U.S. and Iraqi Soldiers bond through training

Photo By Sgt. Adrian Muehe | Staff Sgt. Gabriel Trollinger, squad leader, 1st Squad, 2nd Platoon, Company A, 1/23 Inf., gives a class to Iraqi army soldiers on how to maintain a M16 rifle. These IA soldiers will be issued M16 rifles within the next month and are being trained on the new weapons by U.S. Soldiers.  

DIYALA PROVINCE, IRAQ

01.17.2010

Courtesy Story

1-2 SBCT, 7th Infantry Division

DIYALA, Iraq — There are values shared by all militaries which enable Soldiers to find a common ground with each other. In Iraq, U.S. and Iraqi Soldiers are finding this true as friendships have formed through training and working together daily.

Soldiers from 2nd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, taught M-16 weapon maintenance to 10 Iraqi army soldiers Jan. 11 in Diyala, Iraq.

The training was conducted to teach IA soldiers how to maintain the weapons that they will soon receive.

"We will be issued M-16's within the next month," said Capt. Yasir Dir, 2nd company commander, 1st Battalion, 19th Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division.

They learned how to disassemble, clean, and reassemble the rifle. They were also taught how to perform a functions check to ensure the weapon is operational.

"It's an important class because M-16's need to be cleaned and maintained more often than the AK-47's they currently use," said Staff Sgt. Gabriel Trollinger, 1st squad leader, 2nd platoon.

This is only one of the many times Apache Soldiers have worked with this IA Company. They have trained with them on various other soldier skills such as basic rifle marksmanship, infantry tactics, and have planned and executed joint operations.

"We have received a lot of training from the U.S. forces," said Dir. "We have learned a lot and built a good working relationship."

The IA soldiers of 2nd Company have been so appreciative of their training, that they have invited Apache Soldiers to different events.

"We've been invited over for dinner multiple times," said Rochester, N.Y., native, 1st Lt. Terrence Nolan, platoon leader. "This is a good company that we have a great relationship with."

The IA have made significant progress with the help and training offered by Apache company.

"The training is vitally important. When we leave, they will have the means to perform their soldier tasks," said Nolan.

• Date Taken: 01.17.2010
• Date Posted: 01.17.2010 08:08
• Story ID: 44012
• Location: DIYALA PROVINCE, IQ