CONTINGENCY OPERATING STATION GARRY OWEN, Iraq – The mortar platoon from 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, continued to build on training with an Iraqi Army mortar platoon, Aug. 25.
The units have partnered for three live-fire illumination training exercises that took place on Contingency Operating Station Garry Owen as well as on Camp Sparrowhawk, the 10th Iraqi Army Division headquarters.
Sgt. Mathew Lee, a squad leader in the mortar platoon, said that their Iraqi counterparts are learning quickly.
“They did pretty well,” Lee, a native of Spokane, Washington, said. “They followed my commands to a 'T' and got the experience of actually hanging a round and having their hands on a round, where with their system, they just pull a string, so it's a little different experience.”
Lee was referring to the differing systems that each country uses and trains on. The U.S. mortar system works by “hanging” or dropping a round into the mortar tube. The Iraqis use a system that is actuated by pulling a string, much like cannon artillery. The U.S. mortar platoon is helping the Iraqis develop a plan to standardize training and certification so Iraqi leaders know that their soldiers' capabilities are consistent across units and geographic areas.
“They're quick learners from what I've seen and they like to learn a lot of new things,” said Pfc. Robert Stevens, a gunner from Chesapeake, Virginia. The fact that Iraqis are training on U.S. equipment is not a wasted effort. The Iraqis are scheduled to start fielding the U.S. 120mm systems in addition to the 120mm Serbian mortar systems that they currently field.
The partnered training is an enriching experience for the Americans as well.
“When we went over to Sparrowhawk, it was pretty interesting because they set out all their stuff as they would do when they're firing,” said Pfc. Koda Sorenson, a dismounted rifleman from Branson, Missouri. That gave the Americans a chance to compare the Iraqis' mortars to their own.
In addition to training the Iraqi Army, the mortar platoon conducts force protection patrols around their base. The Soldiers agreed that these base defense missions are not adventurous, but do get the job done.
Sorenson echoed that, saying the mission was not very exciting, but just to see Iraqis going about their lives proved rewarding, as these Soldiers got a glimpse of life in the Middle East that not many Americans would see in person.
“It's completely different from the states,” Sorenson said. “I've learned a lot since I've been out here.”
The Iraqis have planned an upcoming mission, where both the Iraqi and U.S. forces will fire their respective mortar systems together, continuing this historic mission.