Iraqi army Soldiers receive U.S. Army Sergeant's Time training

Photo By Staff Sgt. Michael Taylor | Amer Ismaiil erects an OE-254 antenna after helping his team assemble it during the 172nd Infantry Brigade's first Iraqi army Sergeant's Time training at the IA compound here March 17. IA Soldiers learned how to load frequencies into their radios, how to put a frequency in single channel plain text, how to switch their radios from single channel to frequency hop and how to assemble and disassemble an OE-254 antenna during the training, conducted March 16-18.  

PATROL BASE HILLA, IRAQ

03.27.2009

Story by Staff Sgt. Michael Taylor 

Multi-National Division-Central

PATROL BASE HILLA, Iraq -- The Iraqi army's 31st Brigade chose its best and brightest Soldiers to attend the first Sergeant's Time training hosted by the 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade at the IA compound here March 16-18.

The 172nd Inf. Bde. developed this training as a way to teach IA Soldiers basic skills that all military personnel at every skill level should know. The U.S. Army calls this 'Warrior Task Training.'

The 172nd used this month's Sergeant's Time to give IA Soldiers training in the communications field. They learned how to load frequencies into their radios, how to put a frequency in single channel plain text, how to switch their radios from single channel to frequency hop and how to assemble and disassemble an OE-254 antenna.

"We started the classes by trying to teach them the basics of trouble shooting," said Spc. Daniel S. Mutchler, signal support systems specialist and IA Sergeant's Time instructor with 1st Bn. 2nd Inf. Regt.

"The IA Soldiers were very, very eager to learn," the Stroudsburg, Pa. native said. "Literally within 15 minutes of arriving to conduct the training, we were asked to take a look at their Harris radios, which they thought were broken."

"We were able to fix the problem fast and easy," he continued. "Seeing this showed the IA soldiers that we knew what we were doing and in return made them more receptive to our training."

The 172nd Inf. Bde. expects to make IA Sergeant's Time training an ongoing event. In the upcoming months, the Soldiers will learn basic-level skills in areas such as first aid, weapons maintenance and map reading, among others.

The 172nd trainers hope to use this training to develop a more self-sustaining IA force capable of accomplishing basic skill level tasks, which will ultimately make them better Soldiers for their army's future.

"They received this training well," said Sgt. Larry E. Carroll, Sergeant's time non-commissioned officer-in-charge with B Company 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Inf. Bde. "They asked questions, gave us input and accomplished all tasks with enthusiasm."

"This is the first time this training has been conducted and like anything else just beginning, it has room for improvement," the Williamsburg, Va., native continued. "The thing to take away from this is that the Soldiers are willing and capable of learning and improving."

• Date Taken: 03.27.2009
• Date Posted: 03.27.2009 04:09
• Story ID: 31674
• Location: PATROL BASE HILLA, IQ