Photo By Mark Abueg | Dr. Michael Izady teaches members of the 579th Engineer Detachment (FEST-M) on Middle...... read more read more
WINCHESTER, Va. – A well-known professor in military circles instructed an Army unit about Middle Eastern culture yesterday to better prepare its soldiers and civilians for deployment overseas.
Dr. Michael Izady helped the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 579th Engineer Detachment (Forward Engineer Support Team - Main) learn about Afghanistan and its surrounding countries. He focused on the history, customs, religion, geography and tribalism of the area as part of his curriculum during the weeklong Individual Terrorism Awareness Class training.
“Well it is the intention of the program to give you some familiarity,” Izady said. “With the human terrain of the area, get to know the people, their culture, to realize they are human beings like you and that you are there to help them and not to actually defeat them, occupy their country, and leave.”
An expert on Middle Eastern culture, Izady has trained the U.S. Special Forces on issues pertaining to societies and cultures they are exposed to in overseas deployment. The course he prepared for the FEST-M is normally taught for two weeks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, for college credit. He condensed the class to 6-hours.
“You are here for one week and you have to do so many things, including learning how to drive, how to sharp shoot, and how to learn all those things like that,” he said. “But I think it [the culture class] is just as important as learning to sharp shoot.”
Many of the FEST-M members have been deployed before, but Capt. Willie Hutchinson, FEST-M signal officer, could not help but notice the training was a little different than his previous lessons.
“I’ve never had this type of training to this extent,” said Capt. Willie Hutchinson, the FEST-M signal officer. “I’ve only had an hours worth of it all.”
Hutchinson knows that this type of training is crucial for the success of a unit’s mission.
“I think it’s good to know who you’re dealing with,” he said. “This class is very detailed. I would have benefitted more in the past if I had this detailed training.”
Izady has a clear intent as to what he wants the FEST-M to get out of this training.
“We are there to help them,” he said. “That’s why you are here. Sitting to learn how to help them properly and positively.”
This story is part three in a special report of the 579th Engineer Detachment (FEST-M)’s Individual Terrorism Awareness Class training in Winchester, Va.
| Date Taken: | 01.26.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 11.12.2010 06:39 |
| Story ID: | 59980 |
| Location: | WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 108 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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