Photo By Sgt. Robert Yde | Sgt. David Brown watches as new Iraqi soldiers with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Brigade,...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Robert Yde
2nd BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs
BAGHDAD – As the Iraqi army continues to try to increase its number of soldiers, many new troops find themselves conducting missions within days of graduating from their three-week basic training program.
Unlike an established army, which can sustain itself while waiting for new soldiers to undergo months of training, the Iraqi army must integrate most of its new soldiers into the unit and combat operations almost immediately. This leaves little time for new recruits to undergo additional training with their units, and most skills and tasks have to be learned and refined with on-the-job training.
To help a new group of Iraqi soldiers, assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, prepare for their transition from trainee to soldier working in sector daily, members of the 3-5-6th IA's Military Transition Team conducted some additional training on essential skills during what they called the "Lions Academy," May 13 -14.
"This is just to focus on those essential pieces that they're going to need when they go out," 1st Lt. Morton Ellison, a MiTT member and native of Fresno, Calif., explained of the idea behind the academy.
Almost 300 brand new privates attended the two-day training, which focused on room clearing procedures during the first day and traffic control points on the second.
"All these soldiers are right out of basic training, and we're going to help them with clearing rooms, training on TCPs, searching vehicles, searching people and just try to give them the confidence to go out there because they go straight from basic training out onto the battlefield," said one of the trainers, Sgt. Anthony Rubio.
Twenty rooms were set up, and the Iraqi soldiers were broken down into groups of about 15 and given their own room to train in. On hand in each room, was an Iraqi non-commissioned officer, who conducted the training and an American NCO to offer tips and advice.
"This is just a way for us to come out and show them our experiences and teach them some tricks of the trade and teach them how we do things and get them on a higher level than they are right now," Rubio, a native of Laredo, Texas, explained.
Although the soldiers are fresh out of basic training and have no real-life experience, Rubio said they showed up to the Lions Academy well-trained and proficient, which benefits both the trainers and the trainees.
"I think the job they're doing there in basic training is obviously a good job," he said. "They didn't need too much work, and we can show them more advanced tips without having to deal with a lot of the basics. It helps us and it helps them and they're doing real well."
Ellison agreed, saying that throughout the training, the new privates seemed very motivated and professional.
"They're all very well prepared to go out into sector," Ellison explained. "So what we've seen so far is guys who already know what they're doing and they're able to just refine the techniques – room clearing in particular."
After conducting training on the basics of room clearing, the trainers added some various scenarios that the soldiers may face while out in sector, which is where they will find themselves in the coming days.
"We also have advanced rooms that we've set up with more specific events such as weapon caches, injured civilians or civilians on the battlefield and insurgents, so they can react to them, as well," explained Ellison.
The additional training was very helpful according to one Iraqi private, who said he learned a lot and is excited about his is new career as a soldier.
While this was the first time that the MiTT has conducted this type of formal additional training for brand new Iraqi soldiers, 1st Sgt. Joseph McFarlane of Traverse City, Mich., said that it is something his team has wanted to do for a while. McFarlane said he hopes that they will be able to continue offering the Lions Academy to each new group of Iraqi troops who are assigned to the 3-5-6th IA.
| Date Taken: | 05.15.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 05.15.2007 13:16 |
| Story ID: | 10396 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 91 |
| Downloads: | 60 |
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