Photo By Sgt. Angel Turner | Iraqi soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 11th Brigade, 3rd Iraqi Army Division,...... read more read more
CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq – Iraqi and U.S. leadership watched from an observation platform atop the summit of a hill as Iraqi forces moved tactically through a valley, demonstrating their newly honed skills.
Iraqi soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 11th Brigade, 3rd Iraqi Army Division, conducted the first battalion live fire exercise, Feb. 24, during Tadreeb al Shamil, Arabic for All Inclusive Training, at Ghuzlani Warrior Training Center.
U.S soldiers of 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division supervised the culminating training event for the IA unit during a 25-day training cycle known as Tadreeb al Shamil, an Iraqi military initiative to modernize IA unit tactics and test Iraqi soldiers’ capabilities.
“This is the exact reason why [Iraqi soldiers] came to GWTC,” said Lt. Col. John Cushing, commander of 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 4th AAB, 1st Cavalry Division. “One month of training sets the foundation for great training in the future.”
“The soldiers leave here a more capable fighting force ready to defend their country,” said the native of Rochester, Mich.
Deployed in support of Operation New Dawn, “Head Hunter” Soldiers of 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, worked side-by-side with Iraqi soldiers during Tadreeb al Shamil, providing the IA battalion a month of collective task training.
U.S. forces worked with Iraqi soldiers at GWTC to build light infantry skills, teaching IA units the fundamentals of defensive operations, urban operations, mortar training and how to conduct an ambush.
IA soldiers learned tactics at the squad level and progressed to platoon and company-level operations before conducting the battalion live fire exercise.
“This advanced training will enable the Iraqi Army to defeat any threat—internal or external,” said staff Brig. Gen. Muhsen Sulman, the operations officer of Ninewa Operations Center.
During the LFX, the IA battalion, composed of three companies, moved from objective to objective, working together, using tactics learned during Tadreeb al Shamil, to engage targets and complete the mission.
As each Iraqi soldier moved closer to their final objective, U.S. soldiers followed behind, ensuring their IA counterparts completed the task successfully.
“Having an actual live fire exercise is good because it integrates live rounds into the training, making it more realistic,” said Pfc. Joshua Jensen, cavalry scout, Troop C, 1st Sqdn., 9th Cav. Regt., currently serving his first deployment.
During the 25-day training cycle at GWTC, U.S. forces led eight-hour training days with their Iraqi counterparts, six days-per-week, in preparation for the battalion exercise.
Head Hunter soldiers are training the Iraqi soldiers to become proficient in their infantry skills and operations, while also working to make the IA a self-sustaining force, said Jensen, a native of Sturbridge, Mass.
“From day one [of their training] to now, they have improved ten-fold,” said Spc. Walter Moeller, a scout assigned to Troop A. “When they first got here, they couldn’t maneuver as a squad correctly but now they can move as a platoon.”
“This training instills confidence knowing they can coordinate within each fighting position and not get hurt,” said Moeller, an El Paso, Texas, native. “It shows their attention to detail.”
Squadron troopers continue to train Iraqi units at GWTC as part of Tadreeb al Shamil, leading Iraq’s soldiers to increase the proficiencies of the Iraqi army partners in a controlled, yet realistic environment.
Each Iraqi battalion that leaves GWTC takes away valuable skills that will enhance their war fighting skills and build their confidence in securing their country.
| Date Taken: | 02.24.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.03.2011 03:30 |
| Story ID: | 66374 |
| Location: | CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, IQ |
| Web Views: | 62 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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