Photo By Cpl. Robert Medina | Lance Cpl. Christopher L. Riley, instructor for the M-16 A2 Service Rifle Maintainer's...... read more read more
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By Robert Medina
1st Marine Logistic Group Public Affairs
FALLUJAH, Iraq – Ten Iraqi soldiers from Quick Reaction Force, 2nd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division, became the first of many to go through the new M-16A2 Service Rifle Maintainer's Course April 18.
This three-day course was developed for Iraqi soldiers to learn how to maintain the M-16. The objective is for these Soldiers to become the armorers for their units and share the knowledge they received from Marines.
Throughout this course, Iraqi Soldiers learned how to disassemble the M-16. They learned all the safety rules, how the weapon operates and how to conduct a proper function check.
"The objective was for the Iraqi Soldiers to be proficient in the maintenance and repair of the M-16," said Lance Cpl. Christopher L. Riley, RMC instructor and small-arms repair technician, Maintenance Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group.
The course was not limited to the M-16; the M-4 carbine was broken down to its essentials, as well as all safety rules and conditions for the weapon.
"I was curious to learn something new," said Iraqi Army Pfc. Kadhim M. Kadhim, infantryman, Quick Reaction Force, 2nd Brigade. "I wanted to learn all about these weapon systems."
Kadhim said that he would like to be the armorer for his unit when he is finished with this course.
"I plan on telling all my friends about all that I have learned here," said Kadhim, from Baghdad. "The most important thing that I have learned here is the safety procedures. You should always be aware of your surroundings," said Kadhim.
At the end of the course, the Soldiers were evaluated on their knowledge of the M-16, as well as their ability to put the weapon back together, properly clear the weapon and perform a function check.
Capt. Pedro B. Gomez, company commander for Maintenance Company, CLB-1, spoke to the graduating class.
"You are now the technical advisors to your chain of command," said Gomez, from Temecula, Calif. "Now that you are trained, we want you to go out there and practice what you have learned here."
Gomez told the class more Soldiers would be going through the same course, and that they should help them out by sharing their experience.
"We would like to thank you for all of this information," said Iraqi Army Cpl. Jawad J. Hajim, infantryman and most senior member of the class. "The instructor helped and taught us in a way that we can understand the material better."
Hajim said the Marines did them a favor by providing the training.
"This was a successful class," said Gomez. "How they perform after this is up to them. We will see in the future how they maintain their weapons and that will reflect on their ability to practice what they have been taught."
This course was the first of monthly classes to be offered the IA, enabling them to maintain their gear.
The Marines offered a special incentive to the Iraqi soldiers for successful completion of the class.
"At the end of the course, the Soldiers were allowed to keep the armorers tools that were especially made for them so they can utilize them back with their unit," said Riley.
The tools needed to be especially made because of the lack of equipment immediately available to the students. The bore-punches and the copper heads for the hammers were machined by Marines, for the RMC.
Maintenance Company plans on offering courses for other occupational specialties in the future.
| Date Taken: | 05.08.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 05.08.2008 07:20 |
| Story ID: | 19204 |
| Location: | FALLUJAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 165 |
| Downloads: | 111 |
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