Posted on 04/11/2009 3:29:43 PM PDT by SandRat
Staff Sgt. Javier Zapata looks over a sector of fire with an Iraqi Army Soldier. Photo by Sgt. Doug Roles, 28th Infantry Division.
CAMP TAJI — Threats to Soldiers come in all shapes and sizes on the streets and roadways of Iraq. Constant training for the unexpected is the norm.
For Pennsylvania Army National Guard Soldiers, simulating improvised explosive device attacks served as a training objective for their Iraq Army (IA) counterparts, April 7.
The U.S. Soldiers worked with an IA commander for two weeks to conduct individual Soldier task training for an IA logistics platoon. The course culminated with convoy exercises designed for the IA Soldiers to work as a team.
"This was the culmination training for the convoy STX [situational training exercise] lanes," said Capt. William Salisbury, the HHC commander.
Salisbury explained that he and members of his Logistics Tactical Advisory Team asked the IA commander what type of training assistance he would like from Coalition forces for his logistics unit.
"It came up that they wanted convoy training," Salisbury said. "Overall it was a really good step for them toward moving their own convoys and to doing their logistics. It's been really rewarding to help them. I think they're very motivated."
As the convoy made passes through a training area, U.S. Soldiers threw smoke and flash bang grenades in the vicinity of the vehicles; designating a vehicle as being hit by an IED. The IA Soldiers then reacted by completing tasks such as pulling security, tending to any simulated casualties and moving the disabled vehicle to safety.
"Their work ethic is really strong and they learned quickly," said Sgt. Aaron Acevedo of Lancaster, Pa. "Show them something once and they got it. They ate it up. They did excellent. It was a relationship-building experience."
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