Pacesetters partner to build a future

Photo By Spc. Chastity Boykin | An Iraqi soldier demonstrates how to register mortars at the new 10th Iraqi Army Division Training Center near Nasiriyah.  

NASIRIYAH, IRAQ

01.16.2011

Courtesy Story

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

By: Capt. Andrew Huth

NASIRIYAH, Iraq – At the start of the New Year, soldiers of the Pacesetter Battalion, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, were hard at work in Iraq, ensuring the Iraqi army continues to succeed after the U.S. advise, train and assist mission is complete.

Immediately upon arriving at Camp Adder located near Nasiriyah, Iraq the Pacesetters started working closely with the Iraqi army.

“We are here to help them prepare for the future,” said Capt. Donald Mills, battery executive officer, and native of Rome, N.Y.

This assistance culminated in the construction of the 10th Iraqi Army Division Training Center, located just south of Nasiriyah. Capt. Brenden McNichol, from Morris, Conn., served as the primary U.S. advisor during the construction.

The center is capable of housing 600 Iraqi soldiers while they train on multiple skills including first aid, tactical engagement skills, and urban combat skills. The training site is also equipped with weapons ranges, a land navigation course, and mortar and artillery live-fire ranges.

"This project was definitely a large undertaking from the start, but the Iraqi army engineers rose to the challenge and did an outstanding job,” said McNichol.

The most impressive aspect of the training center’s construction, according to McNichol, was the enthusiasm with which the Iraqi’s undertook the project.

“The Iraqi army leaders on the ground were able to maintain an aggressive timeline, utilizing all heavy machinery assets available,” he said.

The training center was designed by retired Iraqi army Staff Maj. Gen. Ali Abbas, Iraqi senior advisor, and was constructed by Iraqi contractors and soldiers assigned to 10th Iraqi Army Division.

While the involvement of the Pacesetter battalion was far from over at that point, McNichol felt a sense of satisfaction.

“Not only was this a worthwhile project to build, but the Iraqis really took the lead on this, designing the camp, providing the workers that built it, and providing all sorts of specialty engineer assets. I was just there to help guide them,” said McNichol with a sense of satisfaction.

Iraqi army units started training at the center in early January with 25-day rotations for an entire battalion at a time. The first two weeks focus on honing combat skills, and the rest of the time the Iraqi soldiers exercise those skills in simulated combat scenarios. The training model is similar to a National Training Center rotation U.S. soldiers go through before deployment.

"This camp will be able to provide an excellent area to train and what we learn here with our American partners we will be able to build upon in the future," said retired Iraqi Army Gen. Ali Abbas, Iraqi army advisor of the camp's construction.

• Date Taken: 01.16.2011
• Date Posted: 01.22.2011 07:03
• Story ID: 64002
• Location: NASIRIYAH, IQ