Posted on 05/18/2008 4:44:42 PM PDT by SandRat
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU — Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, conducted training with their IA counterparts at Patrol Base Red May 15 to prepare the IA Soldiers for joint patrols.
The Soldiers of Company D, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, are stationed at PB Red along with the Iraqi company from 6th Battalion, 25th Brigade, 6th IA Division.
“We’re currently training the IA in basic soldiering skills,” said platoon leader and instructor 1st Lt. Christopher Domenico, adding the Soldiers are right out of the Iraqi basic training environment.
“They do know good skills. They can field-strip their AK-47s, they know basic room-clearing skills, and that’s good for us since the training we do here builds on those skills,” said Domenico, a native of Hollywood, Fla. “It’s pretty much reinforcing what they know, then adding on another level of training.”
Room clearing was the focus of the May 15 training, with the Company D Soldiers providing advice and acting as role players while the Iraqi Soldiers practiced the tasks. Working in teams, the IA Soldiers simulated a dismounted patrol and then practiced room-clearing procedures and detaining suspects. This is a skill members of the 1-30th Inf. Regt. have honed during their nearly year-long stay in the area of southern Baghdad Province they are responsible for.
“Today was the final element of training. The next step is getting these guys out in the sector with us,” Domenico said. “In the IA basic combat training they received some of that, but they haven’t had the opportunity until now to get hands-on and understand how it all plays together in an actual mission.”
When the 2nd BCT redeploys later this year, fewer Coalition forces will be stationed in the area and IA forces will take on the role of maintaining security. A crucial part of that mission, Domenico said, will be working with local Sons of Iraq groups, who help keep neighborhoods and routes safe. The SoI man checkpoints and keep weapons and insurgents from flowing back into the area.
“(The SoI) are very helpful toward us,” said Sgt. Abraham Boughner, a Company D Soldier who helped with the training. “When they see (Coalition forces) and (IA) together it will help the transition.”
Domenico said while the local SoI may not be as familiar with the new IA Soldiers, he hoped their common interests would help ease the transition.
“A good thing with the IA is that this is their country and their culture,” Domenico said. “The way we’re dealing with this is taking it in steps … In this particular area, Arab Jabour and al-Buyatha, we’re fortunate because the people want the IA here.”
After the day’s training was finished, the IA welcomed local leaders and members of the SoI for lunch. In the coming days, while on joint patrols with, the American Soldiers will introduce their counterparts to all of the area’s SoI.
“It’s important for them to start interacting. Then we can step back and strictly observe and manage,” Domenico said.
Boughner was pleased with the progress he made in working with the IA Soldiers.
“It’s like any other unit,” Boughner said. “When you first start out you don’t know anybody. You’ve got to build some rapport with them.”
Domenico said he was confident they would work together well. “I see a bunch of motivated Soldiers who want to fight for their country.”
Are they from France or something?
“Rock of the Marne” is the nickname earned by the 3rd US Inf Div for their steadfastness and determination at the battle of the Marne in France during WWII.
I should have known. Now I feel small for being a smart #ss.
Sometimes referred to as the “Audie Murphy Division,” because that’s the Divsion he started in as a slick sleeve PVT and came out of as a CPT with the MOH.
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