USD-C ‘Dragon’ Battalion Soldiers train Iraqi Army on vehicle maintenance, combat scenarios

Photo By Staff Sgt. Daniel Stoutamire | Soldiers with Company B, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center demonstrate a drill, Feb. 10, as soldiers with the 6th Iraqi Army Division observe during training at Joint Security Station Constitution, Iraq.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

02.10.2011

Story by Spc. Daniel Stoutamire 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs

BAGHDAD—In modern militaries, so many missions rely heavily on vehicles being in pristine condition, ready to go into harm’s way at a moment’s notice and into a variety of environments. The ability to maintain vehicles is therefore a basic, necessary but perishable skill—one that must be consistently retaught.

Soldiers with Company B, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center held a block of instruction with a focus on vehicle maintenance for soldiers with the 6th Iraqi Army Division Feb. 10 at Joint Security Station Constitution, Iraq. In addition, many of those same Iraqi army soldiers went through battle drill training under the supervision of Company B, 1st Bn., 63rd Armor Regt. later that day.

Lt. Kyle Litchfield, a platoon leader with Company B, 1st Bn., 63rd Armor Regt., and a Hopkinton, N.H., native, said the training came about when leaders with the 6th IA Div. identified some areas in which their soldiers needed strengthening.

“[Vehicle maintenance] was one of those classes that they identified, because [they wanted] to learn more about vehicle maintenance, because it helps with sustainability, after we’re gone,” Litchfield said. “It’s a perishable skill anyway, so to teach these guys how to take care of their trucks, that’s the goal for today.

The IA provided a Humvee, which permitted hands-on training and demonstration. Most of the instruction focused on preventive checks and maintenance services, which is a battery of tests which must be done before a vehicle is deemed ready to support a mission.

“These [IA] soldiers have already worked with vehicles before,” said Sgt. Matthew Straub with Company B, 1st Bn., 63rd Armor Regt. and a Sterling, Ill., native. “Going through these [PMCS] steps just gives them a stronger technique. They catch on really well—everything you teach them, they can turn around and do it right after they’re taught.”

Straub led the block of instruction, with three other soldiers from the company assisting him. More than 40 Iraqi army soldiers took part in the training, and after a period of instruction from Straub, put their training into action by performing mock PMCS actions in teams of four, where they moved with confidence, rarely needing to be reminded of the next step.

“I was here in 2008-09, and we started doing [some] training then,” Straub said. “The leap in what they’re able to actually do and understand is just amazing. It really is great.”

Later that day the 6th IA soldiers were able to brush up on some battle drill fundamentals, working on neutralizing bunkers, reacting to fire and breaking contact. The training was observed by Company B, 1st Bn., 63rd Armor Regt. soldiers.

“The drills that we’re doing today is stuff they’ve already gone over, but we’re trying to see if they retained what we went over before,” said Sgt. Ryan Bessey, a team leader with Company B, 1st Bn., 63rd Armor Regt., and a Holland, Mich., native. “So far it really seems like it has sunken in with them.”

Whether it is training with the 6th IA Div. or meeting with their leadership, soldiers with Company B, 1st Bn., 63rd Armor Regt. see their counterparts nearly every day, which is something that both sides have taken to.

“The reality is we live next to these guys, we see them every day,” said Litchfield. “My soldiers walk over here doing their duties, and it’s cool to see the Soldiers see each other, wave, laugh, smile, and interact like that. This [relationship] will help us in the long run, too, when we need to work on force-protection missions, or other missions like (Provincial Reconstruction Team-Baghdad) security—building a relationship with them, so we’re able to come to each other with our respective needs.”

• Date Taken: 02.10.2011
• Date Posted: 02.22.2011 08:11
• Story ID: 65868
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