Story by Capt. Tom Earnhardt, 22d Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
FORWARD OPERATING BASE PALIWODA, Balad, Iraq -- Until now, the training of Iraq's Strategic Infrastructure Battalion (SIB) soldiers was the responsibility of Coalition Forces, but the torch in Balad is being passed to their Iraqi counterparts.
Soldiers of 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team are handing over the training and equipping of the 10th SIB to 3rd Battalion, 30th Brigade, 4th Iraqi Division.
The SIBs are dedicated to protecting Iraq's vulnerable oil pipelines from sabotage and terrorism. Until this week, 2nd Platoon, Troop B, directed and executed 10th Battalion's training. Now, the Iraqi soldiers are stepping up and taking the reigns.
"The intent here is to strengthen these soldiers while they perform this vital service," said 1st Lt. Alzin Lewis, officer in charge of SIB training for 5th Battalion. "We've put them through [basic rifle marksmanship], first aid, patrolling and basic security tasks and, overall, they've performed well. They liked the fact that we got down with them and worked them through the process."
The concurrent training of the 10th SIB began outside Balad about four months ago. The companies of 10th Battalion rotated from duty on the pipeline into a four-week-long intensive training designed by 5-7 to better prepare them for success in protecting Iraq's oil. The weeks of training consisted of a set of basic soldier skills passed from Coalition Soldiers to the under-trained Iraqis of 10th Battalion.
The Iraqi trainers stepped in this week without missing a step.
The trainers commanded their classes with a teaching savvy that belies their training and experience, said Lewis. Notably, the battalion's medics delivered basic lifesaving classes with enthusiasm and pride, he added.
Simultaneously, a platoon of other Iraqi trainers stood in the hallway dejected to have to wait a week to begin their classes. The dejection was short-lived as they seized the initiative to join in the 10th Battalion medical training.
"I really think we've turned the corner, here," said Iraqi 1st Lt. Shoqutt. "At first, the whole country didn't take us seriously; they didn't have confidence in us. Now, things are different; our guys are hungry to demonstrate their skill and show the world."
Shoqutt, a Balad native, said he takes pride in the ability of his troops to serve as trainers.
"We've had the advantage of time and resource as (the) Americans brought us along and we must use what we've learned to defend ourselves and teach the rest the right things," he said.
Following brief hygiene classes by Coalition medics, the Iraqi medics were eager to assume control.
The 22 students learned to better take care of themselves, how to evaluate a casualty, perform triage and how to evacuate soldiers from the battlefield.
Lewis said the training will continue concurrent with 10th Battalion's work assignments on the pipelines until all guards have completed the program. Shoqutt and Lewis said they know it will only get better as the Iraqis take it over. "Tomorrow, we will teach them shooting," Shoqutt said.
| Date Taken: | 09.08.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 09.08.2005 19:35 |
| Story ID: | 2940 |
| Location: | BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 54 |
| Downloads: | 12 |
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