Iraqi Army continues efforts fielding new weapons in four day program

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jon Cupp | Iraqi Army soldiers from the 2nd Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division (Mechanized) place...... read more read more

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jon Cupp | Iraqi Army soldiers from the 2nd Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division (Mechanized) place AK-47 rifles into a crate on Camp Taji, Iraq, Aug. 26, at a processing station where Iraqi troops turn in their old-Soviet made weapon for new U.S.-made M16A2 and M4 rifles.  see less | View Image Page

TAJI, IRAQ

09.04.2007

Story by Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp 

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

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By Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp
1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Nearly 180 combined Iraqi Army troops from the 2nd Brigade and 3rd Brigade of the 9th Iraqi Army Division (Mechanized) turned in their old AK-47 assault rifles for M-16A2 and M4 rifles this week.

These Iraqi soldiers are continuing fielding efforts started on Taji in May that to date have led to more than 3,000 Iraqi soldiers in the two brigades receiving and qualifying on the weapons.

During a four day program which ran Aug. 26-29, starting with the issue of the weapons and ending in qualification at a range here, the Iraqi troops took time to familiarize themselves with their fresh out of the package weapons.

"Once they receive the weapon, they will be getting classes on how to shoot and it's really been a nice smooth transition for them," said Master Sgt. Varon Martinez, noncommissioned officer in charge of the 2nd Bde., 9th IA Div. (Mechanized) Military Transition Team. "These guys are tankers and at first they had a little hesitancy due to the weapon's size (versus the AK-47) and they would say 'how am I going to fit the thing in my tank.'"

"Then we'd tell them 'let's go to training and you'll see this is actually a good weapons system,'" Martinez said, who hails from Fort Leonardwood, Mo. "Now, you'll see that they're proud (of it) and they want to keep their target. They're proud of what they're doing when they're shooting."
According to Martinez, the Iraqi troops also like the ease with which the weapon can be taken apart, the ease of getting parts and ammunition for it — unlike the old Soviet-made assault rifle they used to lug around.

The four days of the program are numbered from day zero to day three. On "day zero" of the fielding program, the Iraqi troops began the fielding process by going to a processing station where they turn in their AK-47 assault rifles. The rifles are then checked for serviceability and will eventually be re-issued to other soldiers

After filing some paperwork, which identifies them as Iraqi soldiers within a computer database, they receive a box containing one M-16A2 rifle, or an M-4 rifle for officers, some magazines and a cleaning kit.

Once they had their weapon, the serial number was logged into a computer and the Iraqi soldier was photographed and fingerprinted.

The Iraqi Army soldiers run the entire day zero process—a process that has everything to do with ownership and accountability, according to Martinez.

"Taking ownership of these weapons has been a big step for them," said Martinez.

"Before, when they had the AK-47, there was really no system for keeping track of the weapon and no listing of serial numbers and very little accountablity."

"Prior to getting the M-16s, you could ask an Iraqi tanker, 'Where's your weapon?' and he would respond, 'It's in my tank,"' added Martinez. "Now they're happy to have this new weapon and they're never without it, they have positive control of it at all times."

Since the Iraqis have been running the show with the initial fielding process of collecting the AK-47s and distributing the M-16's and M-4's, things have been going very well, according to 1st Lt. Jacob Barker, an M-16/M-4 fielding action officer.

"When we started this things went pretty slow, but it's gotten to be very productive," said Barker, who hails from St. Helens, Ore. "We can stand back and these guys take care of everything and they're running them very efficiently."

On day one of training, the troops begin their basic rifle marksmanship training in courses which are taught by civilian instructors who are prior U.S. Army Soldiers. These experts on M-16A2 and M-4 rifles showed the Iraqi soldiers all the basic fundamentals of the rifles, everything from proper trigger squeeze, to the correct way to perform a functions check, how to zero and site-in their weapons and how to position their body to fire among other skills.

They also taught the Iraqi soldiers about weapons maintenance, how to disassemble and reassemble the weapons, along with how to clean them.

"They train hard and they train safe," said George Conrad, a civilian instructor and a retired Army command sergeant major with over 35 years of service to include combat experience in Vietnam with the 1st Cavalry Division. "They're getting a lot better adapted to the M-16 a lot quicker than we thought they would."

"These guys are hands on, once you show them how to do it, they're going to get it done," added Conrad. "The next time they do this, they'll be able to do this on their own so it's good from the sustainment aspect as well."

Throughout the range classes, Soldier advisors from the 2nd Bde., 9th IA Div. (Mech.) Military Transition Team observed the training and only stepped in to assist the Iraqi troops if they needed assistance.

For day two, the soldiers zeroed and adjusted their sites. After zeroing, the Iraqi "jundis" qualified on their weapons.

Day three of the classes was set aside as a time for re-qualification for those who may not have qualified the day prior.

By the numbers, said Martinez, the Iraqi Soldiers are doing well with qualifying considering that they are learning the operation of their rifles from their instructors in such a very short period of time and at an accelerated pace.

"The 12-man team of instructors are all retired military with solid backgrounds and these guys manage to take all their expertise together and get these Iraqi troops successful based off of just one day of instruction," said Martinez. "It's amazing because one day they're learning how to shoot and the next day they're firing on the range."

"So the numbers are really good. Especially when you see that they're getting a little bit of training versus the two weeks of basic riflery marksmanship that U.S. Soldiers receive in (basic combat training)."

Through train the trainer type instruction, which will help IA troops with their transition increasing their ability to teach themselves, Martinez said he sees a time in the not-too-distant future when the M-16A2 and M-4 ranges will be entirely taught by Iraqis.

"One of the eventual goals for this will be taking it a step further, making it an Iraqi NCO-led event," said Martinez of the training. "The NCOs will learn the soldier tasks and then pass it on to their troops."

Martinez said he has seen some important, positive changes with regard to how Iraqi troops operate since trading in their AK-47s.

"There are fewer accidental discharges which were common with the AK-47," said Martinez. "These guys are also shooting better and have done well with their new weapons during the few fire fights we've been involved with."

Over the next several weeks, both 2nd and 3rd Brigades will continue the fielding process until all their soldiers receive and qualify on the weapon systems.