Photo By Sgt. Dennis Gravelle | Through on-the-job training with the U.S. Army, the Iraqi Army is taking the necessary...... read more read more
Story by Sgt. Dennis Gravelle
138th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
TALL AFAR, Iraq (Feb. 20, 2006) -- Through on-the-job training with the U.S. Army, the Iraqi Army is taking the necessary steps to take control of security and operations at Al Kisik Military Base, west of Mosul.
The IA is transitioning to assume control of the Regional Support Center and day-to-day operations of Al Kisik Military Base.
"Our mission is to transition the IA Base Defense Battalion and have the Soldiers take on operational security," said Air Force Capt. Joseph Pabalan, senior advisor for base defense, Coalition Military Assistance Team.
According to Pabalan, taking over the daily operations requires many different missions. The IA patrols inside and outside the compound, provides perimeter security, guards high value target areas, run entry control point operations as well as command and control operations.
"The training started in 2004 with training of the IA in perimeter security, then handed over control of the towers and the internal Quick Reaction Force. Next came long-range patrols and finally, the command post," Pabalan said.
Pabalan stated that the transition is almost complete with the exception of logistics.
"The RSU [Regional Support Unit] is a logistics center and the concept is to develop the IA so they can support themselves," said Lt. Col. Dustin Starbucks, executive officer RSU.
He stated that the RSU supports the 2nd and 3rd Infantry Divisions of the IA.
According to Starbucks, the RSU at Al Kisik will be the central support center in northern Iraq including a central issue facility, fuel points and maintenance facilities.
Starbucks stated that everything they are taught here is through on-the-job training. Everyday they are making small gains. This is something that will not be solved overnight.
"It is a little different getting into an Iraqi mindset to try to explain how we do things, but you have to step back and let them handle it, realizing that eventually they will be the ones that will be doing this once we leave, so we have to make sure we do it the way the Iraqi's do it," said Starbucks.
| Date Taken: | 02.24.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 02.24.2006 11:28 |
| Story ID: | 5492 |
| Location: | TAL AFAR, IQ |
| Web Views: | 134 |
| Downloads: | 69 |
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