Former Recruiter Trains Iraqis

Photo By Maj. Anthony Buchanan | Sgt. 1st Class Ray Foster, an Iron Mountain, Mich., native, smiles for a photo before he moves out to other location. Foster is the son of Betty Foster and served as an U.S. Army recruiter in Iron Mountain, Mich., from 1999 until 2003. (U.S. Army photo by: 2nd Lt. Anthony D. Buchanan, 133rd MPAD)  

BAQUBAH, IRAQ

06.12.2006

Courtesy Story

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BAQUBAH, Iraq (June 9, 2006) " Civilians raise their right hands daily to join the U.S. Army thanks to the Soldiers who are tasked with filling the Army's ranks with new troops. Being an U.S. Army recruiter can be challenging, but training Soldiers from other nations can be equally as challenging.

Sgt. 1st Class Ray Foster, an Iron Mountain, Mich., native and member of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Band of Brothers, was at one time a recruiter in his hometown, but now he is training the Iraqi Army at the Diyala Regional Training Facility at Forward Operating Base Normandy.

Foster's recruiting career was from 1999 until 2003 and he recruited approximately 100 people into the U.S. Army.

"Some of the people I put in the Army I had the pleasure of running into here in Iraq," said Foster. "One of those people is Sergeant Brian Schingen in 1-68 CAB [Combined Arms Battalion] serving an infantryman from northern Wisconsin."

Foster, who has been in Iraq since November of 2005, is elated to serve with those he processed into the military.

"It's great," said Foster, "It gives me a good feeling to see them out there serving their country."

While he was recruiting, Foster was selected for a special assignment to Bahrain to train Bahraini Army on A5 howitzers.

"The mission was successful, and when I came back Command Sgt. Maj. List had a job for me as the 2/2/5 MiTT NCOIC," said Foster.

Foster is now the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Military Transition Team noncommissioned officer in charge.

"I'm wearing two hats," said Foster. "I'm still the NCOIC of the MiTT team, doing logistical things and helping support the Iraqis, and I also run the Diyala Regional Training Facility."

Foster has trained an average 200 students a month from major to private. He has also graduated over 600 students, and had over 53,000 rounds fired safely.

"I enjoy my job and what I do because I believe here in Iraq, that's where the rubber meets the road, training Iraqis," said Foster. "There are a lot of people who go off of the FOB [Forward Operating Base] and can tell the difference between Soldiers who have been through my academy and Soldiers who haven't.

"They have the discipline that they learned at the academy instilled in them."

Foster said the issues he had while training the Bahrainis in 2003 are similar to those he has with the Iraqis today.

"We still have the cultural differences, but once you earn their trust and respect, you can overcome a lot of barriers," said Foster. "They main thing with Arab Soldiers is you have to earn their respect and trust.

"If you earn their respect and trust, they will move mountains for you."

• Date Taken: 06.12.2006
• Date Posted: 06.12.2006 14:41
• Story ID: 6792
• Location: BAQUBAH, IQ