Courtesy Photo | An Iraqi army master trainer gives a block of instructions an NCO on the M-16 rifle...... read more read more
Subscribe
CONTINGENCY OPERATING STATION GARRY OWEN, Iraq – Sgt. 1st Class Jose Mortenson, Stability Transition Team noncommissioned officer in charge for 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division has been a man on a mission. For the duration of his current tour in support of Operation New Dawn, Mortenson, a native of Frankfurt, Mich., has held one of the most critical jobs during Warhorse’s deployment.
He has been in charge of readying the Iraqi Army's NCO Corps for the day when they will have to stand alone and weather the trials that are to come in this new chapter of Iraq's history.
He'll be the first one to say that he doesn't deserve any praise. Instead, he shifts the focus on his Iraqi counterparts, three men, three warriors that have stood side-by-side with Mortenson testing, challenging, and pushing the IA NCO Corps to be something it hasn't been in the past.
“The big success is seeing that their NCOs are offered more chances for responsibility,” said Mortenson. “That's the biggest success. Now they're starting to send their NCOs with officers to meetings, even the Division Sgt. Maj. They're starting to pair up with the division commander more like the U.S. military does, where they're actually seen together all the time.”
The other big question is about sustainability; that Iraqis will continue using this methodology after the reposture of the United States forces which is already underway.
“I know they can continue this without my supervision or the supervision of anybody. They can continue this on their own.” said Mortenson. “As much instruction as possible is being taught by the Iraqi instructors.” he added.
The three instructors that have been with Mortenson from the beginning are Ahmjed, Mahmoud, and Ali.
Mortenson explained, “Over 95 percent of the class will be taught by those three instructors. We're there just over-watching, that's it. If the Iraqis get a new piece of equipment they are unfamiliar with, these three Iraqis can grab that piece of equipment develop their own class and go teach it to anybody.”
The class is a balance of classroom-based instruction and practical exercise. Together, the group has conducted three riot control classes and four NCO classes. The course lasts one month, and then the soldiers return to their brigades where they teach their peers the skills that they have learned. The classes take place at Camp Sparrowhawk, the 10th Iraqi Army Headquarters, just outside of the city of Amarah.
Each class is comprised of 10 NCOs from each of the four brigades within 10th Iraqi Army Division. Students must be selected by their chain of command, demonstrate exceptional potential, and be able to read and write.
The course develops skills in the IA NCO Corps that enable each student to serve as a subject matter expert in training and leadership. Although many of the topics of instruction are basic skills, the course is not intended to only train these skills, but to enable the students to instruct, lead, and demonstrate proficiency in order to develop their leadership.
Topics covered include mounted recon and security, land navigation, first aid, weapons employment, M-16 rifle zero and qualification ranges, check-point operations, and battle drills.
One thing that stuck out for Mortenson was that the younger generation of Iraqis, are really quick to pick up on things, but cultural norms can inhibit these young leaders from getting opportunities to prove themselves. Even so, their efforts are already being noticed.
“We learn from each other,” Mortenson said. “You've got to judge each person as an individual. You've got to get to know the people. These three instructors I've been working with the whole time, we've actually developed a friendship.”
| Date Taken: | 09.17.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 09.26.2011 07:30 |
| Story ID: | 77589 |
| Location: | CONTINGENCY OPERATING STATION GARRY OWEN, IQ |
| Web Views: | 32 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, ‘Warhorse’ proudly partners with Iraqi Army NCO Corps, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
