NASIRIYAH, Iraq – During their current mission in southern Iraq, the Soldiers of Company A, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, have had little trouble adjusting their mission mindset from a combat focus to advising and assisting the Iraq security forces.
“As an infantry company, Attack Company is perfectly suited to fulfill the required role to advise, train, and assist the Iraqi army and Police as United States forces transition out of Iraq,” said 1st Lt. Mario Ponsell, of Warner Robins, Ga., fire support officer.
Attached to Task Force Pacesetter, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, Attack Company has one organic infantry platoon, a mortar platoon, and a company headquarters platoon. These three elements all have critical roles, ensuring their Iraqi security force partners are properly prepared for all situations.
The 2nd Platoon, Attack Company, under 1st Lt. Grant Hewins, of Des Moines, Iowa, has three simultaneous missions. The first is providing security to the Stability Transition Team advisors that work in the Dhi Qar Provincial Joint Coordination Center in Nasiriyah.
The second is to assist the STTs with maintaining situational awareness with the Dhi Qar Iraq Police while sharing mission-critical information.
“We serve as a liaison between the task force and the Dhi Qar Iraqi Police while continuing to encourage the Iraqi Police in their drive towards police primacy in the region,” said Hewins.
Recently, the Dhi Qar riot control unit successfully put this training to use, as they peacefully stopped two potentially dangerous riots in downtown Nasiriyah.
Hewins’ platoon also facilitates movement of the STT and Civilian Police Assistance Training Team to advise and assist other IP stations throughout the province.
“The relationship we have with our Iraqi police partners is a prime example of the current relationship between U.S. forces and Iraq security forces in the closing chapter of OIF. The Iraqi police perform the majority of the security operations previously performed by U.S. forces,” said Hewins.
The Mortar Platoon, Attack Company, under Capt. Michael Noel, of Edmond, Okla., is also partnered with the Dhi Qar IPs but in a different environment. Their primary mission is to escort members of the Civilian Police Assistance Training Team to the Dhi Qar IP Regional Training Center.
The police trainers advise and assist the RTC to ensure that its courses meet the standards provided by the Iraqi Ministry of Interior. The CPATT has years of civilian police experience from the United States in different backgrounds and is ideally suited for the police advisory role.
“In order to accomplish this Iraq training, advisory mission, [they] advise the lead trainers at the IP RTC on logistics, training schedules, and police operations,” said Noel.
| Date Taken: |
09.10.2010 |
| Date Posted: |
09.10.2010 11:39 |
| Story ID: |
56026 |
| Location: |
NASIRIYAH, IQ |
| Web Views: |
197 |
| Downloads: |
7 |
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This work, Infantrymen adapt mission mindset from combat to advise and assist, by CPT Joshua Hunter, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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