Iraqi soldiers assume responsibilities in guarding country
MOSUL, Iraq (October 2, 2003) – Coalition soldiers relinquished security and guarding responsibilities of Objective Jaguar, an ammo supply point, to the soldiers from Delta Company, part of the Iraq Civil Defense Corps in a relief in place ceremony Wednesday.
The ammo supply point that the Iraqis will guard is 12 square kilometers, and has been guarded by 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) for the last five months, Pelts said.
“The mission to secure the ammo supply point is important…it’s larger then the city of Mosul,” said Lt. Col. Kevin Felix, commander, 2nd Bn., 320th FA.
Besides Obj. Jaguar, the ICDC will secure the nearby Al Hatra hotel as well as 2,000 year-old ruins that are in the area, said Staff Sgt. Ricardo Mendez, cadre member, Headquarters and Service Battery, 2nd Bn., 320th FA.
“The ICDC is the cornerstone to building the new Iraq,’ said Staff Sgt. Joseph Gullett, cadre leader, HSB, 2nd Bn., 320th FA.
The Soldiers of the ICDC underwent two phases of training by American soldiers. First they spent two weeks in a basic training camp at Camp Claiborne in Mosul. Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) trained the Iraqis in marksmanship, Drill and Ceremony and other military disciplines.
After a period of leave for the Iraqis, soldiers from 2nd Bn., 320th FA, took the soldiers to Obj. Jaguar, outside of the village of Al Hatra, for another week of training.
The eight cadre members continued with marksmanship training and physical training and first aid, Mendez said.
In addition, the Iraqis were given classes on running observation posts, gate guarding, detaining people and searching vehicles, Gullett said.
“It was a new experience and it was fun,” said Staff Sgt. Terrele McGhee, cadre member, HSB, 2nd Bn., 320th FA.
“Training has been mostly easy, but also difficult at times because of the language barrier,” said Warrant Officer Denis Pelts, ICDC officer in charge, HSB, 2nd Bn., 320th FA.
The training of the ICDC gave the American and Iraqi soldiers a chance to get to know each other and learn from the different cultures. The Iraqis showed a desire to learn what they could.
“I’m very proud of the Iraqis, they’re quick learners,” Mendez said. “And they’re very proud of themselves, they know what they’re doing and they have good leadership.”
“They have great leadership and motivation,” Pelts said. “With the limited amount of training they got they’re outstanding.”
The relief in place ceremony marks a change that is occurring all over northern Iraq, Iraqis taking responsibility and care of their own country. The goal of the 101st is to eventually have the Iraqis able to run their country without assistance from coalition forces.
“This is important because it represents assumption of responsibility by Iraqi forces,” said Col. Ben Hodges, commander, 1st Brigade, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). “(The transition has) gone surprisingly smooth, I’m very encouraged.”
“The ICDC is the key to rebuilding and stabilizing Iraq,” Pelts said.
With the ICDC taking over securing sites in the Al Hatra area, the 101st soldiers will take a supervisory role, making sure in the upcoming months that everything goes well as more responsibility is transferred to the Iraqis, Gullett said.
