Dear Interested Reader,
IA soldiers learn life-saving skills. Salmon Pak Industrial School reopens. NCO's Academy develops stronger IA leaders Proud Dad administers Oath of Enlistment to son. In Afghanistan, 3/8 Marines secure Golestan, and give us a rare view into their daily patrols. Artilleryman follows big brother into military service. MPs start 1st district level type SWAT at FOB Bostick.
Joanna
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April 1, 2009
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Iraqi Army Soldiers Learn Life-saving Skills
Story by Sgt. Joshua Risner
Sgt. 1st Class Gary Petty (right), demonstrates his trust in Iraqi medics, by allowing Sgt. Maj. Shakir Farham, a medic with 6th IA, to administer an I.V.
BAGHDAD – 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. “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. “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 Engr Bn, and the Intel, Surveillance and Recon Bn. 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 with working with needles, Petty demonstrated his trust in the Iraqis by letting one of their medics, Sgt. Maj. Shakir Farhan, 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% 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, IA medics received experience on teaching techniques, so they can instruct their own Soldiers without the help of CF in the future. “Even though we trained the Soldiers, we allowed the Iraqi medics to take charge to show them that, ‘Hey they know this stuff too,’ and they give the exact same training the Americans give,’” said Petty.
The Iraqi medics were given an additional 2 days of training prior to the event to prepare them to teach the class alongside the MiTT team. “We were all on the same sheet of music when we started the training so we worked as one when training the other Iraqi Soldiers, and not as 2 different sections,” said Sgt. 1st Class Preston Grant, Karkh Area Command liaison, 6th IA Div. MiTT. “No matter whether it was an American Soldier or an Iraqi Soldier, we were all training the same thing.”
“The biggest lesson I wanted the Iraqis to take away from the training is to trust in their own medics,” he said. “I like to instill the confidence in their own medics to see how well-trained they are, to allow them to take charge of their own.” To culminate the training, 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,” Grant said.
The finale consisted of 3 separate scenarios: a mass casualty situation; a room clearing exercise with casualties; and an IED explosion. The Iraqis were familiar with some of the training scenarios, but adding casualties was a new touch, according to Orozco. At the end of the exercise, the Iraqis came away with important knowledge, and a good idea of its battlefield applications, Petty added. “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,” he said.
Sgt. 1st Class Gary Petty (left), explains the treatment of an impaled object in the eye.
IA Soldiers work quickly to treat a simulated casualty, March 25, as the room they are in fills up with smoke during combat life saver training at JSS Salam. Visibility quickly became nil as smoke from a high-concentration smoke grenade filled the entire building, encouraging the Soldiers to move with haste.
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MND-B Soldiers, Salman Pak leaders reopen industrial school
Qassi Mrweh (second from left), prepares to cut the ribbon to reopen the Salmon Pak Industrial School.
(Army photos by Maj. Fred Dixon)
BAGHDAD - Soldiers from TF 2nd Bn, 6th Inf Regt, 2nd BCT, 1st Armored Div, attended the grand opening of the Salman Pak Industrial School, March 24.
The Industrial School reopened its doors after major reconstruction work was completed after virtually being destroyed during insurgent led attacks at the height of sectarian violence in 2006-2007. The Industrial school will offer 8 courses available for up to 700 students to learn skills on sewing generator maintenance, welding, automotive repair, plumbing, electrical installation, masonry and carpentry. The Industrial school also received new equipment for a women's sewing room, a machine and metal working section and a computer room.
The Ministry of Education will maintain the building grounds, hire and retain qualified teachers for the school, and provide a full-time guard for the school. "This school has a 30-year history and always represented a chance for learning and helping the youth of the Mada'in progress, but because of the violence in the area after the war, it stopped," said Qassi Mrweh, Mada'in Qada Council Chairman.
"This is an excellent example of cooperation between CF and our Iraqi counter parts in the Mada'in Qada," said Christopher Crowley, mission dir., USAID/Iraq. Local leaders, partnered with MND-B Soldiers, continue to work to bring Salman Pak to its former glory days, when the city was known for the Ctesiphon Arch and city amusement park, and not as a battle ground of sectarian fighting.
The Salman Pak Industrial School boasts new equipment including new sewing machines for the women's sewing room.
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Multi-National Division Baghdad RSS
Non-commissioned Officer's Academy Develops Stronger Iraqi Army Leaders
Story by Spc. Phillip Adam Turner
Makhayel Bey, a civilian advisor with the 11th IA Div MiTT, teaches intel collection and basic topography classes to IA Soldiers, March 22.
