IA begin planning stage to train U.S. Soldiers

Photo By Spc. Jessica Luhrs-Stabile | First Lt. Zac Corn, a Pickens, S.C., native and an officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division out of Fort Bliss, Texas, reviews the assets of 49th Brigade, 12th Division Iraqi Army, with Col. Ibrahem, an officer with 49th Iraqi army, at their headquarters in Dibis, near Kirkuk, Iraq, May 18. The partners are planning a training event where IA non-commissioned officers will train U.S. Soldiers on how to operate an AK-47, this month.  

KIRKUK, IRAQ

05.20.2010

Story by Pfc. Jessica Luhrs-Stabile 

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division

KIRKUK, Iraq -- Training the 49th Brigade, 12th Division Iraqi Army has been the mission of 'Gunner' Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division out of Fort Bliss, Texas, since arriving in Kirkuk, Iraq, in December 2009. This month the Iraqi soldiers will receive validation by training U.S. Soldiers on their weapons systems.

The IA officers have begun their part of the validation by using the Military Decision Making Process to: develop the plan, coordinate resources, prepare training and identify the noncommissioned officer trainers, according to Capt. Jonathan Palumbo, a Niceville, Fla., native and operations and planning officer-in- charge, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2/3rd FA.

After planning and preparation is complete, the IA NCO's will conduct training on their AK-47 with 'Gunner' Soldiers, he continued.

During the training, 'Gunner' Soldiers will learn safety procedures, assembly and disassembly and then fire the AK-47. When the training is complete, the partners will come together to go over the results, said Capt. Palumbo.

Colonel Ibrahem, who only gave his last name, an officer with 49th IA Bde., thinks this training will be very important for the future of the unit.

The 49th Bde. will soon be receiving more than 400 new soldiers and becoming an active brigade. Knowing our NCO's can train them properly on our equipment is very good, Ibrahem added.

Another important factor plays into the training, the upcoming drawdown of U.S. forces in the area, according to 1st Lt. Zac Corn, a Pickens, S.C., native and an officer with HHC, 2/3rd FA.

It is time to prove the abilities of these IA leaders and further assist them in becoming more independent with their training, so they have the confidence to conduct the training without U.S. presence.

"We've only begun the planning process for the training and we can already tell the IA is well organized and prepared, they are ready to defend their own people," said 1st Lt. Corn.

• Date Taken: 05.20.2010
• Date Posted: 05.20.2010 10:13
• Story ID: 50006
• Location: KIRKUK, IQ