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

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Tami Hillis

By Sgt. 1st Class Tami Hillis
4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Thirty-one Iraqi army soldiers graduated from the last class of the Vanguard Brigade's route clearance course at Forward Operating Base Kalsu Nov. 15.

The Lionclaw Route Clearance Academy, which began its first class July 20, taught four iterations of the course to Soldiers in the 31st Brigade, 8th IA Division.

"Today we stand here and celebrate the fourth graduation, and we're celebrating for two reasons," said Brig. Gen. Abdul Amir, 31st Bde. commander. "The first reason is because of you, the heroes who have graduated as a road clearance platoon, and the second reason is because now we have finished training four road clearance platoons. Now we have one road clearance platoon in each battalion ... so now we have more military fighting ability."

The course covers route clearance basics and how to properly maintain route clearance equipment. It begins with equipment familiarization and the basic improvised explosive device fundamentals. After learning the basics, the IA Soldiers are expected to start developing missions, which includes conducting mission briefs. Finally, the IA and U.S. Soldiers conduct joint route clearance missions in the Iraqi communities.

"This course gives us a lot of military information on how to do road clearance operations," said 2nd Lt. Ali Abdulla Moshin, platoon commander for the class with 4th Battalion, 31st Bde. "The U.S. military forces trained us, and then they made us stand up on our own feet to protect our country and keep our country safe."

Moshin, who is an infantryman, now will specialize in route clearance missions.

"You now know the basics of route clearance, a mission our engineers perform, and now you also are trained as elite engineers," said Col. Thomas James, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Div. commander. "With this training you now have the skills to lead the way to clear the routes and make the roads safer for the Iraqi army, Iraqi police and the Iraqi population. It has been amazing to see all that you have completed during this training. I look forward to seeing you grow and becoming more confident and competent in conducting missions on the routes of Iraq."

With trained route clearance Soldiers, Abdul said his brigade is where it needs to be.

"We are proud of what we have today ... we are the first brigade in the Iraqi army who have four route clearance platoons, all we are missing is the equipment and, God willing, we will get it soon," said Abdul.

The end goal is to have the IA take over all route clearance operations once they receive the proper equipment.

"We are brothers in arms, and together we will help make Babil province safer for the population," said James. "Eventually, you will assume full responsibility of this mission, conducting independent route clearance operations. I have the utmost faith that you will do very well in accomplishing this goal."

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