KURDISH MILITARY TRAINING BASE, Iraq – When the sun finally appears over the horizon at the Kurdish Military Training Base, near the Iraq-Iran border, the day has already started for an Iraqi army reconnaissance platoon. A long day of hands-on training and practical exercises, led by coalition forces, is focused on bringing the Iraqi army platoon up to par with American reconnaissance platoons.
"The training is to give the Iraqi army an offensive mindset," said Capt. Jason Galus, a trainer with the 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division Military Transition Team. "We are training them to focus on raids and ambushes, and teaching them the fundamentals of rifle marksmanship."
The program was started when Iraqi army generals approached the MiTT and asked how their soldiers could receive better training. The MiTT team responded immediately and started working with the Iraqi army to decide what needed to be trained and what equipment was needed to teach it.
The MiTT team worked with the Iraqi army and with 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division to get ruck sacks, uniforms, body armor, flashlights and entrenching tools for the troops. "If the soldiers get special equipment, they take more pride in what they are doing," said Capt. Aaron Teller, executive officer for 3-1-5 MiTT.
The day starts off around 5 a.m. with physical training, generally a two- or three-mile run, led by U.S. Soldiers. Other mornings the Iraqi and American Soldiers play soccer or go the gym to work out. Once a week the Iraqi soldiers, or Jundi, participate in a road march with all of their gear. "The physical training is a great element to help train the soldiers for their mission," said Lt. Qusyai, the reconnaissance platoon leader.
When the morning exercises are completed the Iraqi soldiers prepare for the day's remaining activities. Every morning classes are held to teach the Jundi how to complete a task. Each day there is a new focus in the class, ranging from weapons maintenance to proper detainee search procedures.
Immediately after the lesson is completed the Iraqi soldiers file out of the classroom to partake in demonstrations and practical exercises. Coalition forces complete the initial demonstrations and answer questions that the Iraqi soldiers may have. After the demonstrations the American Soldiers step back to let the platoon leader and the squad leader run the practices. "The Iraqi's have the ability to compete the tasks, they just need to be pointed in the right direction," Galus said. The exercises continue until lunch time, when the Iraqi's get a two hour break to rest and eat lunch.
After lunch it is back into the classroom for the Jundi, where a follow-up lesson is held. The U.S. Soldiers highlight the positive things observed during the exercises and re-teach what was done improperly. After the lesson is completed there is another short break and a new class begins, generally based on movement tactics, followed by more practical exercises. When the afternoon exercises are competed the platoon leader is given an operations order for the night practicum, putting everything learned that day into practice.
"The training has helped a lot," said Sgt. Mazem, platoon sergeant for the recon platoon. "The MiTT team taught my guys how to properly raid houses and take detainees, they also have more discipline."
"The training is a unique opportunity to have structured operations and controlled conditions where we can train the IA," Galus said. "Hopefully in the near future the IA can start teaching each other."
| Date Taken: |
11.18.2007 |
| Date Posted: |
11.18.2007 14:15 |
| Story ID: |
13997 |
| Location: |
KURDISH MILITARY TRAINING BASE, IQ |
| Web Views: |
288 |
| Downloads: |
231 |
PUBLIC DOMAIN
This work, Hands-on training for Iraqi soldiers in Diyala, by SPC Kirby Rider, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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