MND-B Soldiers train, prepare Iraqi NCOs for leadership

Courtesy Photo | BAGHDAD - Staff Sgt. Ronald Gardner teaches room clearing techniques to an Iraqi army NCO at FOB Falcon, southeast of Baghdad March 22. (U.S. Army courtesy photo.)  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

04.05.2006

Courtesy Story

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1st Lt. Nate Rawlings and 2nd Lt. James Hall
Company E, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt., 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div.

BAGHDAD - As part of the overall coalition strategy of transferring territory to the Iraqi Security Forces, Soldiers from of Company A, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, working as part of 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, have focused their efforts on developing the Iraqi army's noncommissioned officers.

NCOs are responsible for the enforcement of discipline and the ground-level supervision of Soldiers. This has continued to evolve where NCOs act as supervisors, but their experience enables them to provide crucial advice and counsel to the Army's officers.

One of the challenges Soldiers faced in helping develop the Iraqi army was to build a corps of NCOs that would execute the myriad of tasks crucial to any successful army. Many soldiers who joined the new Iraqi army were assigned the rank of sergeant based on previous service and experience; however, a significant number of these new sergeants had never served as an NCO or attended formal training prior to joining.

Staff Sgt. Benjamin Tate, Co. E, has been training and working with two Iraqi army companies. To address the need to build the leadership skills of the Iraqi NCOs, Tate and his fellow Co. E NCOs have been conducting professional development training designed to help Iraqi NCOs take ownership over their respective elements.

Among the many exercises, were demonstrations on how to conduct proper inspections and make soldier corrections. Passing commuters could see American and Iraqi NCOs trooping the line at various checkpoints, demonstrating techniques to ensure that the soldiers were wearing proper protective gear and searching vehicles in a safe manner.

A paramount concern that hampered NCO development was the fact that all enlisted Iraqi soldiers are paid the same amount until they complete the Iraqi NCO training school, the equivalent of the American Primary Leadership Development Course.

"We've been working hard to get slots to have our NCOs school-trained," said Capt. Nelson Parrish, a member of the Military Transition Team that has been working with the soldiers of 4th Battalion, 6th Iraqi Army Division. "Right now, we have four slots for this next month, and we'll keep sending as many as we can until they're all school trained."

The key to success in developing a professional Iraqi NCO Corps will be the effort the NCOs place on their own development, which is a concept not lost on the Co. E Soldiers.

"The Iraqi NCOs are ready and willing," said Sgt. Ray Andrade, who has been working with the 3rd Iraqi Company. "They just need the time and experience leading soldiers, and they'll be ready to take the fight."

• Date Taken: 04.05.2006
• Date Posted: 04.05.2006 11:44
• Story ID: 5959
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