This stuff never makes CNN, but some good things *are* happening!

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3rd ID Soldiers help ready Iraqi Forces

Story by Spc. Ben Brody, 2nd Brigade Combat Team

Staff Sgt. Mark Scott, 3/7 Cav., inspects an Iraqi Army Soldier's rifle with the
Soldier's platoon sergeant. The IA Soldiers lined up for pre-combat checks
before heading out on a security patrol from Camp Volunteer, Iraq, Feb. 22. U.S.
Army photo by Spc. Ben Brody CAMP VOLUNTEER, Iraq – As the new Iraqi government
continues to develop, the fledgling Iraqi Army is beginning to hold its own and
take increasing responsibility for securing the country, with the support of
U.S. troops.

Soldiers from 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry, are helping to train 305th Battalion,
an Iraqi Army unit, on areas ranging from basic Soldier skills to effective
leadership.

The Soldiers of the 305th are stationed at Camp Volunteer, in Baghdad, and are
responsible for securing the peace in two mid-sized sectors of the city.

“We’re focusing on basic combat and patrolling skills for junior Iraqi Soldiers,
and helping develop (noncommissioned officers) and junior officers into good
leaders,” said Capt. James Turner, A Troop, 3/7 Cav., commander. “Iraqi Soldiers
are like any other Soldiers – they do very well under good leadership.”

Previous coalition units have taught these IA troops how to first function as a
platoon, then as a company. Now, 3/7 will oversee the 305th learning how to
react as a battalion.

“I don’t foresee any major obstacles, beyond the normal hiccups when you
integrate two different units,” Turner, a North Branch, Mich., native, said.
“The best thing at this stage is watching the Iraqi Soldiers really internalize
the training and the mindset that they are fighting for the good of their
country.”

Language barriers slow the training down, but 3/7 has interpreters and some
Iraqi Soldiers speak very good English. One such individual is 1st Lt. Yarub
al-Taweed, 305th,security platoon leader.

“Our unit has come a long way over the past year – and our responsibilities have
increased accordingly,” al-Taweed said. “When we formed the unit, we didn’t have
vehicles or armor, and now we’ve got (body) armor with plates, trucks and heavy
weapons. We’ve had a lot of success on patrols because of our training, but
mostly because we know the areas, we know the people and speak the language.”

He said the success of the recent elections has raised public opinion of the IA
considerably.

“Different people have different views of us, but before the elections, we were
not very popular with Iraqis,” al-Taweed said. “The elections gave us a chance
to prove that we can protect people and want a secure Iraq. Now we are enjoying
some more support. What they will think tomorrow, I don’t know.”

The young officer said he hopes to eventually see the cities secured by police,
and the Iraqi Army defending the country’s long, porous border.

“People can see we are working hard,” he said. “If you are good and fair to the
people, they will be good and fair to you.”

As a small assembly of IA troops prepared to leave Volunteer for a security
patrol, A Troop’s Staff Sgt. Mark Scott helped them check their weapons and
vehicles.

Scott, along with the Soldiers’ platoon sergeant, inspected the pickup trucks’
fluid levels and condition. The two made sure the drivers knew how to perform
preventive maintenance checks and services to Army standard.Staff Sgt. Mark
Scott, 3/7 Cav., instructs an Iraqi Army Soldier as he performs a pre-combat
check on his vehicle at Camp Volunteer, Iraq, Feb. 22. U.S. Army photo by Spc.
Ben Brody.

“Your mission is a patrol, but before you can accomplish that, your mission is
to make sure everyone is ready,” Smith told the NCO through an interpreter.
“Make your Soldiers do the right thing and eventually they’ll do it on their
own.”

Scott, a sniper section NCO from Syracuse, N.Y., has spent time teaching IA
leaders to utilize army rank structure to their advantage.

“What we saw was the officers trying to micromanage everything down to the
individual Soldiers,” Scott said. “I told them, ‘let your first sergeant manage
the company’s Soldiers, let a platoon sergeant handle his platoon, let the squad
leaders take care of their squads.’ Now the commander sets company policy, and
the first sergeant enforces it, which works much better.

“There are some promising leaders in the 305th that really believe in what
they’re doing,” he added. “I’ve got a first sergeant, who goes by the nickname
‘Wolf,’ who keeps his troops in line like no other. You can just tell by looking
at him – he’s the man.”

Scott and others from 3/7 will continue to work with the 305th throughout the
year, and further refine the battalion’s capabilities.

Hopeful for the future of Iraq, al-Taweed said he thinks the terrorists he
fights will gradually disappear as people find jobs and can enjoy their
freedoms.


John H

On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD,
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

"Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it."
Rene Descartes