Courtesy Photo | Leaders and soldiers with both U.S. forces and Iraqi Security Forces share a meal Jan....... read more read more
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Story by: 2nd. Lt. Douglas Bengal
BAGHDAD – On Joint Security Station Muthana sits a broad, squat, undistinguished-looking building. Within this unassuming building is the Joint Operations Center, where Col. Daniel Gardner, the leader of the Stability Transition Team with 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center, and a Mishawaka, Ind., native, leads the effort of coordinating actions with Iraqi Army leadership.
The STT assists their counterparts in developing and refining the military infrastructure required to operate effectively within the Karkh Area Command. The KAC is comprised of Baghdad’s sprawling metropolis that lies west of the Tigris River. The number of Soldiers working in the JOC is a small when considering the weight and far-reaching impact of their mission.
At the JOC’s combined IA and U.S. morning briefings, Cpl. Abbas Jenkins, primary linguist for the STT with 1st Bn., 63rd Armor Regt., 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C, and a Sterling Heights, Mich., native, translates for U.S. soldiers present as they listen to IA and Federal Police commanders give their reports. Maj. Aaron Lilley, STT advisor with 1st Bn., 63rd Armor Regt., 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C, and a Manhattan, Kan., native, presents the U.S. brief in practiced, deliberate Arabic. At the meeting’s close, salutes are rendered before everyone returns to work.
In the American office, Maj. Brian Conner, advisor to the IA inteligence staff with 1st Bn., 63rd Armor Regt., 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C, and a Baton Rouge, La., native, taped a sign hanging over an exit which reads ‘Establishing and maintaining relationships’ is the motto we live by here.’
“If relationships are the heart of their mission, then communication and information is its lifeblood,” Conner said.
“Actually seeing the Iraqi counterpart come up with his own ideas to take care of things without using the U.S. [doctrine] as a model, shows how our work here has paid dividends,” said Lt. Col. Roy Mosher, the officer in charge of coordinating with IA personnel, supply, civil affairs, and information operations staff with the STT with 1st Bn., 63rd Armor Regt., 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C, and a San Antonio native.
At the end of a long day, it is not uncommon for the STT to host a dinner for the IA Officers, and share a normal conversation over both American and Arabic food. When dinner comes to an end, handshakes, instead of salutes, are exchanged.
| Date Taken: | 02.16.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 02.22.2011 07:07 |
| Story ID: | 65860 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 70 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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