In this edition: Growing Iraqi Navy Crucial to Oil Security
‘Sergeants Time’ Strengthens IA Efficiency
Alsalam Hospital's Broken Windows Replaced
1st Iraqi Army EOD destroys munitions from Karmah cache (Karmah)
Citizen’s tip leads to explosives
Sons of Iraq learn new skills at DDR center
10th IA graduates first civil affairs class (Taji)
IA Soldiers Hone Combat Medical Skills
Iraqi Soldiers work quickly to treat a simulated casualty as the room they are in fills up with smoke during combat lifesaver training at Joint Security Station Salam, March 25. Photo by Sgt. Joshua Risner, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
BAGHDAD — U.S. Soldiers of the 6th Iraqi Army (IA) Division’s Military Transition Team (MiTT) 
recently hosted a combat lifesaver class intended to help the IA to shoulder more of the load as Coalition forces responsibly withdraw.
MiTT members taught a variety of first aid techniques including treatment of head trauma, fractures, impaled objects and controlling bleeding.
“Basically [the goal of the] training that we conducted is…to combine the experience of the Iraqi medics along with the American medics,” said Sgt. 1st Class Gary Petty, medical advisor, 6th IA Div. MiTT. “We’re trying to get them trained on trauma-type situations; things they can carry out on the battlefield.”
The Iraqis also received instruction on Tactical Combat Casualty Care, according to Sgt. 1st Class
Victor Orozco, a medical advisor with 6th IA Div. MiTT. “TC-3 is one of the new things the Army came up with; basically it describes phases of care,” he said. “It deals with care under fire … you’re out on patrol and someone goes down - what do you do? It refreshes perspective. You don’t stop what you do to take care of the casualty, you continue to fight.”
Administering intravenous fluids, a mainstay of the combat lifesaver class, was a highlight, according to Petty, originally from Merritt Island, Fla.
“For the I.V. sticks, the majority of the students we had have never done an I.V. before so it was a little interesting,” he said. “What we did was incorporate the [Iraqi] medics from the Engineer Battalion and the [Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance] Battalion, we allowed them to get involved and take charge of helping their own Soldiers conduct the I.V. training.”
To further put the IA Soldiers at ease when working with needles, Petty demonstrated his trust in the Iraqis by letting one of their medics, Sgt. Maj. Shakir Kenyab Moktaf Farhan, 6th IA Div., administer an I.V. on him.
Needles notwithstanding, most of the Iraqi Soldiers had no medical experience at all, according to Petty.
“I’d say that for 90 to 95 percent of the students, it was their first medical training; the only people who had medical training were the actual medics,” he said. “They grasped the concept very fast, which I was pretty surprised. They were willing to learn, they were very motivated and it showed in the training.”
In addition to the regular Soldiers, 6th IA Div. medics received instruction on teaching techniques so they can instruct their own Soldiers without the help of Coalition forces in the future.
The training culminated with the IA Soldiers participated in a capstone exercise designed to put all their newly-learned skills to the test.
“We want them to be able to think on their feet, not just talking in a classroom, but when they get into scenarios, they have to be able to think and process as it goes,” said Sgt. 1st Class Preston Grant, Karkh Area Command liaison, 6th IA Div. MiTT.
The finale consisted of three separate scenarios: a mass casualty situation; a room clearing exercise with casualties; and an improvised explosive device explosion.
“For the guys that don’t have a medic, at least they can have someone that does have some type of medical training that can take care of a person while out on a mission,” Petty said.
(By Sgt. Joshua Risner, Multi-National Division – Baghdad)
Growing Iraqi Navy Crucial to Oil Security
Saturday, 28 March 2009 By Tim Kilbride, Special to American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON — More than 80 percent of Iraq’s revenue comes from the sale of oil channeled through two platforms in the Persian Gulf, and defense of those resources is critical to Iraqi national security, a Coalition naval advisor said.
Developing a professional naval force capable of various maritime duties is essential to safeguarding the flow of oil from Iraq, British Royal Navy Capt. Nick Hine told bloggers and online journalists during a “DoDLive” bloggers roundtable, March 25. Hine directs the Coalition Naval Advisor and Training Team, part of Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq (MNSTC-I).
In its mission to build and train the Iraqi Navy to defend Iraq’s territorial waters, essential infrastructure and shipping lanes, the Coalition splits operations between Baghdad and southern Iraq. Strategic plans and decisions are handled from the capital, while operational and tactical-level training takes place at Iraq’s sole naval base, located at the port of Umm Qasr in Basrah province.
“MNSTC-I works as advisors to the Iraqi Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior to help develop the Iraqi Security Force into a well-trained and professional force, one that is capable of protecting the citizens of Iraq and its vital infrastructure components,” Hine explained.
There are currently two oil platforms inside Iraq’s territorial waters, both relatively close to the Iraqi coastline, Hine said.
“They currently provide, depending on who you talk to, between … 80 and 90 percent of Iraq’s revenue. As you know, the Iraqi economy is largely oil-based,” Hine said. A third offshore platform is planned for completion in 2010, he said.
