Courtesy Photo | Soldiers from the Iraqi army's 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Division, get ready to...... read more read more
Pfc. Joshua R. Ford
MNC-I PAO
Forward Operating Base Speicher, Iraq --The 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, is bringing Iraq one step closer to becoming a democratic, independent country.
Soldiers from 3-69 Armor's military transition team have been training Soldiers in the Iraqi army's 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Division, since March, 2005.
The MiTT's mission is to train the Iraqi Army Soldiers to be able to conduct operations on their own.
Approximately 12 MiTT Soldiers train the Iraqi 2nd Bn. staff officers while the 3-69 Armor line units train 2nd Bn. line troops.
"Basically we are trying to teach 2nd Battalion's officers how to run a Battalion and we have been teaching their line units how to conduct raids and patrols," said Sgt. 1st Class Milton Evans, MiTT team leader, 3-69 Armor.
"When we first got these guys they were pretty green," Evans said. "Since then I have seen a lot of progression."
"We have trained the Iraqi troops the same way we would train U.S. Soldiers. They first go through a basic training then go on to their advanced individual training," said Staff Sgt. Marcos Rico, MiTT, team leader, 3-69 Armor.
Because the IA are in the early stages of development, the 3-69 Armor Soldiers are providing the Iraqi Soldiers with armored vehicles, weapons and advanced individual training, said Maj. Philip P. Graham, MiTT officer-in-charge, 3-69 Armor. "This gives the Iraqi Soldiers the extra equipment to get the job done."
The Iraqi troops from 2nd Bn. put their training to the test on the tough streets of Samara. There they man four checkpoints and running independent operations such as raids and patrols.
When the Iraqi troops started conducting operations in Samara Soldiers with the MiTT would go with them to make sure the IA troops were professional about the mission.
"Now it has gotten to the point where we will send the Iraqi Soldiers out on missions alone and we will observe them from the tactical operations center," said Rico.
During October's Constitutional Referendum the Iraqi Soldiers were instrumental in securing Samara.
The IA manned checkpoints, voting booths and secured ballot boxes in Samara with little help from U.S. Soldiers.
"The Iraqi army Soldiers are doing a good job. They are leaning forward and trying to do more for the people of Iraq. We are getting great strides with all the IA units in the area," added Graham.
| Date Taken: | 11.18.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 11.18.2005 14:24 |
| Story ID: | 3787 |
| Location: | TIKRIT, IQ |
| Web Views: | 93 |
| Downloads: | 41 |
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