BAGHDAD - The mission for MiTTs is a special one. Following in the footsteps of many Soldiers who traveled to distant lands to conduct foreign internal defense missions, they help mold and mentor maturing armed forces to become more self sufficient.
Since the beginning of the war in Iraq, U.S. Army officials saw a need for training the reconstituted Iraqi SF in many military basics. Troop leading procedures, map reading, infantry tactics, and hand to hand combat, are all now standard training initiatives performed by the men and women who now make up the nearly 160 Army MiTT teams currently operating in Iraq.
“The MiTT mission is vital to the stability of Iraq,” said Makhayel Bey. ”We aren't here to be the occupying force. Our job is to teach, train, and mentor the Iraqi force so they can train their own to be a better military, protect their people, and be a more self sufficient military force once we pull out of here.”
Utilizing the Iraqi NCO’s academy, set up by the previous MiTT team, the 11th pushes for a higher standard, while continuing to nurture a growing confidence in their partnership force.
“What we're trying to do is change the imagery from an NCO academy to a TRADOC (Training and Doctrine Command), where we can capture all the material from intel, signal, and computer ops. Anything we can implement to help the 11th IA become more proficient,” said Capt. Charlie Silva, the 11th MiTT intel advisor, from Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico. The idea, by American military standards, is not a revolutionary one. However for the newly-formed IA, learning to conduct business “more constructively” through collective thought and goal oriented processes, is a key training point the 11th MiTT is implementing slowly but assertively. “There is an exchange in culture; a period of earning our counterpart’s trust,” said Silva. “These are very proud individuals, who have plenty of reasons to feel the way that they do. We have to prove they can trust us, before they will sit down and learn from us.”
“So you have to understand that it took the U.S. Army over 200 years to get where we are at. These guys are about 6 or 7 years into the process. The change is not going to come over night, so we have to be patient, and realize how important this training opportunity is, and build that bridge to help get the IA where we know they can be,” Bey added.
Based on this success, the MiTT team has started closer coordination with the main IA school house in Camp Taji, organizing what Silva calls a more cooperative and focused approach for military cmdrs and troop leaders to share knowledge, resulting in a more tactically prepared IA.
“Right now we're focusing on sorting out hang-ups and snags along the way,” said Silva. “It's the small things that are hindering us now, like getting paper work for the class participants submitted in a timely manner.” For Silva and team mates, this innocuous problem is compounded by the fact that a number of his students can not read or write. They are slowly moving toward rectifying these things by working closer with IA cmdrs; offering literacy classes to help speed up the learning process.
“The best part of all of this is at the end of the day, when you finish a program of instruction, a young jundi [Iraqi Soldier] or even an Iraqi officer shakes your hand, and tells you just how much they enjoyed learning. Whether it's instruction on dissecting a crime scene or map analysis, that’s the motivating factor—just seeing the whole learning process and receiving that gratitude,” Bey said. “With every day that passes and every block of instruction, you see just how much you're affecting the big picture,” said Silva. “They always show us something new everyday that lets us know this program and our partnership is heading in the right direction.”
Capt. Charlie Silva (left), gets hands-on with his IA students during a block of instruction on basic troop leading procedures, to include topography, and intel collection.
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Blackanthem Military News
Proud father administers oath of enlistment to 18-year-old son
By Spc. Jeffrey A. Ledesma, Special Ops TF - Central Public Affairs
Pfc. Patrick O'Neil, Jr., takes his oath of enlistment given by his father Capt. Patrick O'Neil, live from Baghdad via video-teleconference, March 20. Pfc. O'Neil is a pre-med student at the University of New Mexico.
BAGHDAD - With the fast-paced deployment cycles Soldiers face today, missing a couple of important milestones is somewhat unavoidable. However, one captain with the Special Ops TF-C was determined not to miss this one.
With people stateside and overseas working hard to make the connection, Capt. Patrick O'Neil, an EO and command surgeon with a SOTF-C detachment, administered the oath of enlistment to his son.
Patrick O'Neil, Jr., who enlisted as an infantryman in the New Mexico Army National Guard said he wants to eventually become a ranger-qualified SF medic. "I realized that I didn't want just a college degree, and became more interested in the military," said the freshman at the University of New Mexico.
Although he has never pushed the military life on his children, Capt. O'Neil said that he was proud to see his eldest son take this step toward his future goals, and was humbled to know his son is joining, fully aware of the possibility of going to war.
"Joining the military in the first place is a life altering choice, so having my dad a part of that moment in my life is very important," Pfc. O'Neil said. "My dad has been a very important part of my life. He has taught me my core values and how to live life to the fullest," the recently enlisted private first class said.
