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    Iraqi Army Leads Patrol

    Iraqi Army Leads Patrol

    Photo By Spc. Adam Blazak | Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd Division Iraqi army patrol streets...... read more read more

    MOSUL, IRAQ

    05.22.2008

    Story by Spc. Adam Blazak 

    11th Public Affairs Detachment

    By Pfc. Adam Carl Blazak
    11th Public Affairs Detachment

    MOSUL, Iraq -- The Iraqi army in conjunction with coalition forces performed a cordon and search in the Younis al Sabawi neighborhood May 19.

    "This was the first mission that the Iraqi Army was on their own, while we took the backseat," said Spc. Michael Johnson, an infantryman for Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment.

    The Iraqi army's 1st Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd Division lead the way during the operation.

    Having the Iraqi army in the lead is very important, Brown said.

    "The Iraqi army conducted deliberate planning on their own, which shows competence and initiative," Brown added.

    Having Iraqis police their own neighborhoods gives local nationals a lot of confidence to see their own out there wearing the Iraqi flag, Brown said.

    Currently on his second tour in Iraq, Sgt. 1st Class John Paul Bernard, tank platoon sergeant for Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, sees the improvement in his Iraqi army counterparts.

    "There has been a substantial improvement since my last tour," he said. "They are more established and better equipped."

    "We have developed a good working relationship with the Iraqi army," Bernard continued. "Having the Iraqi army gaining respect translates into operation combat power."

    Brown added that this mission was successful in that no one was injured and that a weapons cache was seized.

    "These operations need to become the standard, not the exception," Brown concluded.

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 05.22.2008
    Date Posted: 05.22.2008 12:06
    Story ID: 19695
    Location: MOSUL, IQ

    Web Views: 153
    Downloads: 135

    PUBLIC DOMAIN