U.S. combat engineers train Iraqi Army counterparts

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jason Douglas | Sgt. Joshua Knea, a Yuba City, Calif., native and combat engineer with the 511th Engineering Company, instructs Iraqi army soldiers from the 12th Iraqi Army Engineering Regiment, through dismounted patrol formations and hand and arm signals at K1 Iraqi army base in Kirkuk province, Iraq, July 6.  

KIRKUK, IRAQ

07.06.2009

Story by Staff Sgt. Jason Douglas 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING WARRIOR, Iraq — As U.S. forces transition from Iraq, Iraqi security forces are in the lead in all operations. One of the challenges faced by U.S. forces is to ensure the ISF have the right tools necessary to complete all the missions currently required of coalition forces.

Soldiers from the 511th Engineering Company at Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq, traveled to K1, an Iraqi Army base also in Kirkuk to assist in training Iraqi soldiers from the 12th Iraqi Army Engineering Regiment, July 6.

Since arriving in Kirkuk province the 511th Eng. Co. has been training IA soldiers at K1 on subjects ranging from route clearance operations to basic squad maneuvers.

"We've been training IA soldiers for about six months, which included route clearance training," said 2nd Lt. Stephen Kraus, a Warminster, Pa. native and platoon leader in the 511th. "We walked the IA soldiers through route clearance lanes that instructed them on how to identify improvised explosive devices, spot trip wires and react to IEDs."

They [IA soldiers] are pretty good at route clearance, identifying IEDs, and recognizing command detonation wires. They have partnered with us on several route clearance missions and even received training on how to use the MK3 Husky route clearance vehicle, said Sgt. 1st Class Mark Millare, an Anaheim, Calif. native and platoon sergeant with the 511th.

However, the 12th IA Eng. Regt. has several platoons with new Soldiers, so training today focused on basic soldier skills..

According to Staff Sgt. Nicholas Reed, an Ontario, Calif. native and combat engineer with the 511th Eng. Co., the new IA soldiers received instruction on mounted and dismounted squad movements, weapon discipline, hand and arm signals, and how to send situation reports to a higher headquarters.

"We want them to have a basic understanding of how to function as a team, and with this knowledge, the Iraqi non-commissioned officers will continue to train their soldiers after we are gone," explained Reed. The training the IA soldiers received today is linked to route clearance operations.

Sgt. Joshua Knea, a Yuba City, Calif. native and also an instructor with the 511th Eng. Co., walked the IA soldiers through dismounted patrol formations and used U.S. Soldiers as demonstrators to display proper hand and arm signal techniques.

"The training familiarized them [new IA soldiers] on patrol techniques," Knea said. "We want to strengthen their skills and show them what has worked for us to make them successful."

Staff Sgt. Faqid, who has been in the IA for three years, is one of the veteran IA soldiers who observed and participated in today's training.

"I've learned a lot today," he said. "I have done route clearance before and this training will help the new soldiers know what to do."

Soldiers from the 511th Eng. Co. will continue to train the IA soldiers at K1 on basic soldier skills for the remaining time they are in Iraq.

"As we transition to a training mode, at least one platoon from the 511th will travel to K1 to train a new unit five days a week," Kraus explained.

• Date Taken: 07.06.2009
• Date Posted: 07.08.2009 19:21
• Story ID: 36138
• Location: KIRKUK, IQ