A line-up of weapons and munitions from a cache Iraqi Police uncovered south of Mosul Tuesday morning is being accounted for before destruction. U.S. Army
Soldiers in Mosul detain insurgents, rescue hostage, find caches
MOSUL, Iraq (Army News Service, June 13, 2005) -- Coalition forces detained 36 suspected terrorists in Mosul, Iraq this past week, rescued a hostage and found seven weapons caches.
A cordon and search operation in southeastern Mosul June 9, conducted because of a lead provided by an Iraqi citizen, led to the rescue of a local reporter who was being held hostage.
To rescue the hostage, the Iraqi Intervention Force overcame a small-arms fire attack from terrorists leaving the house. The IIF also detained an individual suspected of being involved in the kidnapping. The hostage was treated for minor injuries sustained during the kidnapping. The IIF confiscated a number of weapons and other material from the kidnappers’ house.
Coalition forces detained the leader of the Mosul-based Ansar Al-Sunnah terror cell, Mullah Mahdi, and four of his associates during cordon and search operations in Mosul June 7.
Mahdi is wanted in connection with multiple terror attacks in Mosul including kidnappings, attacks on polling stations, mortar attacks on Multi-National Forces and the suspected murder of local government officials.
Three individuals were detained as terrorist suspects by U.S. Soldiers and Iraqi troops during a cordon and search operation in eastern Mosul June 7.
Others suspected of terrorism were detained June 7 by U.S. Soldiers and Iraqi troops. They include an individual detained during a cordon and search operation south of Qayyarah, two suspects detained during a cordon and search operation in southeastern Mosul, five individuals suspected of terrorist activity during a cordon and search operation west of Mosul, two suspects found during a raid in Tal Afar and one individual detained at a checkpoint in eastern Mosul.
Five suspected of terrorism were detained June 9 during a raid in southern Mosul, and four 4 individuals were detained at a checkpoint south of Tal Afar.
Local Sheiks turned in a terrorist suspect to U.S. forces June 11. This was the second time that sheiks have banded together to turn in terror suspects to security forces.
That same day, U.S. Soldiers detained three individuals suspected of terrorist activity during a cordon and search operation south of Qayyarah. The suspects are in custody.
Five individuals suspected of terrorist activity were taken into custody June 13 during separate operations in western Mosul.
Iraqi Police seized a large weapons cache during a search operation in southern Mosul June 7. The cache included several rocket-propelled grenades, artillery rounds, mortar rounds and rockets, RPG launchers and other firing systems, artillery fuses, 1,000 mortar charges, and 1,000 rounds of small arms ammunition. The confiscated weapons will be destroyed, officials said.
A weapons cache -- including artillery shells, rockets, and a number of 5,000-pound bombs -- was seized June 8 in northeastern Mosul by U.S. Soldiers. The weapons were confiscated for future destruction.
U.S. Soldiers and Iraqi forces seized a weapons cache June 11 during a cordon and search operation in western Mosul, and U.S. Soldiers seized a weapons cache while on patrol south of Mosul. The weapons were confiscated for future destruction.
Tips from concerned Iraqi citizens have led to the seizure of a number of weapons caches. Iraqi troops seized a cache June 13 during a search operation northeast of Tal Afar based on a citizen’s tip, and another tip from a Tal Afar resident led to the seizure of a weapons cache, which included a rigged car bomb. The weapons were confiscated for future destruction, officials said.
(Editor's note: Information from a number of news releases was combined by ARNEWS correspondent Carrie David for this article.)
Soldiers complete first 91W transition course in Iraq By Staff Sgt. Christopher Williams
BALAD, Iraq (Army News Service, June 13, 2005) – Soldiers from various units across Iraq came to Logistics Support Area Anaconda in May to complete the first course in theater to transition medics and practical nurses to the new 91W healthcare occupational specialty.
The Army Medical Department implemented the transition program in 2001, seeking to transform all 91B (medics) and 91C (practical nurses) into 91Ws. About 20,000 Soldiers worldwide have transitioned to the new military occupational specialty, according to the Army Medical Command.
Eight Soldiers completed the 23-day transition course in Iraq offered by the Combat Medical Training Center, 44th Medical Command.
The course challenged them with grueling coursework and hands-on practical applications. The Soldiers were given 15 examinations over the course of the program which included modules in basic life support, the National Registry for Emergency Medical Technicians, Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support and Trauma AIMS, short for Advanced airway, Intravenous therapy, Medications and pharmacology and Shock management.
Under the AMEDD’s new program, medics and practical nurses must complete the 91W transition by the year 2007, said Col. Dennis Driscoll, program director for CMTC, 44th MEDCOM. Those who fail to complete the transition will be considered non-MOS-qualified and forced to reclassify at the needs of the Army.
The 91W transition program is a long and comprehensive series of training blocks that gives medics and practical nurses the necessary skills to function on and off the battlefield.
“There weren’t enough medics to fill combat positions and there weren’t enough nurses to fill the clinical positions,” said Staff Sgt. Randall L. Scales, lead instructor, CMTC, 44th MEDCOM. “AMEDD came up with a solution to create one MOS that encompasses both the battlefield and clinical settings.”
The 44th MEDCOM’s Combat Medical Training Center at LSA Anaconda is the first and only medical training center of its kind in theater. Frequent and longer deployments have made the CMTC a valuable asset to the Army and the Soldiers it trains.
“We are the first to offer the transition training to medics while in theater,” said Driscoll. “In doing so, we’ve given Soldiers the opportunity to enhance their skills as well as continue to support their unit’s mission while deployed.”
Although a slightly different MOS, medics and practical nurses will still be able to specialize in other medical disciplines and can be recognized for doing so.
“The 91Cs will still be practical nurses,” Scales said. “Except now they’ll be a 91W with an M6 additional skill identifier and also have the skill sets to perform on the battlefield.”
The transition can be a lengthy process and varies from skill level to skill level. Some medical NCOs only have to complete certain portions of the 91W transition, while most need to go through the entire course.
“Back in the states, the training can take as long as six months to complete whereas here we get the Soldiers through it in about three weeks,” said Scales.
As impossible as it may seem, said Scales, the Soldiers had no trouble getting through the intense training. With little or no distractions due to work or personal issues, he added, the Soldiers were able to focus on the training and the training alone.
During the graduation ceremony leaders and supporters of the eight graduates filled the auditorium seats.
Driscoll thanked the commanders and NCOs in attendance for supporting the CMTC’s program and commended them for fostering the development of their own Soldiers.
“This training is something that the medics must do in order to remain MOS qualified and we appreciate the commanders for supporting this requirement,” said Driscoll.
Driscoll said that there’s more to this program than just fulfilling professional development requirements.
“The real reason behind this program is to put the best medics in the Army out on the battlefield,” he said. “With these eight Soldiers, I think we’ve started to do just that.”
The graduation ceremony for the transition program took place at the LSA Anaconda auditorium on May 28.
Graduating from the 91W-Transition course were: Sgt. 1st Class Michael Priebe, 411th CA Bn.; Sgt. Marquis Arnold, 1-13 Armor; Sgt. Eric Ashmore, 50th MEDEVAC; Sgt. Karolina Loyewska, 443rd CA Bn.; Sgt. Melissa Olson, HSC, 92nd Eng. Bn.; Spc. Frank Goodnight, HHC, 29th BCT; Spc. Jasmine Ocampo, HHC, 29th BCT; Pfc. Thomas Else, 546th ASMB.
(Staff Sgt. Christopher Williams is a member of the 27th Public Affairs Detachment.)