Paving the Way: TF Al Asad Trains Iraqi Army in CIED Drills

Photo By Sgt. Carson Gramley | U.S. Navy Seaman Barry Sullivan, corpsman, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, Task Force Al Asad, demonstrates to Iraqi soldiers the proper way to evaluate and move a notional casualty after an Improvised Explosive Device detonation at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Jan. 18, 2015. Coalition forces are facilitating training in the Build Partnership Capacity program designed to equip Iraqi army units with the training and knowledge necessary to degrade and defeat Daesh in Iraq. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Carson A. Gramley/Released)  

IRAQ

01.18.2015

Story by Cpl. Carson Gramley 

Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade

U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND - U.S. Marines from Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, Task Force Al Asad, facilitated a Counter Improvised Explosive Device class for members of the Iraqi Army to teach them basic IED reaction and mitigation skills at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Jan. 18, 2015.

Coalition forces have initiated a six-week program as part of a Building Partnership Capacity mission designed to train Iraqi Army units in various tactical subjects to include CIED, medical care, and combat movement techniques.

“They asked for Counter-IED training, they made it one of their priorities,” said U.S. Marine Chief Warrant Officer 2 Juan Rodriguez, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer with SPMAGTF-CR-CC, TF Al Asad. “If we’re able to teach their subject matter experts, they will have that resident knowledge within their battalions.”

The CIED class given to the Iraqi soldiers was just a foundation and a pre-cursor to more advanced information they will be learning, said Rodriguez.

“We’re going to see more of the basics as a larger group, but also integrate those key items, or critical subjects that they asked for, like medical and Counter IED,” said Rodriguez.

U.S. Army Cpl. Michael Smith, Explosive Ordnance Technician, TF Al Asad, assisted in teaching the classes and affirmed the need for this kind of training.

“This is important to them because Daesh is shooting a lot of rockets and other ordnance around, so a lot of them dud out, they don’t go off,” said Smith. “It’s very important not to just go up to ordnance and pick it up because they could have placed it there and booby trapped it.”
Rodriguez said the BPC mission is focusing largely on helping the Iraqis become more independent and able to train each other in these key combat skills.

“Really what’s important is them putting their best soldiers forward, because those guys are going to be kind of training the trainer types within their battalions,” said Rodriguez.

He maintains high hopes that the training schedule ahead is well planned and should provide the information necessary to prepare the Iraqi soldiers.

“If we are able to spend that quality time with them, they will have that resident knowledge in their battalions when they move forward and it’ll just be up to them to sustain that knowledge by setting up their own training,” said Rodriguez.

In the coming weeks, members of the BPC team will continue training the Iraqi Army in various combat-related subjects to help them become a formidable and self-sufficient fighting force.

• Date Taken: 01.18.2015
• Date Posted: 01.28.2015 10:54
• Story ID: 152951
• Location: IQ