Sgt. Kevin Bromley
100th MPAD
March 29, 2005
SECURITY
BAGDHAD, Iraq -- Iraqi Army Soldiers of the 301st Infantry Battalion, 40th Brigade manned checkpoints along the Arba'een march route in Baghdad.
The Iraqi Soldiers were there to ensure the safety of worshipers as they made their pilgrimage to profess their faith during the Muslim observance of Arba'een.
Arba'een is a Shia religious tradition rooted in Iraqi Shia history and celebrates martyrdom. The Arba'een pilgrimage occurs forty days after the celebration of Ashura on the Islamic lunar calendar.
This operation was run and managed by the Iraqi Army with assistance from elements of the 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR), from Ft. Irwin, Calif.
This is an Iraqi Army Operation. The Iraqi Army provides their own security for their religious holiday, said Capt. John Gilmour, commander of 1/11 Coalition Military Advisory Training Team (CMATT).
The Iraqi Army is taking a more active role in the security of Iraq. This is the third major operation run entirely by the 301st Battalion.
Our battalion, provided security for the elections with nothing but logistical support from the Americans, said Iraqi Army Major Ahmed Jabar Ba'anoon, Executive Officer of the 301st Battalion.
He said the success of the elections operation gives us trust in ourselves.
The 301st's area of operations included 142 polling sites and no civilians were wounded or killed during the elections in that area.
Ahmed said, our mission is to protect the people these operations make the people like
us more and respect the army more.
Operationally, the 1/11 CMATT has moved from an embedded trainer role, to an advisory and logistics role.
We make suggestions now, maybe shift this barrier or perhaps move defenses, said Capt. Gilmour. When we do battlefield circulation, Maj. Ahmed runs the show.
In addition to advisory support 1/11 ACR, troops are also providing Quick Reaction Forces (QRF) and medical support.
We're here to support the Iraqi Army, Iraqi Police, and Coalition Forces, said Sgt. William Weinburgh, B Team Leader 3rd Platoon, F Troop, 1/11 ACR.
The QRF is ready to go anywhere in the area of operations at a moment's notice.
If they need help, we're the first ones on the scene, he said.
The Iraqi Army has made great strides in assuming security roles within Iraq including combat medical support. However, if the need should arise, 1/11 ACR is prepared to provide medical assistance.
The Iraqis have a very good combat medical support system, said Medical Platoon Leader 1st Lt. Ignacio Re Molina, from Headquarters, Headquarters Troop, 1/11 ACR,
1st Lt. Re Molina's troops have repeatedly practiced emergency medical techniques and mass casualty procedures with the 301st Infantry Battalion.
Our mission is to provide medical assistance if the Iraqi Army becomes overwhelmed by a mass casualty situation, he said.
The successes in the first two 301st operations provided valuable insight into conducting security and crowd control.
What they learned in the previous operations is key to their success in this [Arba'een] operation, Gilmour said.
During security operations, the U.S. Forces are only providing supply support consisting of concrete barriers and concertina wire.
Operationally they're there, it's happening, said Gilmour.
| Date Taken: | 04.11.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 04.11.2005 12:42 |
| Story ID: | 1565 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 55 |
| Downloads: | 5 |
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