Photo By Spc. Heather Todd | Reading the crane operator's manual, Sgt. Kenny Mumfrey, of Cincinnati, Ohio, prepares...... read more read more
By Spc Heather Todd
BAGHDAD — As a way to help reduce the role of the U.S. military in Iraq, Soldiers of the 101st Engineer Battalion trained Soldiers of the 6th Iraqi Army, Nov. 11-13, at Joint Security Station Constitution, near the Baghdad International Airport.
The Iraqi soldiers learned how to operate and maintain one of their own 50-ton cranes, used for construction missions around Iraq. The class covered safety, hand signals, preventive maintenance and operation.
"The 6th [Field Engineering Regiment's] missions typically include mine detection, service work, and construction work," said Iraqi Lt. Ammar, of the 6th FER. "This training is very useful for us. We now have two operators who have become excellent [because of the] training."
Sgt. Steve Cyr, of Uxbridge, Mass., taught the Soldiers how to do perform the correct maintenance steps for the crane. This way, Iraqi soldiers would know how to fix any problems that might occur.
"They want to learn. They want to make sure they learn how to maintain and repair the equipment," said Staff Sgt. Frank Lopez, of Webster, Mass., the senior instructor for the course.
After the instruction the Soldiers practiced what they learned by operating the crane.
Sgt. Mumfrey, from Cincinnati, Ohio, has been a crane operator for six years. Together with Sgt. Zach Caudill, from Plymouth, Ohio, the two Soldiers taught the Iraqis different riggings and chains that are used when operating the crane.
"They are willing to learn, they had a positive attitude," said Mumfrey.
They started off with practical exercises; moving concrete t-wall barriers around in different ways. This helped them get used to operating with a load on the crane.
"It was good training; we were given a lot of information. I now have a better understanding of the equipment and a better technical understanding," said Iraqi Pfc. Hayder Teama.
On the third day of class the Iraqi soldiers, using the knowledge they had learned over the previous two days, conducted a mission to set up barriers.
Besides learning to set up barriers, the Iraqis also learned how important it is to work together as a team when operating a crane.
With the help of high quality training provided by U.S. Soldiers, Iraqi army engineers continue to increase their knowledge, gaining more confidence in the equipment, themselves and each other.
| Date Taken: | 11.13.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 11.16.2009 02:46 |
| Story ID: | 41624 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 252 |
| Downloads: | 170 |
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