Photo By Staff Sgt. Christopher Carney | Members of the Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement's 14th Brigade salute in front...... read more read more
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq — When the South Oil Company, a subsidiary of the Iraqi national oil company, wanted their guards trained, they turned to the Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement.
Iraq's 14th Brigade border guards have the responsibility of securing and patrolling parts of Iraq's southern border with Iran and Kuwait.
So Jan. 6, border guards gave classes and provided hands-on training on how to search a vehicle and search or detain an individual
Watching in the background as the guards trained South Oil were members of the U.S. Army's 14th Bde. Border Transition Team.
The BTT's mission is to advise and assist members of the Iraqi DBE, a mission that increasingly moves behind the scenes as the border guards take charge of their own training and operations.
"The Iraqis are in the lead right now. We kind of sit back and let them do what needs to be done," said Capt. Joe Grubb, operations and planning for the BTT.
"If we see where there could be improvements, we give our advice and allow them to act on that information," he said.
The training of South Oil guards is one example of the DBE taking charge.
"They are building a relationship with the Southern Oil Company similar to what we have with them," said Master Sgt. Christopher Bench, training and operations non-commissioned officer for the BTT.
The Soldiers are proud to see the border guards perform at a level where they can train other groups.
"These guys have made large improvements on their work ethics," said Bench. "They are pretty much independent. Once we leave they will be able to function very well without us."
Grubb said the motivation of the border guards is obvious.
"We are able to see firsthand that Iraq is able to take care of themselves," he said. "They want to be in the front seat and they want to be the driving force behind their own sovereignty and their own independent nation."
Working so closely with the DBE and seeing their improvements they have made contributes to the pride shown by the BTT.
"I think we have a great relationship," said Bench. "At first it was a little hard because of the communication barriers and just not knowing each other."
"It probably took us four to five months before we really built the trust where they'd start working with us," he said, "but it made it really easy once we got that relationship established."
"I'm pretty pleased and think it's a great thing for the army and the Iraqi people."
| Date Taken: | 01.06.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 01.18.2010 01:54 |
| Story ID: | 44036 |
| Location: | BASRA, IQ |
| Web Views: | 125 |
| Downloads: | 113 |
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