Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Crane | 1st Lt. Maxwell Pappas, a Corning, N.Y. native, and the platoon leader for Company B,...... read more read more
By Spc. Benjamin Crane
Multi-National Division - Baghdad
BAGHDAD – Soldiers serving with 2nd Battalion, 24th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division searched houses and patrolled the streets of Abu Nasir alongside Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division Baghdad, in the Abu Ghuraib District of Baghdad, Dec. 13.
MND-B has been working in conjunction with the Iraqi security forces for the last six months, long before the signing of the new Strategic Framework Agreement/Security Agreement, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2009.
During this time the Iraqi government and ISF have experienced positive forward momentum as they continue to take the initiative by giving economic progress and security back to the people of Baghdad.
Increasingly, coalition forces have begun to step back and assume more of a support role as the ISF step towards operational independence.
"We have been working with this unit for several months, but we haven't been working this close until recently," said 1st Lt. Maxwell Pappas, a Corning, N.Y. native, and the platoon leader for Company B, 1st Bde., 21st Inf. Regt., 2nd SBCT, 25th Inf. Div., MND-B.
The ISF have slowly been learning their role and through the training provided by the MND-B Soldiers they are gaining confidence in their ability to maintain a secure and prosperous future.
"When I first came over here, I was worried about working with the Iraqi soldiers," said Spc. Jonathan Gomez, a native of Albuquerque, N.M., and communication specialist with Company B., 1st Bde., 21st Inf. Reg., 2nd SBCT, 25th Inf. Div., MND-B.
"But now I am confident as ever that when we leave they will be able to do their job successfully."
"The difference is night and day," said Pappas. "The NCO's [non-commisssioned officers] are really stepping up in the organizations. They are taking on a lot of the responsibilities that our NCO corps does and that helps make us a more professional organization. The officers go through and conduct their planning and the NCO's are making sure that everything is working and going together."
Before this training, continued Pappas, they didn't have the experience to conduct the necessary planning. Operations like a combined patrol have been a vital opportunity for the Iraqi army to gain education and experience.
Although, combined operations alone are not going to make the ISF successful, explained Pappas.
The government of Iraq being able to manage the personnel and equipment supply system is going to be a long term process.
"If you build a medical clinic, all it is, is a building unless you have the supplies for it; the doctors who work in it and the logistic exchange for it. You have to make sure it's re-supplied with medicine and make sure there are roads so the people can get to that place. It's not just constructing a building – it's making sure the whole system works," said Pappas.
As the ISF move forward to be self sustaining, working with the coalition forces and having their support will give them the best chance for success.
"I have total confidence that they will be able to handle this without us when it comes time, it's their country and they are the best ones for it."
| Date Taken: | 12.13.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 12.16.2008 08:27 |
| Story ID: | 27739 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 97 |
| Downloads: | 59 |
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