Billings

Photo By Staff Sgt. Miles Elder | Army Reserve Sgt. 1st Class Danny Billings (center) with a pair of Iraqi soldiers. He helps train troops from the Iraqi Army's 1st Brigade, 5th Division as they assume more responsibilities for their nation's defense.  

KIRKUSH, IRAQ

05.15.2006

Courtesy Story

133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

KIRKUSH, Iraq (May 7, 2006) " A Vietnam-era Army Reservist serving in northern Iraq is not something you here about often.

At 51, Sgt. 1st Class Danny Billings is nearing the end of his first mobilization working as a senior instructor with Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 2nd/319th Regiment, 7th Brigade, 80th Division (Instructional Training), based out of Salem, Va. He is among those tasked with training Iraqi Army forces with the 1st Brigade, 5th Division based in Kirkush as a member of the Military Training Team.

"It doesn't bother me," Billings said of the good-natured name calling. "I get called everything under the sun, like "Old Man."

"The Iraqis even call me "hajji" which is their word for old man."

His call to duty last year was the first mobilization in Billings" 32-year career. It was the first time he had been on active duty since leaving the Regular Army in 1976, nearly 30 years ago.

"It's just like riding a bicycle, you don't forget," Billings said in a pronounced southern accent. "It's always the same."

Today's Army has more accessories than it did when Billings joined in 1972. The Humvees have replaced the jeeps, the Kevlar helmets that replaced the steel pot helmets have themselves been exchanged and individual body armor in place of web gear. Still, Billings said he feels at home in today's Army.

"The biggest difference is that it's more modern," Billings said. "It's more high tech.

"It's still the basic stuff. When it comes down to it, you're still doing the basic skills. It's the same thing we teach in all the basic training."

After leaving active duty, Billings worked as a self-employed contractor for more than 20 years. In 2004, he went to work for the city of Roanoke, Va., as its construction project coordinator. He lives in nearby Troutville, Va.

Billings" boss, Lt. Col. Don Mosman, who serves as the team's leader, said Billings" experience and age are a plus to him here. He said Iraqis value Billings" wisdom.

"Sgt. Billings is a seasoned NCO," Mosman said. "He's been in the Army a long time. He has a lot of respect from the Iraqi NCOs and junior leaders and also the jundai (the Irqi word for "Soldier.")

"They respect the fact that he has served in the United States for a long time. He has a lot of respect and credibility among the Soldiers."

Billings has primarily worked with the Close Target Reconnaissance teams. He has helped train them as part of the brigade's validation process, which certifies Iraqi units as combat ready and able to defend their assigned sectors.

For his part, Billings said he has enjoyed working with his Iraqi counterparts. He is proud of their recent accomplishments which were honored at an April 24 ceremony.

"When you give them advice, they actually use it," Billing said. "Then, you start seeing stuff work and it's gratifying."

Billings has also enjoyed going out on humanitarian missions to the villages in eastern Diyala Province which lies along the hotly contested Iran-Iraq border. He said the Iraqi people's attitudes are changing.

"You can tell when things change," Billings said. "People know you when you start coming through and it makes a big difference.

"When we first got here, people were standoffish, but now it's just entirely different."

Billings said he has enjoyed his time in Iraq. He praised his fellow unit members.

"I'll remember a lot of the officers and Soldiers I've worked with here," Billings said. "That has been the biggest thing for me."

Despite his age and not having served on active duty for so long, Billings said he didn't hesitate to volunteer for the assignment here. He said he knew he could put his longtime experience as an Army trainer to good use in training Iraq's emerging Army.

"I'm going to do my part," Billings said.

Billings isn't sure what he will do when he returns stateside later this year. He said he may continue to serve his nation in uniform.

"I'm up for E-8," Billings said smiling. "If I get that, I'll stick around."

• Date Taken: 05.15.2006
• Date Posted: 05.15.2006 14:15
• Story ID: 6392
• Location: KIRKUSH, IQ