“I suspect that over time the majority of Iraq's oil will continue to be provided via maritime means,” Hine said.
In addition to Hine’s team, the Iraqi Navy coordinates with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command to facilitate operations in the Persian Gulf. Though the Iraqis are responsible for their own operational planning, liaison with the U.S. Navy ensures that “everything fits together in a seamless way,” Hine said.
“You can imagine that the [territorial] waters of Iraq are a relatively busy place. There are lots of vessels trying to get to the oil platforms to embark oil. There are lots of fishing vessels. There's lots of merchant-vessel traffic. And of course, there is always the proximity to other countries: Kuwait and Iran,” Hine said. “This all has to fit in, in terms of a wider picture.”
The Iraqi Navy must continue to grow to fulfill its mission independently, Hine said. At its current level of 1,974 people, its size is on par with the Iraqi Air Force.
Capabilities in areas like intelligence, engineering and construction support are necessary for full, independent operational sustainability and are being developed with Coalition assistance, but at present are “very much in the embryonic stage,” Hine said. Developing those capabilities will be a priority in 2009 and 2010, he said.
Equipping the Navy is proceeding at pace. The Iraqis recently took delivery of six 30-foot Defender Class boats -- “effectively a speedboat, for want of a better name,” Hine said. Twenty additional Defender Class boats will be delivered over the course of the next few months. In addition, the Navy is about to take delivery of 24 slightly smaller fast-assault boats, he said.
Four 53-meter patrol ships are under contract from Italy and expected to sail by mid-year, Hine said. The first of the Iraqi crews for those ships is currently in Italy undergoing training. The patrol ships will be the largest ships in the Iraqi Navy.
At present, the Iraqi Navy does not have a dedicated aviation capability, Hine said. They have plans to deliver both a maritime surveillance capability and support-helicopter lift capability, but both are in the requirements stage. To deliver these capabilities, the Navy may partner with the Iraqi Air Force, Hine said.
(Tim Kilbride is assigned to the Defense Media Activity’s Emerging Media Directorate.)
‘Sergeants Time’ Strengthens IA Efficiency |
| Saturday, 28 March 2009 | |
Multi-National Division – Center Release
Army Spc. Daniel S. Mutchler shows Iraqi Soldiers how to properly tie down an OE-254 antenna during the 172nd Infantry Brigade’s first Iraqi Army "Sergeant’s Time" training at the Iraqi Army compound on Patrol Base Hilla, March 17, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael J. Taylor.
PATROL BASE HILLA — The Iraqi Army’s 31st Brigade chose its best and brightest Soldiers to attend the first "Sergeant’s Time" training at the IA compound at Patrol Base Hilla, March 16-18. The 172nd Infantry Brigade developed this training as a way to teach IA Soldiers basic skills that military personnel at every skill level should know. The U.S. Army calls this "Warrior Task Training." The 172nd used this month’s Sergeant’s Time to give IA Soldiers training in the communications field. They learned how to load frequencies into their radios, how to put a frequency in single channel plain text, how to switch their radios from single channel to frequency hop and how to assemble and disassemble an OE-254 antenna. “We started the classes by trying to teach them the basics of trouble shooting,” said Spc. Daniel S. Mutchler, signal support systems specialist and IA Sergeant’s Time instructor with 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment. “The IA Soldiers were very, very eager to learn,” Mutchler said. “Literally within 15 minutes of arriving to conduct the training, we were asked to take a look at their Harris Radios, which they thought were broken.” “We were able to fix the problem fast and easy,” he continued. “Seeing this showed the IA Soldiers that we knew what we were doing and in return made them more receptive to our training.” The 172nd Inf. Bde. expects to make IA Sergeant’s Time training an ongoing event. In the upcoming months, the Soldiers will learn basic-level skills in areas such as first aid, weapons maintenance and map reading, among others. The 172nd trainers hope to use this training to develop a more self-sustaining IA force capable of accomplishing basic skill-level tasks, which will ultimately make them better Soldiers for their Army’s future. “They received this training well,” said Sgt. Larry E. Carroll, Sergeant’s Time noncommissioned officer-in-charge with the 172nd Inf. Bde. “They asked questions, gave us input and accomplished all tasks with enthusiasm.” “This is the first time this training has been conducted and like anything else just beginning, it has room for improvement,” Carroll continued. “The thing to take away from this is that the Soldiers are willing and capable of learning and improving.” |
Commandos
Alsalam Hospital's Broken Windows Replaced
Saturday, 28 March 2009
Multi-National Division – North Release
FOB MAREZ — Coalition forces, through coordination with Iraqi provincial leadership, paid a visit to the Alsalam Hospital in southeastern Mosul to review an ongoing window-replacement project, March 17.
“Unfortunately, the Alsalam Hospital in Mosul was damaged by the blast and concussion of nearby IEDs,” said Lt. Col. Kirk Fernitz, the deputy chief of the Mosul Reconstruction Operations Center, 4th Infantry Division. “Assisting the hospital with structural repairs and improving its appearance is important in enticing patients to seek treatment there, which keeps the hospital in business and attracts future health care applicants.”
