Photo By Spc. Richard Vogt | Iraqi Security Forces earn an infantry skills badge at Forward Operating Base Marez on...... read more read more
by Spc. Rich Vogt
138th MPAD
MOSUL, Iraq (September 13, 2006) – Iraqi Security Forces have a new combat badge to wear. The badge is earned after passing a basic skills course being taught at Forward Operating Base Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
The course consists of basic rifle marksmanship, first aid, hand signals, urban movement, and for officers and NCOs a map-reading test, where they have to plot a six-digit grid coordinate.
"If we go out on patrol with them in the city, and we give them a hand and arm signal, or if we tell them to pull security, to get down on a knee, they know exactly what to do," said Staff Sgt. Steve Wertman, course NCOIC, Co. B, 5th Bn., 20th Infantry, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Inf. Division.
The ISF who are testing for the badge have already attended their training academy started by the 1st Bn., 17th Inf., 172nd SBCT. Wertman's crew has assumed responsibility for the academy. His battalion, the 5th Bn., 20th Inf., wanted a way to identify those who have reached a certain level of proficiency.
"They're earning a badge, it's kind of like our expert infantry badge, but it's basic for the ISF," Wertman said. "In the future they will be able to conduct this training on their own and add some more skill reqirements. This is our second group to test. Yesterday we graduated 118 ISF who successfully earned the badge."
"To me, it feels great," Wertman said. "Whenever our Soldiers end up leaving this country, ISF are going to have to do it on their own, by us training them and letting them apply what they have learned on the streets, it reinforces that they're more than capable of providing security. It also increases their motivation to take control of their neighborhoods and no longer require our involvement."
| Date Taken: | 09.13.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 09.16.2006 19:31 |
| Story ID: | 7753 |
| Location: | MOSUL, IQ |
| Web Views: | 271 |
| Downloads: | 151 |
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