USD-C Soldiers teach Iraqi Police EOD fundamentals

Photo By Sgt. Maj. Tanya Lumbard | Staff Sgt. James Shoemaker (left), with the 731st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, United States Division – Center, teaches Ramadi Iraqi Police EOD members knot tying techniques Sept. 19 at the Ramadi Training Center.  

RAMADI, IRAQ

09.20.2010

Story by Staff Sgt. Tanya Lumbard 

4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

RAMADI, Iraq — A team of Soldiers with the 731st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, United States Division – Center, taught Iraqi Police officers counter-improvised explosive device techniques and procedures during a weeklong class, which began Sept. 19 at the Ramadi Training Center. The primary mission of Advise and Assist Brigades is to advise, train and assist Iraqi Security Forces which includes army, police and border patrol.

The class offered six recent Iraqi Counter Explosives Team course graduates a refresher course on EOD fundamentals, to include demolition procedures, how to protect buildings from blasts and fragmentation, and how to move objects with ropes.

“We’re going over the basics,” said Spc. Tyler Wend, with the 731st EOD Company, and a Turlock, Calif., native. “This is important because they need to be able to sustain their country on their own and learn how to [counter IED's] without us being there.”

The class, which began with instruction on how to properly tie knots, offered the Iraqi Police a condensed version of the U.S. Army EOD course. Training became more complex and comprehensive on the second day, as the Iraqi team practiced countering simulated IED's.

“This is a somewhat ‘down and dirty’ version of [the yearlong U.S. Army EOD class],” Wend said. “We’re teaching the same principles.”

The sergeant major with the Ramadi EOD said the class was challenging and allowed his team to make mistakes during training so that they do not make mistakes when the scenarios become real.

“We’ll learn from our mistakes and continue to train,” he said, as he thanked the 731st EOD team for hosting the class. “We need this information. It’s very beneficial.”

First Lt. Karl Wagner, a platoon leader with the 731st EOD Company and a Hearne, Texas, native, said training was especially important to him on a personal level and that the Iraqi Police are members of the Army team.

“I feel that they are part of our EOD family,” he said. “They should have the same information [about countering IED's] that we have so that whenever we leave [Iraq], they can still keep doing their job and keep this country safe. This course is designed to help them protect their lives in the future.”

Wend agreed, saying he hopes they use the training to protect civilians who can’t protect themselves from the threat IED's.

This class is scheduled to finish Sept. 26, and the 731st EOD team plans to train another group of IP EOD students right after that.

Editor’s Note: The name of the Iraqi Police EOD sergeant major is withheld for security purposes.

• Date Taken: 09.20.2010
• Date Posted: 09.22.2010 03:35
• Story ID: 56760
• Location: RAMADI, IQ