"My wife and I knew that Patrick wanted to do something in the medical field," Capt. O'Neil said. "He has always gravitated towards working in that field and has spoken often of becoming a healthcare professional." However, it did surprise his parents when they discovered he wanted to go infantry before getting his commission later in his career. In addition to the physical and mental challenges it offers, O'Neil, Jr. described the SF community as "the best of the best," and it's what attracted him to this military lifestyle.
"It says that he's willing to sacrifice personal comfort and to temporarily postpone his educational goals to experience enlisted life," Capt. O'Neil said. "I think it's admirable that he wants to serve in the enlisted ranks prior to seeking his commission. I was enlisted for the vast majority of my career, and I've always felt that my time as an enlisted Soldier was invaluable," the surgeon added. "I may be an officer, but my heart and soul will always be with the enlisted side of the house."
During the ceremony, Capt. O'Neil tried not to forget any part of the oath. "It was an important moment for us and I didn't want to ruin it by forgetting a word or two," he explained. After the last words of the oath were spoken, he said he simply felt happy for his son. "I know this is something that he really believes in, and I was just very happy and privileged to be a part of it," Capt. O'Neil said.
"The major influence on my boys came from their mother. I was easily deployed 70% of my entire career," said the father of 2. "She was the one true constant in their lives and, without a doubt, is the major reason my sons are the wonderful people they are." She has been the glue that bonds our family together, he stated.
Capt. Patrick O'Neil gives the oath of enlistment to his 18-year-old son Pfc. Patrick O'Neil, Jr., from Baghdad March 20. The executive officer and command surgeon was enlisted for 16 years before earning his commission in 2000.
(Photo illustration by Spc. Jeffrey A. Ledesma)
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Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq RSS
Patrol in Haswa
Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Wendy Wyman
FOB KALSU
Army Capt. Neyman of Charlie Troop, 1st Sqdrn, 10th Cal Regt, 2nd BCT, 4th ID, and Iraqi soldiers, attempt to locate refugees in need of aid in the Shaka 4 area north of Haswah, March 20.
SoI watch the convoy of U.S. Soldiers from 3rd Plt, Charlie Troop.
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Female Force
Iraqi female recruits disassemble rifles during weapons training for recruits in basic training at the IP Academy in Karbala, March 22.
(Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Wendy Wyman)
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Special Purpose Marine Air Ground TF - Afghanistan RSS
3/8 Marines Secure Golestan
Story by Lance Cpl. Brian D. Jones
A nomadic Afghan family moves back to Golestan, Farah province, March 10. The Marines with the 2nd plt of Co K, 3rd Bn, 8th Marine Regt (Reinforced), the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground TF – Afghanistan, work in Golestan to mentor and train the Afghan NP and provide security for the people of the area. The Marines work diligently to provide safety for the many people who reside in the city’s villages, as well as the nomadic people who are returning there after the winter season.
GOLESTAN – U.S. Marines are diligently working to create conditions for host nation SF to take over while building the locals’ faith in their country’s govt. The plt’s main focus is to provide security throughout Golestan’s valley. It conducts security patrols through the rugged, mountainous terrain, local bazaar and villages, and speaks with the locals Afghans.
“Without you I cannot live and work in this area I'm in,” said Qasim Khan, the district sub-gov., as translated by an interpreter. “One of the first things you created here was safety, and that's the biggest thing. I guarantee you if you weren’t here we wouldn’t be here either, and we want to continue working together to bring more security.”
Khan meets with the Marines often to discuss local issues, in the hopes of finding resolutions. He is grateful for the help his community receives from the Marines. “We all understand you left your children, you left your wives, and have left them to come to a faraway land for me, for our country,” Khan said. “We want security, and we want to live like you do. We pray everyday that you all make it home safely.”
Within Golestan’s valley, there are approx. 10 tribes scattered throughout 15 villages. Many of the villages the Marines patrol to have rarely seen Afghan or alliance forces. “People further away think their govt is weak and believe the insurgency is the only other way,” said Amir Mohammed, the district prosecutor, referring to how easily the people are persuaded to side with insurgents.
The job is very time consuming, but their efforts are not in vain. They are creating conditions in which contractors feel safe enough to work in the area to improve local facilities and infrastructure, according to Cpl. Benjamin Miles, a mortarman assigned to 3/8 who volunteered for the deployment here.
