Iraqi recon soldiers, U.S. paratrooper advisors share war fighting techniques during joint training

Photo By Sgt. Mike MacLeod | 2nd Lt. Preston Patton, 2nd Platoon leader, Company C, 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist Brigade), discusses a training exercise with Iraqi 2nd Lt. Zurian, reconnaissance platoon leader of 8th Brigade, 3rd Division, Oct. 5, at Qatalat Khasah, Al Anbar province, Iraq. The paratroopers belong to the U.S. Army's first organic advise-and-assist brigade assigned the mission of security-force assistance in Iraq.  

QATALAT KHASAH, IRAQ

10.05.2009

Story by Spc. Mike MacLeod 

1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs

QATALAT KHASAH, Iraq — A platoon of Iraqi scouts invited advise and assist Paratroopers of the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division to their base, Oct. 5, to train them in small-team tactical movements.

The reconnaissance platoon of the Iraqi 8th Brigade, 3rd Division, assigned to the 1st Quick Reaction Force, received training at their base just west of Fallujah from paratroopers of Company C, 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the U.S. Army's first organic advise and assist brigade assigned the mission of security-force assistance, 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist Brigade).

"To become more professional soldiers, we have asked the Americans to come here and train us," said 2nd Lt. Zurian, the reconnaissance platoon leader. "With the right training and the right assets, we can defeat any challenge."

The paratroopers briefed their Iraqi counterparts with a PowerPoint slide presentation, followed by boots-in-the-dirt training during which U.S. and IA soldiers paired up, said 2nd Lt. Preston Patton, platoon leader for the advising paratroopers.

Iraqi brigade commander, Col. Hogar Salahaldin, made a brief appearance to encourage his soldiers to take full advantage of the training by the best Army in the world, said an Iraqi translator.

After teaching the Iraqis how U.S. soldiers move as a squad, the Americans asked the Iraqis to show them how they do it to learn from them, said Patton.

Afterward the Paratroopers and soldiers visited, sharing snacks and suggestions on how to improve future training.

American and Iraqi troops aren't that different, said Patton. The number-one suggestion was, "Less PowerPoint and more hands-on training."

The advise and assist brigade, 1/82 (AAB), replaced two Marine Corps Regimental Combat Teams in September 2009. As Marine Corps forces conduct a responsible draw down of combat power, U.S. forces transition to an advise and assist role.

• Date Taken: 10.05.2009
• Date Posted: 10.12.2009 02:46
• Story ID: 39967
• Location: QATALAT KHASAH, IQ