Soldiers meet with Iraqi military leaders

Photo By Sgt. Mitch Armbruster | Members of the 3rd Motorized Transportation Regiment work on attaching a tow hitch to another truck to keep their combat logistics patrol moving.  

01.12.2006

Courtesy Story

207th Public Affairs Detachment

Lt. Maurio Smith and Sgt. Michael Bogle, Soldiers with B Battery, 2-5th Field Artillery, sit alongside Maj. Tony Wheel, a military advisor with the Iraqi assistance group, discussing the impact Iraqi soldiers have made transitioning into the role of securing their nation independently. The men sat with their counterparts in the Iraqi Army's 3rd Motorized Transportation Regiment sharing thoughts and ideas.

In a small and humble office right outside the barbed wire of Forward Operating Base Tiger, Maj. Ali, 3rd MTR commander and Lt. Yaseem, the executive officer for the 3rd MTR, welcomed their U.S. Army guests. The group has been working together training and preparing the Iraqi transportation regiment to accomplish missions and decrease the amount of American military involvement.

Ali and Yaseem opened their office, which doubled as living quarters, to the army soldiers. There was a high level of respect for one another from working together during the last few months.

Beyond their working relationship, these men have grown into partners and friends.

Yaseem and Smith joked about their family lives, and visiting one another when the country is stable. The friendships these men built were evident.

Ali spoke while Tony, an interpreter for the 2-5th, translated.

"Before we were fighting, but I was not fighting with my heart," Ali said. "Now I'm fighting for my country."

Military Transition Teams are training new Iraqi soldiers. Smith's MiTT team worked with soldiers through the crawl and walk phases of their training. They are now acting in the observation role while their trainees are taking the lead on the missions.

During this training, Bogle admits that you become close to the soldiers who you are working with.

"The soldiers are getting better every month," Ali said. "The same soldiers do the same jobs and they are doing them very well."

Ali and Yaseem explained that practice is a big part of their soldiers" successes. Ali is thinking of the future. He wants to see a continued effort at training. With the proper training and experience, he feels that his soldiers will be ready to perform the missions on their own.

Ali would like his soldiers to have the opportunity to get training equivalent to training that U.S. forces receive.

"I would like our soldiers to go to school for three months or six months instead of the two week training that they are getting," Ali said. "I think that an exchange program would be good and our soldiers would rise to the challenge."

Ali's idea is to have Iraqi soldiers train with U.S. forces at training facilities in the States. He feels that his troops would benefit from the longer training cycles and a more thorough understanding of their jobs. From preventative maintenance to basic soldiering skills, the training would offer a big challenge for his soldiers, but more importantly, give them a better skill base.

"Getting experience is good for now," Yaseem said. "But continual training is the goal."

Ali and Yaseem were happy to have their soldiers moving supplies and pulling security during the December elections. Smith's team was working with Ali in an observation role, but they weren't interfering with Ali's soldiers. Ali's soldiers were able to sustain themselves during elections without the help of their American trainers.

"We have thanks for Maj. Wheel and Lt. Smith for helping us get to this point to do the election mission," Ali said. Ali's troops were excited to have the opportunity and it showed on their smiling faces.

Wheel stated that the Iraqi officers have a vision for the future of their Army.

"Their army can fight insurgents, but the army has to do more than defend a sovereign Iraq," Wheel said.

"Senior officers see more logistics and greater capability," Wheel said.

Wheel and Ali discussed the chances of having a mechanized infantry and having each component working together. Most importantly, Wheel expressed that these officers are forward thinkers and are working for the future.

Ali explained that the Iraqi army was well equipped under Saddam Hussein's government. The changes have brought on some hardships. His men don't have all of the equipment that they want, but they are getting the things they need to perform their missions. In the future, the possibility of working with the air force and navy would allow the army the freedom of transportation and alleviate the multiple tasks that they have to perform.

Ali shared cigars with the men in the room before ending their meeting and told a story of a fox and a lion. Ali related the insurgents to a fox.

"My soldiers are lions," Ali said. "The fox is scared of the lions."

• Date Taken: 01.12.2006
• Date Posted: 01.12.2006 11:42
• Story ID: 5091