Iraqi Army increase communications capabilities

Photo By Staff Sgt. Andrea Merritt | A contractor works to install a radio system into a T-72 tank July 17, 2008. Since starting the initiative to field 12,500 radio systems to the Iraqi army, more than 4,500 radios have been received to include the ones installed on approximately 300 Humvees and 11 T-72 tanks. The new radios have given the IA the ability to communicate internally and externally at a range they had never been able to before.  

TAJI, IRAQ

07.31.2008

Story by Sgt. Andrea Merritt 

1st Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade

By Spc. Andrea Merritt
1st Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – As the Iraqi army continues to grow, their forces continue to make significant improvements in different areas. The most recent advancement for Iraqi forces on Taji was in the area of communications.

In March, U.S. Forces began an initiative to field 12,500 military radio systems to the Iraqi army. Since the first fielding April 23, 2008, the Iraqi army has received approximately 4,500 of their 12,500 radio systems.

The radios, which are Single-Channel Ground and Air Radio Systems, provide secure, encrypted communications and allow the Iraqi soldiers to communicate at a range they had never been able to before.

The SINCGARs have been installed in about 300 Humvees and 11 T-72 tanks; but there are enough radios to distribute to four Iraqi army divisions, which includes 1,800 Humvees, one brigade of T-72 tanks, and 600 other tactical vehicles.

"At the time, [the Iraqis] wanted to get away from commercial systems to military-grade communications. We have seen much improved communications at the tactical level, and we will no doubt see improvement in their tactical command and control capability" said U.S. Marine Capt. Steven Eckdahl, a radio communications officer with Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq.

In mid-July, Iraqi soldiers completed their first-ever Warfighter exercise. The culminating event was a battalion cordon and search into the village, and they incorporated the SINCGARs into the exercise.

"For the first time ever really, they had long-range tactical, secure communications to reach back to battalion and brigade headquarters. They could do battle tracking, and they knew where their units were at on the field," said 1st Lt. Nathan Spreitler, an advisor with the coalition army training team who has been working since the beginning to help field the 12,500 radios to the IA.

"They could communicate internally and externally in a range they had never been able to do before. Now, they have that tactical command and control piece to keep that battlefield situational awareness of where their units are and what their status is," added Spreitler.

Although the new systems have proven beneficial to the IA, achieving this significant milestone did not come without challenges.

"There were lots of challenges. We've had challenges in getting the training accomplished, but the Iraqi signal school and their combat colonel have really stepped up," Spreitler said.

In the last four months, the Iraqi signal school has trained more than 300 Iraqi soldiers to be radio operators. Also, in an effort to aid in the training, Multi-National Division – Baghdad sent a mobile training team with Iraqi officers who have gone through the advanced training at the signal school to go out and train the divisions.

"Getting all that coordinated was challenging, but it happened and now we have an excess of 1,000 operators that have been trained in the Iraqi army," Spreitler stated.

In May, coalition forces handed control of the radio installation and repair to Col. Mohammed Nassir. The weight of supplying Iraqi security forces with secure communications rests on his shoulders.

"I am very thankful and grateful for all efforts from the American teams and the American officers for their help for us to rebuild our army and our facilities," said Col. Mohammed.

"The radio sets now are different than the radio sets we used in the past," said Col. Mohammed. "This radio is very useful in armored tanks and armored vehicle. We can use base stations and man pack stations with our soldiers, so it's very important."

With the fielding of the SINCGARS, the Iraqi army was able to improve their communications capabilities and come on one step closer to becoming a strong and stable fighting force for their country.

"I've been here at Taji for seven or eight months now, involved in the training of the signal school Soldiers and the basic trainees. For them to have the equipment was one thing, but after we went through that Warfighter exercise that we were the observer controllers for and to see them be able to use those systems was pretty rewarding," said Spreitler.

"They have the capability to be a world-class army and this is just one of those steps to give them those tools to allow those battlefield commanders to take control of their own sectors," Spreitler concluded.

• Date Taken: 07.31.2008
• Date Posted: 08.01.2008 05:10
• Story ID: 22024
• Location: TAJI, IQ