Photo By Spc. Chastity Boykin | Mechanics in the Iraqi 10th Motorized Transportation Regiment, and members of the 64th...... read more read more
Subscribe
CAMP UR, Iraq – As part of an ongoing partnership, soldiers of the Logistical Training and Advisory Team, 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, met with the 10th Motorized Transportation Regiment at Camp Ur Jan. 13 to troubleshoot problems with a fuel tanker.
The morning at the Iraqi base started in typical Iraqi fashion with traditional greetings and chai, the environment laid back and relaxed.
Walking to the fuel yard, Sgt. Lavoyd Anderson and Spc. Byron Vample, petroleum supply specialists from Company B, 64th BSB, joined their Iraqi counterparts to offer assistance in transferring fuel from the main storage tank to the fuel tankers.
After a quick evaluation, Anderson and Vample determined that the pump used to transfer fuel directly into the fuel trucks would need to be replaced.
“The truck was not set up in order to power the the pump to move the fuel into the tank,” said Anderson. “Using an independent fuel pump we found with an outside power source was the best solution to the problem.”
In a group effort to solve the problem, U.S. fueling specialists and mechanics, alongside Iraqi mechanics, worked as one team.
Over the last 10 months, the Logistical Training and Advisory Team, or LTAT, has maintained a partnership with the Iraqi unit at Camp Ur and developed a bond of trust. Since this partnership began, it has made great strides in assisting the 10th Iraqi Army Division to be a self-sustaining force, offering a wide spectrum of training and assistance.
“Currently we are focused on combined convoy training to improve their TTPs (tactics, techniques and procedures), incorporating react-to-contact drills, medical evacuation, and supply distribution points,” said Capt. Tiffany Bilderback, staff lead and coordinator for the LTAT.
The purpose of the LTAT is to help train and assist the Iraqi armed forces to become more independent as U.S. troops withdraw, explained Sgt. Rancin Arney, an all-wheel mechanic, from Sutherlin, Ore.
Arney has worked closely with the Iraqi mechanics over the last 10 months, developing a professional and personal relationship.
He said the first step in developing that trust was being honest, truthful and personable with the Iraqi army officers and soldiers. They accomplished this by eating meals together, sharing stories about home and families, and playing soccer.
“In order to gain their full trust, it takes about 30-60 days. After this point, the officers really begin to take your advice and listen to what you have to say,” said Bilderback of Milwaukee, Wis.
Once they established trust, the soldiers had to overcome the more challenging barrier of language.
“The language barrier was one of the most difficult parts of teaching,” said Arney. “We had to teach the interpreter how to do a job so they, in turn, could teach the Iraqis, preventing a misunderstanding in translation.”
Iraqi army Pfc. Abass Hassien Salna, a medic, who works with the LTAT at the Camp Ur aid station, said the cooperation has been very beneficial.
“Previously, we did not keep [medical] records. In a poison case last week, we were able to record the case and now we can track that progress,” said Abass, through a translator.
Over the course of the last 10 months, the LTAT has seen the Iraqi logistics unit assume greater responsibility for their training, adding more and more credibility to Operation New Dawn’s emphasis of “Iraqis in the lead.”
“The Iraqis are very capable of training themselves on individual tasks. This is why we are progressing to collective training,” said Bilderback.
| Date Taken: | 01.13.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 01.18.2011 03:54 |
| Story ID: | 63713 |
| Location: | CAMP UR, IQ |
| Web Views: | 63 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Log battalion mentors Iraqi army to be self-sustaining, by SPC Chastity Boykin, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
