Photo By Sgt. Sean McGinty | A young Iraqi soldier hands out an M-16A4 and the accessories that are issued with it...... read more read more
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By Lance Cpl. Sean McGinty
I Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs
CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq -- The 1st Iraqi Army Division's 2nd Brigade, 2nd Battalion are trading in their AK-47's for something a little more American - M-16A4's.
The Jundi, or Iraqi soldiers, have begun to adopt the weapons in favor of the AK-47's in order to resemble the American military members they serve alongside, as well as more practical reasons.
"There's a couple of motivations" to change their weapon systems, said Capt. Alejandro D. Quinn, the 2-2/1 Military Transition Team headquarters support coordinator. "They want the status and the uniformity with the Americans, but they also need a uniform weapon."
With the AK-47 being one of the most abundant weapons in the world, it is also the most copied, and many of the assault rifles distributed are different models made through different companies. Some look different, while others have different parts with varying reliability.
"The IA uses the AK now, but many have different models," Quinn said. "Some are better than others."
Not only will the distribution of M-16A4's eliminate the issue of unreliable copycat weapons, but carrying the same weapons as their American military counterparts is boosting morale in many of the Jundi.
"Most of the soldiers think they will be just like the Americans, and that is making them very happy," said Capt. Rafaat Mejal Ahmed, the 1st IA Div. Weapons and Ammunition officer. "They think the modern technology will make them more powerful."
The new weapons are boosting morale through means other than the rifle's proven battlefield capabilities.
"The Jundi are learning to have fun with the new sorts of drill they're doing with the M-16's," said Quinn. "We're teaching them the Marine way of doing things such as inspection arms. When the inspector snatches the rifle away, we're seeing them emulating us and having fun with it."
The soldiers are also having fun learning how to use the weapon to the best of its capabilities.
The U.S. military is also employing government contractors to give the Iraqi soldiers the best possible training with the weapons.
"When they're taught how to shoot, we make it into a little competition and award the best shooters with large Iraqi flags," Quinn said.
"The contractors are really going out of their way to train them as best they can," said Quinn. "They were the one's who began awarding the best shooters. These guys are former Army and Marines and they really know what they're doing."
Quinn was actually surprised at the depth of training the soldiers are being given by the government contractors.
"I first picked up the M-16 in 1990," he said. "And the level of training I received probably wasn't half as good as what they're getting now."
Marksmanship isn't the only sort of instruction the Iraqis are receiving with their weapons either.
"(The Jundi) do realize that the M series needs a lot more cleaning and maintenance than the AK," Quinn said. "And the M series instructors are fostering competition to increase the excitement for that too."
Accountability for the Jundi's new rifles is being held to the highest standard. Fingerprints and vocal and retinal scans are taken and digitally stored along with the weapons serial information whenever any soldier trades his AK-47 for the M-16A4.
Even still, one could easily tell by the excitement of the soldiers waiting to exchange weapons that the new rifles were a welcome trade.
"I'm always asked by my soldiers when they can get the additions like the sights and laser like the Americans have," Ahmed said.
These additions may come in time, but the acquisition of the M-16A4's come as a very welcome addition to the Jundi's arsenal.
"They see us using the M series and having a lot of success throughout the world with them," said Quinn. "They want that success. It's boosting their morale to be just that little bit closer to us."
| Date Taken: | 02.20.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 02.20.2008 13:40 |
| Story ID: | 16511 |
| Location: | CAMP HABBANIYAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 361 |
| Downloads: | 327 |
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