Photo By Staff Sgt. Jes Smith | Tiger Squadron Soldiers provide security to the Iraqi army during a training operation...... read more read more
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FORT IRWIN, Calif. – White grenade smoke filled the air and gunfire rang out as vehicles quickly positioned themselves to react to enemy fire at the front gate of the town of Kut Adeera, Iraq.
The battle looked like any other that has been seen over the past year in Iraq but this one was different; the city wasn't real and ammunition was blank.
The action was part of a training exercise conducted, May 30, at the U.S. Army National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., and it was designed to prepare 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, for their upcoming deployment to Iraq.
This will be the fourth time the 3rd ACR has deployed to Iraq, but this time their primary mission will be to advise and assist the Iraqi Security Forces, as they become the vanguard of the combat missions.
"We assisted the Iraqi Army," said Spc. Tim L. Crotts, a health care specialist with 1-3 ACR. "We supported them, with them in the lead."
To better facilitate the exercise's main intent of bettering the 3rd ACR's ability to work with the ISF, the 1-3 ACR command worked hand-in-hand with IA commanders to plan each phase of the mission from beginning-to-end.
"The hardest part is learning how to accomplish the mission while working with a partner, who is a good commander but still has an agenda of his own," said Lt. Col. Jeffrey B. Mullins, 1-3 ACR commander.
Mullins, a native of Bristol, Va., said the NTC rotation will help the squadron's commanders and Soldiers improve and refine their decision making process since their role is to assist and not lead.
"I'm learning, I'm sure everyone down to the lowest newest private is learning," said Mullins.
When the planning was complete it was time to execute the training exercise.
It started at a forward operating base located in the NTC training area. Iraqi army vehicles were in front followed by 1-3 ACR.
Soldiers from the 11th ACR, stationed at Fort Irwin, acted as Iraqi soldiers and operated the Iraqi army vehicles. Native Iraqi civilians filled the role of ISF commanders, interpreters and civilians on the battlefield.
The fighting to retake the town from suspected Al-Qaeda members was intense and took more than an hour.
During the fight, the ISF took multiple casualties. 1-3 ACR forces responded by moving up to assist with aid and evacuation.
Upon securing the town both forces moved into the town and set up additional assets aimed at helping town residents. These included: medical aid, civil affairs and a provincial reconstruction team.
Crotts, a native of Swansboro, N.C., was part of that medical aid provided and he worked closely with his Iraqi counterparts to perform aid.
"The biggest thing I've learn is how big the language barrier is between the two forces," he said.
Mullins said the day's training was successful and he directly attributed that to the high level of communication between 1-3 ACR and the ISF.
The NTC training is aimed at better preparing the 3rd ACR to deploy and achieve their ultimate goal of an effective transition of authority to Iraqi Security Forces with enduring legitimacy of Iraqi governance.
| Date Taken: | 05.30.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 06.02.2010 03:05 |
| Story ID: | 50683 |
| Location: | FORT IRWIN, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 397 |
| Downloads: | 186 |
This work, Sabre Squadron, 3rd ACR support Iraqi Army to free Kut Adeera, by SSG Jes Smith, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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