Joint Security Station-1: One month later

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson | Spc. Nathaniel Rhodes, from Willis, Texas, 3rd Platoon, Battery B. pulls guard duty at Joint Security Station One.  

AL KUT, IRAQ

09.20.2008

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson 

Multi-National Division-Central

By Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson
41st Fires Brigade Public Affairs Office

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq – It's been a little over a month since Iraqi army and coalition Soldiers took over the security of the Joint Security Station One from the Georgian army, and improvements to the standards of living are slowly coming along.

"This JSS is 30 times better than when we first got here," said Sgt. Michael Ash, of Lansing, Mich., a mechanic from 589th Brigade Support Battalion, assigned to JSS One.

Stepping off the back of a mine resistant ambush protected vehicle, the first thing you'll notice is the cement T-walls surrounding the living areas for the Soldiers from Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment.

One of the biggest improvements is the installation of air conditioning units for the tents, which gives the Soldiers a cool place to relax between shifts.

Soldiers at the JSS constantly train with their Iraqi counterparts, to ensure they are able to eventually take over the security of the JSS. U.S. Soldiers train the Iraqis on guard duty, dismounted security and combat medical training. Every week, they train the Iraqi Soldiers on something new.

"I think we're on the right track, having the Iraqis out here with us at the JSS," said Staff Sgt. Nick Norville, a native of Galesville, Ill., 4th Plt.

U.S. Soldiers are paired up with Iraqi Soldiers during their tower guard shifts, helping the Iraqi Soldiers to be proficient in guard duty.

"We try to integrate them into all the tactics that we use, so they can fully understand what the tower guard is really all about," said said Spc. Nathaniel Rhodes, from Willis, Texas, 3rd Plt.

Each deployment back to Iraq, things are always progressing, said Norville, on his third Iraqi deployment.

"My initial reaction is that they are very self-sufficient, a team," said Norville, on the Soldiers from Btry. B.

• Date Taken: 09.20.2008
• Date Posted: 09.20.2008 04:36
• Story ID: 23905
• Location: AL KUT, IQ