‘Dragon’ Battalion, 17th Iraqi Army Division forge strength through joint operations

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Lucas Cook, a gunner with D Company, 1st "Dragon" Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division - Center and a Rochester, N.Y., native, assists an Iraqi Army soldier with his marksmanship skills during a shared range, Monday, Feb. 21. Combined training between the 17th Iraqi Division and 1st Bn., 63rd Armor Regt. has been a primary focus since the start of the partnership.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

02.21.2011

Courtesy Story

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

Story by: 2nd Lt. Patrick Leroy Beaudry

BAGHDAD—Soldiers with the 17th Iraqi Army Division and D Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center have been partnered since Nov. 2010. During that time, they have carried out a variety of combined operations and training exercises, from safely escorting religious pilgrims through south Baghdad during Arba’een to basic rifle marksmanship.

A key component to the partnership is the combined training events between the two units. Each week, soldiers with the 17th IA Div. and D Company come together for at least one training event, which can range from small arms ranges, improvised explosive device reaction drills, and courses covering, evidence collection and preservation. The goal of this training is to leave the 17th IA Div. with the ability to effectively carry out their mission of protecting and stabilizing the country after U.S. forces leave Iraq.

Since forging the partnership, the 17th IA Div. has conducted roughly 12 small arms ranges and one explosive ordnance disposal range with D Company.

“These are not only skills that every soldier should have, [but] they also give the soldiers more confidence in their ability and equipment,” said Maj. Henry Malinverni, with the Stability Transition Team attached to 1st Bn., 63rd Armor Regt. and a Fort Dix, N.J., native.

And the basics are often continually re-emphasized.

“We haven’t stopped with infantry tactics,” said Malinverni, adding that the IA soldiers are often taking the lead in some of the training.

Malinverni said he has received requests for route clearance training, EOD demolition range assistance, and firefighter training, from the 17th IA Div. All of these events have been addressed and are either ongoing weekly events, or scheduled for future training exercises, he said.

As D Company moves into its fifth month of the deployment, many in the unit have said they are partnering with an increasingly confident and competent counterpart. Because of that, more advanced training, such as squad-designated marksmanship and sniper training, are planned for the near future.

• Date Taken: 02.21.2011
• Date Posted: 03.21.2011 04:59
• Story ID: 67438
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