5/7 cavalry, ISF turn accuracy into muscle memory

Photo By Jared Eastman | Hussein Enkntaal Abel, part of Gen. Faisal's strike force, shoots a target during a reflexive fire range on Contingency Operating Station Falcon Feb. 4.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

02.13.2010

Story by Pfc. Jared Eastman  

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

BAGHDAD — Soldiers of 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, conducted reflexive and stress fire training with Iraqi security forces Feb. 4 at Contingency Operating Station Falcon to support them in their operations.

Bandit Troop, 5/7 Cavalry Soldiers trained alongside Brig. Gen. Faisal Malikmhsen Al Zamili's strike force, 5th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi federal police.

"We're just getting here on the ground and we're not as familiar with the terrain and the cities, and they are not as experienced with some of the techniques we use with shooting," said Lt. Col. Kirk Dorr, 5/7 Cavalry commander. "So we're sharing with one another, and what we're trying to do is build relationships and start to do some combined training."

The ISF and U.S. Soldiers will not only partner up for the training, they will also be partnered for day-to-day activities.

"Everything is going fantastic. This is one of the first times we've partnered them up with a cavalry scout platoon and have a habitual relationship," continued Lt. Col. Dorr. "If there are any time-sensitive target missions, these two platoons will go out on that target together in a combined fashion."

The main goal of the training was to convert accuracy into muscle memory, he said. Soldiers practiced this by turning their side, or even their back, to targets and then swiftly turning and firing on command.

"Most of the [ISF] have a pretty good grasp of the marksmanship," said Pfc. Kyle Hunsinger, Bandit Troop, 5/7 Cavalry, "The language barrier makes it a little difficult, but we're working through that. Some of them aren't used to the stress fire, but the more you do it, the more it becomes muscle memory."

Faisal said he was proud of the training his Soldiers received, as well as thankful for the help 5/7 Cavalry provided.

"The Soldiers are doing well, are doing an excellent job, and I look at them as professional Soldiers," he said. "All of them are one team."

The training also helped toward removing language barriers between the two forces.

"The greatest benefit is when they conduct some of these direct action missions where you have to have everything synchronized," said Dorr. "With such short notice, you don't have to rely so much on interpreters because they know one another and have trust in one another."

• Date Taken: 02.13.2010
• Date Posted: 02.13.2010 20:12
• Story ID: 45324
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