Skip to comments.
U.S. Soldiers, Iraqi Sailors Secure Shores
American Forces Press Service ^
| Spc. Samuel Soza, USA
Posted on 12/09/2009 3:09:20 PM PST by SandRat
FAW, Iraq, Dec. 9, 2009 Iraqi security forces are constantly stepping up their role in the protection of Iraq, from the heart of the country out to the borders, where the Iraqi coast border guard can be found at work with U.S. Army border transition teams.
Iraqi Gen. Shehab discusses training options, such as close-quarters combat and detainee operations, offered by the U.S. Army border transition team, Dec. 3, 2009. Shehab and other leaders of the Iraqi coastal border guard work with the border transition team to train Iraqi troops in maintaining security of Iraqs border with Iran. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Samuel Soza (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. |
|
Our primary mission is to coach, teach and mentor Iraqis as we get ready to transition out of Iraq and let them take complete control over their own security, said Army Capt. Matt Hagerman, chief of a border transition team that works with the 17th Fires Brigade.
To meet that goal, the teams share their assets -- physical and intellectual -- to help the Iraqis create a force that can operate long-term.
The coast border guard consists of four boat groups and a land-based battalion that patrols the land along the Shat al-Arab the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers -- and the costal border with Iran from Faw to Basra.
During a recent trip to the coast border guard headquarters, Hagerman and a team of soldiers brought an assortment of training subjects to Gen. Shehab, a key leader in the Iraqi force. Together, they created a curriculum, meant to be taught in the hours between patrols, that will supplement longer courses taught by the U.S. Navys Riverine Squadron 3 that focus on water operations.
The classes that we teach primarily focus on the land battalion, but are also classes that can be water or land, such as basic first aid or detainee operations, said Hagerman, a Williamsville, N.Y. native.
Other classes the border transition teams teach include radio and communication operations, targeting and close-quarters combat. Were there now to help them improve as an organization, like you would for any friend and any ally, Hagerman said.
One of the greatest challenges has been learning to communicate not just between national cultures, but between naval and Army cultures as well, he said. The two groups have had to learn different vocabulary to understand each other enough to know what sort of information is relevant to the operational goals.
The language barrier is actually not that difficult for us, Hagerman explained. The coastal border guard leadership is an extremely well-educated, intelligent, and dedicated group of Iraqis, he said, many of whom speak English and other languages, such as Chinese and Russian.
With strong leadership and plenty of training, Hagerman said, he finds the greatest satisfaction when he sees the Iraqis in action.
One of the greatest things is when the coastal border guard does something completely independently, he said. He noted a particular instance when the U.S. border transition team was making a trip to meet with the coastal border guard and stumbled upon a large, coordinated training operation, complete with instructors and graders, involving the troops they had been training.
More independent operations will come as the two forces work together to protect the borders of Iraq, Hagerman said.
The partnership is absolutely critical, he said. Not only does it help the long-term security of Iraq, but it also fosters cooperation and understanding between our two countries.
(Army Spc. Samuel Soza serves with the 367th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: frwn; iraq; sailors
1
posted on
12/09/2009 3:09:21 PM PST
by
SandRat
To: MozartLover; Old Sarge; Jemian; repubmom; 91B; HiJinx; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; clintonh8r; ...
FR WAR NEWS!
If you would like to be added to / removed from FRWN,
please FReepmail Sandrat.
WARNING: FRWN can be an EXTREMELY HIGH-VOLUME PING LIST!!
2
posted on
12/09/2009 3:10:26 PM PST
by
SandRat
(Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson