Iraqi security forces training exercise

Photo By Kimberly Hackbarth | U.S. Army 1st Lt. Folauga Tupuola (left), a native of Ili Ili, American Samoa, now a chaplain, Spc. Aaron Zuchowicz (top center), a native of Seguin, Texas, now a medic, and Spc. Paul Zoller, a native of Port Orchard, Wash., now a medic, all with 4th Battallion, 9th Infantry Regiment, assist in the aid of a wounded Iraqi civilian during a simulated exercise training lane June 19 at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La. The Soldiers participated in the lane as a part of pre-deployment training with 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division.  

FORT POLK, UNITED STATES

06.24.2009

Story by Pfc. Kimberly Hackbarth 

4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division

FORT POLK, La. - Soldiers with Company A, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment assisted Iraqi security forces in an ISF patrol simulated training exercise lane June 19 at the Joint Readiness Training Center here.

The 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division Soldiers accompanied the ISF, played by JRTC role players, in conducting tactical site exploitation, cordon and search, and detainee operations.

The Iraqi police led the way into buildings and searched the people inside.

In one of the buildings searched, the ISF and Soldiers located a bomb maker and another man.

The bomb maker was placed under arrest after ISF members confirmed his identity with a photograph.

Spc. Robert Gumeny, a native of Nutley, N.J., now a machine gunner with A Co., used a Handheld Interagency Identity Detection Equipment camera to confirm the identity of the bomb maker's associate.

To use the system, a picture is taken of a person's right and left irises, fingerprints are scanned, and an entire facial recognition picture is taken, said Gumeny. The person is then enrolled in the HIIDE database. If his or her photo is taken or a fingerprint is scanned in a later search, his or her status will pop up and identify that person as an enemy or a civilian, he said.

In this case, the associate showed up in the HIIDE system and was he also arrested.

When the mission was complete, the Soldiers turned everything over to the ISF.

As the Soldiers exited the town, a hidden insurgent struck one of the Strykers with a parachute grenade. The Soldiers in the vehicle 'died' and the vehicle was marked with orange streamers to show it was unserviceable.

Interpreters with the unit helped Soldiers communicate with the locals to find out where the insurgent went. Villagers told Soldiers the insurgent was killed by a Soldier in a Stryker.

While the squads spoke with the townspeople, medics quickly assessed civilian casualties hit by shrapnel of the grenade explosion.

The mission was officially called to an end by training mentors on the site and A Co. headed back to Forward Operating Base Anvil.

This kind of training relates to the bigger mission taking place in Iraq today. The mission Soldiers from the Raider Brigade can expect in their upcoming deployment.

Instead of leading the missions, U.S. Armed Forces are now training to assist and support the ISF. Supporting these Iraqi forces will hopefully allow the people in Iraq to trust their own ability to provide services and security with less and less direct American assistance.

• Date Taken: 06.24.2009
• Date Posted: 06.24.2009 01:48
• Story ID: 35548
• Location: FORT POLK, US