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Iraqi Army NCOs train their privates

Photo By Spc. Leigh Campbell | Iraqi Army Soldier move through a shoot house clearing rooms at the Al Kindi training...... read more read more

MOSUL, IRAQ

05.02.2006

Courtesy Story

345th Public Affairs Detachment

MOSUL, Iraq - Iraq Army non-commissioned officers from 4th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division are training for the future of the Iraq Army at Al Kindi.

Iraq Army privates are attending a seven days training course designed to sharpen the fighting skills in long distance shooting, close quarters shooting, and shooting under pressure.

"In the beginning we were totally in control of all of it," said Staff Sgt Michel John Huston, Iraqi Army Instructor, Tactical Advisor Team, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. "We dictated the class and we instructed the class from start to finish. Now we are starting to pull away from that. Now what we want to do is empower the NCOs and the officers to take charge."

According to Huston, they will brief IA NCOs on what they have to accomplish The NCOs are the leaders, they are the trainers, and they are going to be with them the whole time.

"In the beginning of the week we zero the weapons," said Huston. "Then they go into reflexive firing to simulate being at a tactical control point or any kind of security post."

The Tactical Advisor Team is to train the IA in basic rifleman skills, and tactics. Iraqi Soldiers go through the training to help their Soldiers train and actual perform better as an Army.

"They have to be able identify the target and shoot two rounds into the chest," said Huston. "The students do that both standing still from multiple directions, walking left and right, and walking forward shooting without stopping."

Huston said the IA do stress-shoot; the Soldiers bring their cardio vascular condition into the game. This is so they have an idea what it is like to react to contact while the hearts are pumping, they are breathing heavily, and they are tired.

"They do an advanced training in the shoot house," said Huston. "In the shoot house I wanted to simulate an actual target house where they go in and see various positions where insurgents could be. We'll set up situations where there is a good guy and a bad guy and they have to identify the bad guy and shoot only the bad guy"

At the end of the training week the trainees are required to organize a complete mission using the shoot house as their primary objective. The IA Soldiers will use all the training they received from the week.

"Once they go in they have to perform all the normal procedures for the shoot house," said Huston. They must clear one room, squad bounding thru the rooms. They also have to be preparing for medical evacuation, and preparing for enemy prisoner of war. They have to be able to conduct things of that nature, during real operations."

Squad bounding is a procedure where two squads will enter a house. The first squad will clear the first room, and once clear the second squad will enter and move into the next room to clear it. This tactical movement provides security for both squads to ensure safety and is the quickest way to clear a house.

"I think it boosts a lot of confidence, said Huston. "I think it helps out because we also have the facilities. They rotate the companies in, and they can continue using the facility. It helps them refresh tactics over and over again."