U.S. Soldiers Living on an Iraqi FOB

Photo By Sgt. Dennis Gravelle | Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment attend a luncheun with Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army at Forward Operating Base Fortitude.  

MOSUL, IRAQ

02.16.2006

Courtesy Story

345th Public Affairs Detachment

Story and Photo by Sgt. Dennis Gravelle
138th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

MOSUL, Iraq (13 February 2006) - For most U.S. Army Soldiers, being away from family can be the most drawn out part of their deployment. Here in Mosul, as well as many other places in Iraq, when Soldiers are not patrolling the streets, they live at a Forward Operating Base. On these FOB's they eat, sleep, and take what little time off they have, in close communal living, sometimes it feels like they are a family.

For a small group of Soldiers known as Military Transition Teams, they do not have the luxury of living on a large FOB, enjoying the amenities of FOB life. These Soldiers live with an Iraqi Army Brigade; training staff officer's on daily operations of a unit.

"Our MITT does not live on an [American] FOB, so we don't have the same standard of living as other U.S. Army Soldiers; our team is here 24 hours a day," said Capt. Jesse Bell, MITT operations officer.

For Soldiers on a large FOB, they have a large dining facility to eat at, for the MITT Soldiers; they eat, for the most part, what Iraqi Army Soldiers eat. On a large FOB, Soldiers have a Morale, Welfare and Recreation Building with a state of the art work out facility. For MITT Soldiers, it is a small room, with hardly any work out equipment.

"MITT's are designed to advise the Iraqi Army while in contact with the enemy and make sure they are fully integrated in the Coalition Effect with Battalion and Brigade staff," said Lt. Col. Max Dietrich, MITT Team Leader.

Ten MITT advisors live at Iraqi FOB Fortitude with 250 Iraqi Army Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 2nd IA, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and have to rely on them to guard this small FOB. Their lives are in the hands of the IA Soldiers.

"Living with the Iraqi's has been an adventure, it's very exciting and rewarding," said Dietrich. "You get to learn a lot about yourself and their culture," he said.

Being with these Soldiers daily allows the MITT to evaluate and make the necessary corrections to help the IA become better prepared to take over the security of their country.

"These Iraqi Army Soldiers are extremely brave and courageous and they are willing to learn, they are a very strong people, and will be very professional when they assume control of their country," said Dietrich.

Each MITT advisor has an Iraqi counterpart they must train, supervise and mentor on a daily basis. This ensures that the individual IA counterpart is ready to assume their duties, and is competent and confident at completing their specified job. Each day brings their counterpart closer to handling situations on their own.

"They will get better over time, they will never be perfect, just like the U.S. Military will never be perfect, they have come a long way over the past two years, and they are very impressive," said Bell.

Iraqi Army Soldiers feel that these MITT members are part of their family and will do what they can to show they are ready to stand on their own two feet.

"I expect that in the near future we will be able to do our own missions, and then the Coalition can withdraw if they want or they can stay, they are our brothers and we love them," said Lt. Col. Haji Adbulla, Chief of Staff, 3rd Bn, 4th Bde, 2nd IA Div.

As long as MITT teaches and mentors the IA, they will assume Battle space quickly and the future will be bright for the Iraqi people. The Iraqi people are the only ones who can secure their future, and it starts with the IA assuming control of the country.

• Date Taken: 02.16.2006
• Date Posted: 02.16.2006 15:24
• Story ID: 5411
• Location: MOSUL, IQ