Fernitz said that projects like this are showing the citizens of Mosul that the government [of Iraq] is capable of and genuinely interested in improving the health and welfare of its citizens.
Besides overseeing local reconstruction projects, the Mosul Reconstruction Operations Center has been helping with the development of the province’s respective director generals through a process called Civil Capacity Building.
“The key to Civil Capacity Building is for the Iraqi leadership to develop the capacity to coordinate and to independently work out their issues,” Fernitz said. “Once the Iraqis are consistent with the process and can ‘catch their own fish,’ we consider our job done.”
Units who operate in Ninewa nominate projects which are presented by the MROC to the director generals for approval. MROC members also provide assets to the director generals, such as engineers, to execute the projects.
Along with replacing the windows in the Alsalam Hospital, the local government has ensured that chlorine is delivered every month to the four water treatments facilities in Mosul, oversees ongoing trash and rubble removal projects, and repairs water lines, Fernitz said.
Framed
1st Iraqi Army EOD destroys munitions from Karmah cache (Karmah)
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq – Iraqi soldiers from 2nd Battalion, Quick Reaction Force 1, 1st Iraqi Army Division, discovered a large weapons cache in the Karmah region March 22.
The cache yielded 23 mortar rounds, 26 mortar tubes, more than 120 rockets, 69 155mm projectiles, 140 rounds of 14.5mm ammunition and 250 possible land mines.
The contents of the cache were transported to the battalion’s command post where U.S. Marines from the 1st Iraqi Army Military Transition Team verified the cache and the Iraqi Army’s explosive ordnance disposal team conducted a controlled detonation to destroy the munitions.
Citizen’s tip leads to explosives
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Army Soldiers and Multi-National Division –Baghdad Paratroopers discovered a weapons cache March 26 while conducting operations in the Rusafa district of eastern Baghdad.
IA Soldiers and Paratroopers from Troop A, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division discovered a cache in the district after receiving a tip from a concerned Iraqi citizen.
They safely removed 11 rocket propelled grenades, five 82 mm mortar, four RPG propellant tubes and additional bomb-making components.
The joint patrol safely transported the munitions to a nearby Iraqi Army compound.
Sons of Iraq learn new skills at DDR center
BAGHDAD – The classrooms bustle with activity as former Sons of Iraq members attend a Demobilization, Demilitarization and Reintegration Center to learn the skills necessary to thrive in the local community.
This DDR Center in western Adhamiyah teaches courses in surveying, electricity, mechanics, generator repair and solar energy.
“We here in Adhamiyah are so happy Coalition forces are supporting this project. The project helps the people of Adhamiyah by providing trade skills to local unemployed people. After graduating the program, they continue to assist the people of Adhamiyah by providing a local work force,” stated Dr. Mokdad Hassan, a local tribal support council member.
Each of the muhallas, or neighborhoods, is allowed to nominate ten names for attendance to each cycle of the DDR program. There are four DDR centers in the district of Adhamiyah that all focus on a different trade skill.
While attending a six-month class rotation, each student receives a monthly stipend of $350. At the end of the program, after passing the final exam, the students are awarded certificates of completion.
The program is designed to take selected SoI members from their checkpoints to the classrooms. The goal is to provide them with essential job skills that are in high demand.
10th IA graduates first civil affairs class (Taji)
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq – The Iraqi Army 10th Division graduated 21 students from its first civil affairs course at Camp Dhi Qar March 19.
The class is normally taught at Camp Taji, just north of Baghdad, but military leaders realized it would be easier to mobilize a group of instructors from the civil affairs academy than it would be to send the 21-man class north.
While the five-day class was short compared to other courses, the IA civil affairs specialists learned techniques on how to deliver important and fundamental needs to the country’s citizens.
“We learned how to treat people and how to help those in need,” said Iraqi Sgt. Maj. Muhammad Favel, a graduate of the course. “We will build the relationship between us and the civilian community.”
However, these freshly-trained troops have a difficult path ahead of them, according to one of their instructors’ senior leaders.
“We work with one of the hardest parts of war,” said Lt. Col. Kelly Thrasher, deputy of civilian-information management, 304th Civil Affairs Brigade. “We work with people. If we don’t win the hearts and minds of the people, the people will follow someone else.”
Getting Iraq’s citizenry involved in securing their own homeland has been the 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division’s focus since they assumed responsibility of the southern Iraqi tri-province region last June.
“Civil-military operations help secure the victory,” said Lt. Col. Charles Anderson, deputy operations officer,304th Civil Affairs Bde..
His unit’s instructors reinforced the concept that through caring for the local community and grassroots efforts, Iraqi citizens will reciprocate by getting involved with restoring their country.
“Now I can share my knowledge with my [fellow soldiers],” said Iraqi Sgt. Maj. Muhammad Aneed, one of the graduates. “We will build a good relationship between the Iraqi Army and the citizens. We’ve helped people in the Maysan province with the Americans’ assistance.”
The graduates are set to return to their units to share their recently acquired knowledge with fellow Soldiers.
Stumble It!
