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    Iraqi Maj. Gen. Noman discusses success and innovation

    AL ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ – Just one year ago, Al Asad Air Base in the Euphrates River Valley of Al Anbar Province was surrounded by Da’esh fighters, who held 80 percent of the territory in Iraq’s largest province. Insurgents held most of the major population centers north of Ramadi.\

    Since that time, the 7th Iraqi Division, commanded by Iraqi Staff Maj. Gen. Noman and supported by the U.S.-led Coalition, reclaimed most of the territory from Ramadi to Haditha along northern routes and Rutbah to Walid along western routes.

    Noman credits his success in the Euphrates River Valley to cooperation within the ranks of the 7th Iraqi Division, positive relationships among the Iraqi civilians in liberated towns and villages, U.S.-led coalition support and judicious allocation of limited resources.

    “I am successful because my officers and soldiers are successful and perform the full measure of their duty. We are dedicated to ridding Da’esh from Iraq,” Noman said. “Anbar Province represents 1/3 of Iraq; we do as much as we can to hold ground.”

    On a recent visit to the division’s motor pool (where vehicles are maintained and restored) Iraqi Army Col. Mohammed showed Maj. Gen. Noman how his motor pool is refabricating, rebuilding, and maintaining U.S.-provided Highly Mobile Multi-wheel vehicles (HMMWVs) following near destruction from IED blasts.

    “This is really nothing new. We are fixing equipment and using our soldiers’ skills to rebuild equipment, rather than seek to replace what’s been damaged,” said Col. Mohammed. “We have limited resources, so we must use what is available to fix what we have. General Noman has given us the resources we need to do this important job.”

    Located adjacent to a line of 19 sand-colored HMMWVs that look and sound like brand new vehicles rolling off the production line, stands a board with enlarged photographs of vehicles destroyed, seemingly totaled, by IED blasts. Those images stand to represent each vehicle before the restorative work of Iraqi mechanics. The vehicles in the formation cranked in a cadence that signaled a readiness to return for service in the fight against Da’esh.

    U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Simister, who is a mechanic, said the Iraqis are doing an impressive job.
    “These Iraqi mechanics are fabricating and rebuilding complete transmissions,” Simister said. “I want to learn how to do some of the incredible things they are doing.”

    Col. Mohammed said his Iraqi mechanics can rebuild a destroyed HMMWV within four days and can staff a full battalion of fighters with the 19 HMMWVs in his maintenance yard.

    Coalition forces at Al Asad Air Base, commanded by U.S. Marine Corps Col. Frid Fridriksson, are advising and assisting the 7th Iraqi Division with training, artillery, close air support with an air weapons team and sharing critical tactical intelligence of battlefield conditions within the Euphrates River Valley.

    “Gen. Noman and his division have made significant progress against Da’esh in Western Iraq,” Fridriksson said. “The Government of Iraq is making steady gains in its effort to reclaim territory from the entrenched terrorist group, restore governance and facilitate regional trade.”

    The division’s next priority, with approval from the Ministry of Defense and Government of Iraq, is to clear the remaining towns and routes around Anah, Rawah, Al Qaim, and Akashat.

    “God willing, we will finish the task and rid Iraq from Da’esh,” Gen. Noman said.

    In time, it may happen.

    The commander of coalition forces in Iraq and Syria, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Steve Townsend, said that a ‘sustained presence’ is needed to keep an Islamic State – or Da’esh – successor from taking over.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 01.23.2017
    Date Posted: 01.28.2017 01:00
    Story ID: 221454
    Location: IQ

    Web Views: 142
    Downloads: 0

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