Iraqi Soldiers in Newly Established Battalion Hone Soldier Skills

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jon Cupp | Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division (Mechanized) work to treat simulated casualties during medical training Jan. 24 on Camp Taji, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jon Cupp, 1st Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs, 1st Cavalry Division)  

TAJI, IRAQ

01.29.2002

Story by Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp 

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

By Sgt. Jon Cupp
1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

CAMP TAJI, Iraq -- Iraqi troops in one of the newest Iraqi Army battalions took on training here Jan. 24 to hone their basic soldiering skills.

Recent basic training graduates from the newly established 3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army (IA) Division (Mechanized) performed the training with the assistance from their own IA instructors, advisors from several of the Military Transition Teams (MiTT) here and some Soldiers from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment.

The Iraqi-led training included blocks of instruction in infantry, small unit training, communications and medical training. Tankers in the battalion also had the opportunity to do drivers training on their T-55 tanks and conduct crew evacuation and roll-over drills.

The Iraqi trainers, who were trained by U.S. advisors, are now, in-turn, training their own troops.

According to McLean, Va. Native Capt. Matthew Kohler, who works as an effects coordinator for the 339 MiTT Team, this opens the door for the Iraqi Army to train its own Soldiers and eventually transition to taking over all aspects of operations for their military—independent from anyone's help.

"The U.S. Army guys are serving only as advisors and observers, whose sole purpose is to step in only if an Iraqi trainer needs help," said Kohler.

"We're just here to get them to the point to where they no longer need us," said Staff Sgt. Joel Cushing, a medical advisor for the 339 MiTT Team and a native of Chillicothe, Ohio, who observes the medical training. "As they train and become more proficient and confident, eventually they will get to the point to where they can secure their own country."

Cushing who said the Iraqi instructors are very capable, only steps in to help when he's needed. During the training, Cushing observed the IA troops as they put on bandages, tourniquets and splints on simulated casualties. The IA soldiers also evaluated casualties and took steps to prevent shock, stop bleeding and perform various casualty carry methods among other medical procedures.

In an Iraqi tank motorpool, Staff Sgt. Phillip Montanaro, a tanker with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, and a few of his troops assisted the IA tank instructors with conducting the driver's training on their T-55 tanks.

Although the T-55 tanks are quite different from the American M1A2 Abrams tanks, Montanaro said "tanks are tanks" and that the basic fundamentals that drive them are pretty much the same. Montanaro and his comrades with Co. C took a week-long course on how to drive the T-55s.

Montanaro said he will come away from the experience with a lasting impression.

"I guess I felt a little skeptical and apprehensive at first, but what I'm finding is the IA soldiers aren't that different from us," said Montanaro, explaining that he was a little concerned with the cultural differences. "We learn their culture from them and they learn ours from us. What I've found is that they're just as eager to go out into sector and get the insurgents as we are."

"They want to do their part and they're highly motivated and they want to learn it and then go out there and do it right," added Montanaro on his impression of the Iraqis as they trained on the tanks.

The Iraqi troops said the importance of their training is reflected in the reasons they volunteered for the IA.

"I joined to stop the sectarian violence, and I feel very happy to work in the Army with Shia and Sunnis," said Pvt. Murda Abdul-Hussain, a Soldier with the 3rd Bn., 3rd Bde., 9th IA Div. (Mech.). "There's no sectarian side to our Army, we are patriotic and there's no difference between Shias, Sunnis and Christians here. We need to protect all Iraqi people."

"We have good training that will help us do this and make the IA stronger. The training has been very good," added Abdul-Hussain.

"I volunteered to come here to stop the violence and to fight terrorists and to unite with Shias and Sunnis—allied against the terrorists," said Pvt. Hussayn Kadem, also of the 3rd Bn., 3rd Bde., 9th IA Div. (Mech.). "I am brave and I don't fear them, I would fight them today if I could."

Abdul-Hussain and Kadem said,the medical training was very meaningful to them, and for many of the IA soldiers, the three-day training marked their first experiences with medical training.

"We took advantage of the medical training and we need to learn more," said Abdul-Hussain. "It's going to be very useful for us when we're in battles, and now maybe if one of my friends is ever injured, I can treat him."

"This training is very important for us in the military and the American (advisors) told us we can also use the training we learn in civilian life so it is very useful there as well," added Kadem.

Kohler said it takes a special type of person to work as an advisor, someone who shows a strong desire to work with the Iraqis and someone who has a good understanding of the mission.

"Working with them, you have to show them that you care about them and their welfare," said Kohler. "When you do that, they're much more willing to open up to you."

Kohler added that the bonds that the IA Soldiers and IA trainers share with the American advisors isn't so much different than the bonds that IA troops share with one another.

"The Iraqi culture breeds brotherhood, you'll often see their Soldiers walking arm in arm which is a sign of the internal bond that these guys show for one another," said Kohler.

Cushing, who spends his days advising Iraqis also works to build relationships with them everyday. He said he's been quite impressed with their progress.
"They learn fast, they're good soldiers and they're very smart," said Cushing. "Without developing relations with the Iraqis, our training wouldn't be effective. I spend a lot of time with them. The more we work together, the more we learn."

"I look forward to working with them everyday," added Cushing. "We're always talking and it may be as simple as asking 'how are you' or 'how is your family?"'

An exercise next week will include the IA soldiers learning scout and infantry tactics while teaming with Macedonian soldiers and Soldiers with the MiTT Teams.

In early February, the training the Iraqi troops receive will include what is known as 'low density' training that consists of instruction in areas such as supply, logistics and maintenance.

• Date Taken: 01.29.2002
• Date Posted: 01.29.2007 15:13
• Story ID: 8990
• Location: TAJI, IQ