By 1st Lt. David Nelson
3rd Platoon Leader, 570th Sapper Company
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq - On the Dec. 13, 2008, 3rd platoon from 570th Sapper Company, 14th Engineer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade rehearsed with their Iraqi soldier counterparts for the first ever combined route clearance mission for both the 14th Engineer Battalion and the 10th Iraqi Army Field Engineer Regiment.
The Iraqi soldiers had recently graduated from the route clearance academy and were eager to use their newly acquired skills on a real time mission. The rehearsal consisted of rock drills, radio communication relaying through an interpreter and a full dress mounted rehearsal. The Iraqi Soldiers took the knowledge gained at the academy and applied it successfully during the rehearsal proving they were ready to provide safe roads for coalition forces and civilians in Iraq.
"Our training was perfect and the missions are pretty easy. This will be for the security of the streets and the Iraqi people", said Ail Ihmad an Iraqi Soldier from Dha Qar province. At the end of the day, Soldiers from the two platoons painted the Iraqi flag on the side of their route clearance vehicle, the Badger. Pfc. Parise, Kyle, a resident of Las Vegas, Nev., helped paint the Iraqi flag and said "This flag will help the Iraqi people see that the Iraqi army and the Americans are working together to protect the people".
Both the Soldiers of 3rd platoon and the Soldiers from the 10th Field Engineer Regiment felt ready for the following day's mission and greatly anticipated its successful outcome.
On the Dec. 14, 2008, the company executed the first ever 14th Engineer Battalion Joint Route Clearance Mission. The mission consisted of the Soldiers from 10th FER and their Badger and the Soldiers from 570th Sapper Company, which providing security and means of communications within the patrol. When Pvt. Thasin Wahed, a resident of the Dha Qar province, was asked how he felt he said, "This is great for the protection for our Country and our people" and, "it is good that we have the cooperation of the coalition forces."
With the Iraqi's assistance, the patrols successfully clear the roads that are heavily used by both coalition forces and local civilians. During the mission the Iraqi Soldiers proved their worth by interrogating a suspicious metal box. They deployed the interrogation arm equipped on the Badger and successfully eliminated the suspected threat.
Throughout the patrol the reaction from the local population was positive as they recognized the colors of their flag and noticed Americans and Iraqi soldiers working together. At the end of the day all members of the patrol returned safely feeling proud to be part of a historical event for the American and Iraqi people.
| Date Taken: |
01.15.2009 |
| Date Posted: |
03.03.2009 03:07 |
| Story ID: |
30650 |
| Location: |
TALLIL, IQ |
| Web Views: |
513 |
| Downloads: |
295 |
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