Military Transition Team Marines and Iraqi military police put rounds down range

Photo By Lance Cpl. Jason Hernandez | An Iraqi military policeman with the 7th Iraqi Army Division Military Police company fires an American-built M4 carbine rifle during a weapons sustainment course aboard Camp Mejid, Iraq, July 14, 2009. On the range, the Iraqi military policemen practiced with a variety of weapons to gain practical experience with their issued weapons.  

CAMP MEJID, IRAQ

09.12.2009

Story by Lance Cpl. Jason Hernandez 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP MEJID, Iraq — It's a hot summer day aboard Camp Mejid, Iraq, and a string of Iraqi army tactical vehicles stream across the gravel and park side-by-side.

Iraqi soldiers spill out and immediately begin pulling ammunition cans from their vehicles. Military Transition Team 7 Marines normally do most of the work, but this time, they're simply observing as the Iraqis set up a firing range and prepare to train — without American assistance.

Iraqi military policemen are conducting what will soon become annual sustainment training. During the course of their training, they fired a multitude of weapons, from vehicle-mounted machine guns to sniper rifles and pistols.

Iraqi MPs use these training sessions to prepare themselves for future duties they are expected to undertake, such as convoy security, personnel security and running the base stockade.

"The Iraqi soldiers haven't really had the resources they need to [conduct] extended training," said Staff Sgt. Kelli L. Cairns, an explosive ordnance disposal advisor with MiTT-7. "But they just called us up and told us that once they get their ammunition, they're ready to train any time, any day."

And train is what they did.

Iraqi MPs climbed into two IA tactical vehicles equipped with machine guns and took turns accurately firing short, controlled bursts at their targets.

Once the machine gun phase of the training was over, the Iraqis moved onto smaller weapons. They fired AK-47 rifles and practiced with American-built M4 carbines. After firing assault weapons, the Iraqi soldiers finished the day with sniper rifles and pistols.

"It's training in times like these, when the area is peaceful, that allows us to go without training when times are tough," said an Iraqi corporal. "Our leaders are trying to ensure that we have all the training we need so we don't have to train if things start to get bad again."

Although the training Iraqi MPs conducted was extensive and encompassed a wide range of weapons, they are still looking forward to their next training opportunity.

"We're working on training more, but resources, especially ammunition, are still very hard to come by," said an Iraqi lieutenant. "We're training now more than we did before. Soon enough we'll be training better than we trained before 2003. But the most important thing is that, if we train, we train right."

During the course of fire, the Marines of MiTT-7 enjoyed the fruits of their labor. Minus assisting an Iraqi private with his jammed sniper rifle and loading an occasional magazine, they just stood by in case the Iraqis needed assistance. Through their hard work and hours upon hours of working with Iraqi soldiers, they've taught the Iraqis exactly what they need to know: how to train themselves.

"It's to the point where all the Iraqi soldiers had to do was pick a day to train, and we came out here and trained," said Cairns. "They really don't need our help for the most part, and that is exactly what the transition teams across the country are trying to achieve."

• Date Taken: 09.12.2009
• Date Posted: 09.12.2009 04:15
• Story ID: 38641
• Location: CAMP MEJID, IQ