Story by: Sgt. Mary S. Katzenberger
BAGHDAD — Since the dawn of the Bronze Age, warriors have trained to become proficient at wielding superior weaponry.
“Armies are always proud of their weapons,” said Iraqi Brig. Gen. Abdullah Ghaet Habeeb. “The warrior is proud if he has a good horse and a good sword.”
Abdullah, deputy commanding general of the 9th Iraqi Army Division, shared these thoughts Aug. 19 with the second graduating class from the M1A1 Pre-New Equipment Training course at Joint Security Station Al Rashid.
The Government of Iraq has purchased 140 M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks—to be fielded by the 9th IA Div. in September—to both modernize the Iraqi Amy and to ensure a continued strategic partnership with the United States. The intent of the U.S.-forces-led training at JSS Al Rashid, hosted by Soldiers with Company D, 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, United States Division – Center, is to refresh training the IA Soldiers have already received, or to complement training they will eventually receive from American civilian instructors with the M1A1 NET, at the Besmaya Range Complex.
At the ceremony, Abdullah stressed the importance of the tank in the former Iraqi Army, as well as the M1A1’s place in the new army.
“Most of the [Iraqi Army] officers here have lived the wars and old dreams in the old Iraqi Army,” he said. “The tank was everything for us: it was our home, our sword and our horse in the field. Now we have to alter our treatment with the M1A1 Abrams.”
Habeeb said the M1A1 is not like the Russian T-55 or T-62 Main Battle Tanks the IA has used in the past. The M1A1 requires a crew dedicated to constant training and performing regular maintenance.
“The M1A1 Abrams has good capabilities in firing, communication and safety,” he said. “You need to take care of it and maintain it all of the time.”
Brig. Gen. Ali Husayn Wuzier, staff manager for the 9th IA Div., and Col. Majeed Hameed Jasim, deputy commander of 35th Brigade, 9th IA Div., joined Habeeb at the graduation ceremony to congratulate their Soldiers and hand out certificates of achievement.
At the end of his speech, Abdullah thanked the U.S. Soldiers who trained the graduates.
“This is proof of good instructors,” Abdullah said, gesturing to the graduates. “And this is one of the faces of the collaboration between the two armies.”