Hawaii Soldiers build confidence in partners

Photo By Spc. Jessica Luhrs-Stabile | Kurdish Regional Guard Brigade soldiers demonstrate clearing a house before receiving a certificate of completion for cordon and search training, at the KRGB headquarters in Laylan, near Kirkuk, Iraq, Aug. 11.  

KIRKUK, IRAQ

08.23.2010

Story by Pfc. Jessica Luhrs-Stabile 

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division

KIRKUK, Iraq -- Just after completing a week-long cordon and search course senior-leadership with the Kurdish Regional Guard Brigade, began the land navigation and map reading portion of a three month long infantry course with U.S. Forces at their headquarters in Laylan, near Kirkuk, Iraq, Aug. 11.

The training is being facilitated by Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division out of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii currently deployed to Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk.

After the 50 KRGB senior non-commissioned officers, participating in the training, complete this portion of the course they will be able to plan missions more effectively, according to Sgt. Benjamin Sparkman, a St. Louis, Mo., native and trainer from B. Company

“They will be able to plan a mission using terrain features and map reading instead of going into an area blind,” he said. “This is why it is very important they understand this training.”

Sparkman’s platoon sergeant agreed with him and added.

“While the KRGB soldiers are learning these fundamentals they are also learning a very important skill; teaching other,” said the Los Angeles, Calif., native, Staff Sgt. Eric Gonzalez.

Throughout the course the trainers have the KRGB soldiers assist in teaching the course, he said.

“The trainers have the KRGB soldiers stand-up in front of the class and teach knocking out two birds with one stone,” said Staff Sgt. Gonzalez. “When they get up there to teach it builds their confidence and tell us they have a good understanding of what is being taught.”

The soldiers of Bravo Company hope this confidence will assist their partners in training their own soldiers after the course is complete.

“These senior leaders came to us to learn the fundamentals of being a soldier to they can share the fundamentals with their soldiers; in the end we expect all the KRGB to be on the same level,” said Staff Sgt. Gonzalez.

• Date Taken: 08.23.2010
• Date Posted: 08.23.2010 09:28
• Story ID: 55027
• Location: KIRKUK, IQ