Team from fort deploys to train Iraqis

Sierra Vista Herald, Sierra Vista Arizona ^ | Oct 5, 2005 | Bill Hess

[SandRat]

CAMP VIRGINIA, Kuwait, -- Iraqi soldiers will learn how to obtain and use human intelligence information from a Fort Huachuca mobile training team.

The first course for between 75 and 100 selected and vetted Iraqis will begin within a week at an undisclosed location in Iraq, said Maj. Eric Haupt, operations officer for the 309th Military Battalion.

The Iraqis must be able to identify those within their country causing problems. To do that, they have to know who the trouble-makers are and how they operate, Haupt said.

Although many insurgents are Iraqis, a number of foreign fighters have infiltrated into Iraq.

The Iraqis must address understanding how the foreign fighters think, organize and operate, the major said.

"They (the Iraqis) are dealing with people with so many different aspects," he said.

The more the Iraqis are aware, the better they can counter those bent on stopping democracy in Iraq, and the better the chances freedom will prevail, Haupt said.

The benefit for the United States is that another step in making the people of Iraq responsible for their own future, he said.

"The (U.S.) Army wants to help them take on more of the fight," Haupt said. "That 's where our team comes in."

Capt. Jeff Chase, who is the team leader, said the object is "to do what it takes to help them." He said five soldiers and a Department of the Army civilian will constitute the team.

Haupt will be with the group for a short period before returning to Arizona. Five of the six are from the 309th, and the other team member is from the 304th Military Intelligence Battalion, which will remain in Iraq until early next year.

The seven from the Intelligence Center flew to Iraq on a civilian contract flight that took about 130 soldiers of the 11th Signal Brigade over for a year tour.

The 11th will spend a couple of weeks in Kuwait for additional training before heading to Iraq. However, the intelligence team is expected to be in Iraq in a couple of days.

Haupt said Maj. Gen. Barbara Fast, commander of the Intelligence Center and Fort Huachuca, has two top priorities whenever mobile training teams are sent. The first goal is supporting the Army at war. The second is training those who will fight.

The call for a special human intelligence team came from field commanders, the major said.

The need for Iraqis to obtain intelligence information and how to analyze it is important, Haupt said. The team will be explaining how to do it, not establishing policies and procedures based on U.S. Army doctrine.

The motive for training the Iraqis is to help the United States develop a "higher exit strategy," he said.

The Intelligence Center isn't alone in sending mobile training teams. Other Training and Doctrine Command installations in establishing a new Iraqi military are making similar efforts, Haupt said.

Chase, who is the commander of Company A, 309th Military Intelligence Battalion, remarked the intelligence team "will accomplish the mission."

Haupt added knowing all that is possible about an enemy is important in the human intelligence arena.

The Iraqis must understand that, too, he said.

"If you can't find it (an enemy), you can't capture it, kill it or contain it," Haupt said.

HERALD/REVIEW senior reporter Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615 or by e-mail at bill.hess@svherald.com.

[SandRat]

Some actions that will lead to more good news.

[Marine_Uncle]

Interesting. Again another part of the Iraqi military that must be built up and become self sufficient and in this case obviously understand now to effectively work in Intel and Counter Intel. They are going to be receiving training no Iraqi ever had before and get software tools they would only have dreamed of, for those that have a clue. Eventually their Intel groups will have our vast Army and Marine databases for their own use probably, and be able to effectively add to it as they work toward wiping out the insurgent reminents. A good deal all around I would say.

[E.G.C.]

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