu.

As they prepare to redeploy to Fort Stewart this month, Soldiers from Company C, 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division taught the course to the 31st Brigade, 8th IA Division Soldiers, completing the battalion's train the trainer program.

Implemented in May, the Maintain Battalion created the T3 program to facilitate logistics capacity building among Iraqi security forces within Wasit and Babil provinces.

"[The battalion] originated the Iraqi Logistics Train the Trainer program based on a need to train Iraqi logistics leaders at the tactical level on critical logistics tasks that they could, in turn, pass down to their subordinates," explained Lt. Col. John Chadbourne, 703rd BSB commander.

The battalion trained 351 IA Soldiers and Iraqi police officers through the program, which included four basic courses and a one-time first responder course.

"Each company spearheaded a class," said Chadbourne. "The entire battalion was engaged."

In addition to Company C's Advanced Combat Lifesaving and First Responder courses, Headquarters and Headquarters Company led Safety, fire marshal and field sanitation classes.

Company A trained the Iraqi security forces in supply and fuel transportation, while Company B conducted maintenance and recovery classes.

Iraqi logisticians function with significantly different infrastructures and equipment.

"That is why it was very important that we learned their systems first," explained Chadbourne, adding, "instead of forcing a U.S. Army system on them."

The battalion hosted multiple logistics conferences with leaders and logisticians from both the IA and IP earlier in the year to learn their processes. In addition, they repeatedly conducted logistics assistance and support team visits throughout the two provinces.

Chadbourne, the senior logistics officer in the Vanguard Brigade, suggested the biggest hurdle for Iraqi logistics is one of communication.

"The system needs to be automated to allow for a reconciliation process and real time asset visibility," he said.

Lt. Col. Roger Shuck, 4th BCT deputy commander, echoed those sentiments.

"The current issue with logistics isn't a shortage of supply," said Shuck. "The issue is getting the supplies from the storage facility to the user. It's when logistics officers can't facilitate the distribution of supplies without waiting for an authorization from senior leadership."

The efforts of the 703rd BSB to solve these problems quickly drew attention from higher echelons of command, including the Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq, which serves as an advisory group to the Iraqi Ministries of Defense and Interior. Maj. Travis Brownlow, an adviser in MNSTIC-I, acknowledged that the fruits of the Maintain Battalion's labors could be seen at the national level with the Combined Logistics Operations Center, to which all Iraqi divisions report.

"The CLOC has always said that the 8th [IA] Division is best and most reliable; they're consistent in reporting," said Brownlow. "One of the main things was to get them in the mindset of needing to funnel information and communicate with higher. [They] picked up on that."

"Iraq logistics systems are slowly starting to work in the 8th IA Division," said Chadbourne. "Maintenance has improved, and units are actually using the requisitioning process."

"[The] 703rd took it and ran with it," said Shuck. "It's not a perfect system, but we came a long way and made huge strides."

Capt. Ken Hoisington was tasked to lead the battalion's ISF logistics cell and facilitated the conferences, LAST visits and the T3 program.

"The key word is partnership," he said. "Not only did we work on logistics capacity building so that it's more Iraqi-led, [but] we built relationships with them that are about more than business. We're learning about each other. We've been very successful in working that partnership and breaking down the cultural barrier. The job has really been rewarding."

Those partnerships stretched from the top all the way to the user level. The T3 program afforded a rare opportunity to combat service support Soldiers who would ordinarily have little interaction with the Iraqi people.

"We're glad we had the opportunity to work with both the IA and IP. It was an extremely positive and rewarding experience," said Capt. Theresa Lewis, 4th BCT nurse who led each medical course. "We all can now look back and know that we had a small part in facilitating the Iraqis to be more proficient in their medical skills and allowing them to act more independently."

The Maintain Battalion might be packing for Fort Stewart, but its efforts will remain very much alive in Iraq. Incoming units will assume its mission of ISF logistics capacity-building and a significant project spearheaded by the battalion will soon go into effect.

"The Iraqi army had trained mechanics, but not the Iraqi police," said Shuck. "The project is a six-month program to train mechanics to repair IP vehicles, including former Sons of Iraq.

"Logistics is often underappreciated, but it can be the most important thing."