U.S., Iraqis compete in marksmanship competition

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Mary Junell | Galax, Va., native, Sgt. Jason Newman, of Company B, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, fires an AK-47 assault rifle from 15 meters in the kneeling position during a marksmanship competition between American Soldiers, the federal police Transition Team, and the 1st Mechanized Brigade Iraqi federal police, Aug. 17. The match was held at the Iraqi brigade headquarters.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

08.17.2009

Story by Sgt. Mary Junell  

30th Armored Brigade Combat Team

BAGHDAD — "Old Hickory" Soldiers with the 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team and Iraqi federal police with the 1st Mechanized Brigade, competed in a marksmanship competition Aug. 17, south of Baghdad.

Three teams, Team Hickory, the federal police Transition Team, and the 1st Mechanized Brigade team, containing five shooters each, went head to head using AK-47 assault rifles from varying distances and positions; including, sitting, standing, kneeling and even while standing in the back of a pickup truck.

Staff Sgt. Tony Bean, of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 30th HBCT, scored 249 points, more than anyone else at the match. He had earlier predicted his top spot, despite the fact that he doesn't typically shoot an AK-47.

This was the first time that Bean, of Aberdeen, N.C., and most of the other 30th Brigade soldiers, had ever fired the iconic rifle.

"I think it is great." said Bean. "It shows that these guys are open to learning new things, and teaching us some new things about their weapons."

All the Soldiers and federal police had a good time at the friendly competition, including Sgt. Jason Newman, of Company B, 30th Brigade Special Troops Battalion.

"I had a lot of fun." said Newman, of Galax, Va. "I am thankful for the opportunity to shoot with the Iraqis, and I had a good time."

Lt. Col. Barry Hull, battalion commander for the 30th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, said part of his intent for this competition was to "break down the walls" between the American Soldiers and the federal police officers.

"A lot of the Soldiers who come over here don't interact with our Iraqi counterparts that much," said Hull, of Whispering Pines, N.C. "But when you get rid of the misconceptions, they're just like us. They're here to do a mission and they are doing the best they can."

Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Bill Wyrick also thought that the competition helped the Soldiers and the Iraqi officers form a closer bond.

"When [federal police] started competing, they started joking, and they started taking pictures." said Wyrik, of Rockwell, N.C., "It made [the U.S. Soldiers] realize that they are not much different than we are.

"There is a mutual respect there that wasn't there before," he said.

And when the tournament drew to a close, the Americans took first, but not by much. Team Hickory placed first with 1,146 points, the 1st Mech. Brigade, placed second with 1,109 points, and the training team came in third with 1,106 points.

A plan for a volleyball tournament between the groups is already in the works.

• Date Taken: 08.17.2009
• Date Posted: 08.19.2009 04:56
• Story ID: 37687
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