Photo By Tech. Sgt. Quinton Russ | Iraqi army soldiers take turns practicing room clearing procedures, taught by...... read more read more
By Bradley Clark
4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, Iraq – Every Soldier's mission in Iraq is important, but for a group of Soldiers in Mosul, Iraq, their mission directly affects coalition forces reaching their ultimate goal of leaving this country in the hands of its citizens.
Soldiers from A Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, run the Spear Academy, an instructional institute for Iraqi security forces, located on Forward Operating Base Marez.
"We train them on what they need to know to be successful," said Spc. Joshua Golden, Spear Academy instructor. "We provide them knowledge of basic skills that helps save lives in combat."
The Iraqi army students that attend the Spear Academy learn a wide range of tactics, techniques and procedures from the U.S. Army instructors.
"We teach them everything from room clearing, to drivers training, to medical training," said Staff Sgt. Gregory Stephens, Spear Academy commandant.
One area the instructors focus on is marksmanship, due to its importance on the battlefield.
"Shooting is the easiest thing for them," said Stephens. "What they have a problem with is aiming and accuracy."
"We teach them a lot about marksmanship," said Spc. Kristopher Herrin, Spear Academy instructor. "They learn everything from reflexive fire to proper aiming techniques. We teach them how to properly handle their weapons when clearing a building. Also, we take them through a glass house where they do a dry run and a live fire run."
Herrin attributes the academy's success to the skills of the instructors he works with.
"The reason why this is successful is because you have combat Soldiers teaching combat skills that will help them stay alive," said Herrin. "This is making them more combat effective and taking them to the point where they won't need us anymore."
"We are very hands on when it comes to teaching," said Herrin. "First we tell them what the lesson is, then we demonstrate it to them. After that, they do a walk through and then they do it at combat speed. We do it like that because it is critical information they are learning," explained Herrin. "They need this training to be a proficient fighting force."
Stephens said another reason why the Spear Academy is so successful is because not only do both the students and the instructors benefit from what is being taught, but everyone involved in making Iraq a peaceful nation does as well.
"The Iraqi army benefits from the academy because this is advanced training they have never had before," he said. "Now they can conduct operations without a coalition presence. (And we) benefit from the training because now when we go out with the IA we are on the same page when it comes to tactics, techniques and procedures," added Stephens.
As more and more Iraqis come through the institute, the Soldiers of 1-9 Cav. can see their counterparts make a smooth journey down the road to freedom paved by the Spear Academy — each step taking them closer and closer to defending Iraq on their own.
| Date Taken: | 07.09.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 07.10.2007 10:21 |
| Story ID: | 11196 |
| Location: | MOSUL, IQ |
| Web Views: | 212 |
| Downloads: | 184 |
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