Photo By Staff Sgt. Tony Simmons | Coalition forces with Task Force Al Asad, train Iraqi Security Force soldiers on...... read more read more
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AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq -- U.S. Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command (SPMAGTF-CR-CC), along with coalition forces, trained Iraqi Security Forces in basic infantrymen skills aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Feb. 2-4, 2015.
Coalition forces taught ISF soldiers different weapon carries, weapon presentations, marksmanship skills, and movement from cover to cover with fire-team suppression.
“This is the first time we have done a range with the Iraqis,” said Cpl. Joseph N. Hawley, a squad leader and instructor with SPMAGTF-CR-CC. We are using periods of instruction and letters of instruction from the last time we were in Iraq to develop and conduct training, added Hawley.
The first day was used to teach Iraqi soldiers different firing positions, allowing them to fire 12 rounds from the standing, kneeling, sitting and prone positions to build confidence in themselves and their peers.
“We started with basic skills, and began building their unit off that,” said 1st Lt. Christopher R. Mallon, a platoon commander with SPMAGTF-CR-CC. “We have implemented fire teams, squads, and squad leaders, and want to get to the platoon level where we can apply three squads together.”
Coalition forces with Task Force Al Asad prioritize building small-unit leadership in ISF units to further develop their ability to function at a fire-team, squad and platoon level.
“From where [ISF soldiers] started at and where they are today has been a drastic improvement,” said Hawley. “We’ve gotten them to assign squad leaders so now they are able to operate in formations and can take control of their own guys.”
After the first day of building the Iraqi soldiers’ confidence handling a weapon, they moved to fire-team sized fire and movement training.
This is important for the soldiers and their training cadres because the skills they are learning will be what they are going to use in the fight against Da’esh, said Hawley.
Iraqi soldiers learned basic fire and movement skills by doing buddy rushes toward posted targets in a five man fire-team.
The soldiers were given a magazine at each cover point and instructed to provide suppressive fire for their fellow team-mates attacking the objective.
“They have a lot of motivation and are excited to train,” said Mallon. “They are very visual learners and seem to like when Marines demonstrate the movement first, it helps them grasp what they are actually supposed to do.”
The third day of training involved squad-sized fire and maneuver which used multiple squads to achieve an objective.
By doing squad maneuvers, coalition forces hope to instill a form of small unit leadership in which junior soldiers respect and listen to those above them.
Mallon said, “Our goal is to ensure that each individual rifleman has whatever he needs to be a competent soldier, and build the leadership in the unit so from the top down they can trust their officers and noncommissioned officers.”
| Date Taken: | 02.04.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 02.13.2015 04:55 |
| Story ID: | 154425 |
| Location: | AL ASAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 378 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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