The Marines have few problems dealing with the locals and try to help them with a variety of difficulties they’re trying to overcome. “We try to help them whenever we can as far as food and medical attention, and if they need stuff they can come and ask,” said Lance Cpl. William Hering, a mortarman with the platoon. “We’ll help them if we can. There hasn’t been an attack from surrounding towns, because we are constantly patrolling and showing a presence. We’re letting the people see that we’re here, and we are doing stuff to help them out.”
A great deal of the unit’s time is also spent escorting convoys and securing landing zones to ensure much needed supplies are delivered for the locals. “Convoys have been ambushed multiple times, and we’ve pushed back the enemy to the point that they retreated,” Hering said.
The Marines have engaged in fire fights, encountered IEDs, and had a RPG attack on their FOB, but have suffered no casualties. “I like it out here because we're really taking the fight to the enemy,” said Miles.
One of the strongest characteristics displayed by the plt is its small unit leadership, which operates with little reserve when taking initiative for action. “Here on this FOB, I’ve noticed that everybody wants to be the best,” said Sgt. Aaron M. Titus, 2nd plt’s 1st squad leader. “It’s almost a competition or a rivalry between the squads. Everybody wants to be good at their jobs. That’s a good deal when people care that much.”
While training for the deployment, 2nd Lt. Daniel M. Yurkovich, the plt cmdr, stressed the importance of building close family ties while working in an isolated area. “All my Marines out here are a pretty tight family, and they’re doing amazing things,” Yurkovich said. “I got guys that go out on patrol and come back, stand post, fill sand bags and other tasks all in one day. They’re all great young men, and it's the one thing that brings us together.”
Capt. Anthony Ward (right) and Marines of 2nd plt, speak with Afghan locals in Golestan, about the well-being of their community. Ward is a team leader with 3rd Civil Affairs Group, which works closely with the Marines of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground TF – Afghanistan in areas like Golestan in order to provide Afghans with support for making improvements in their communities.
2nd Lt. Daniel Yurkovich (fourth from right) and Lance Cpl. Farid Hotaki (third from right) speak with Afghan men after a routine search for weapons suspicious activity in Golestan.
2nd Lt. Yurkovich shakes hands with an Afghan after visiting his family’s home in Golestan.
An Afghan boy walks his herd of goats along a road that Marines sweep for IEDs.
Second Lt.Yurkovich (right) and Lance Cpl. Farid Hotaki speak with an Afghan man as he makes his way home.
2nd Lt. Yurkovich walks down a mountainside where he and his Marines have set up security to provide safe passage for a convoy arriving in Golestan.
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5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment RSS
Artilleryman Follows Brother Into Military Service
Story by Sgt. Matthew Moeller
Pfc. Ottis Harris' team fires the 9,900 pound M-777 Howitzer Artillery Cannon at FOB Bostick, March 17. Harris is an artilleryman with Charlie Btry, 1st Bn, 321th FAR, 18th Fires Bde (Abn), from Fort Bragg, N.C.
BAGRAM AIR FIELD – Army Pfc. Ottis Harris loves his job. “I get to blow stuff up all day,” the artilleryman joked.
Harris’ time at FOB Bostick has taught him much more than just how to send rounds downrange. Harris always dreamed of being a Soldier. “I always wanted to join the Army,” the 27-year-old said. It was Harris’ brother Fredrick, who eventually inspired him to pursue his dream 11 months ago.
One of the first Marines to enter Iraq in 2003, Fredrick, a 10-year veteran of the Corps, was medically retired after an explosion from a RPG caused a severe back injury. “I guess just by me being so close to him, that I’m doing this for him,” Harris said thoughtfully.
“I’m the guy who puts the powder in, so it’s kind of an easy job,” Harris said, about firing 105 pound rounds up to 18 miles. “I want to learn more about being a section chief. That way when we get back, I can show the new guys what I have learned.”
Harris’ hard work has not gone unnoticed by his teammates. “Truth is,” Harris’ section chief, Army SSgt. Jean Gabard said, laughing, “he is one of the cockiest Soldiers I have ever had, but in a good way. Once anything comes up, you’ll see him start going at it, and it spreads throughout the whole section,” Gabard added. “He’s contagious.”
Harris has learned a lot since arriving in Afghanistan last January. “It’s so different from back home,” Harris said. “You have good running water there, enough food there; then you come here, and you see that they don’t have any of that, and you kind of feel sorry for them. We’re trying to make it better for them,” he added. “Not just shooting downrange at targets, but to let them know that while we’re here, we’re going to protect them.”
Although Afghanistan can be tough, Harris feels he can always turn to his teammates, whom he described as “like no others. I used to have a problem talking to people about anything,” Harris said seriously. “But knowing that you got guys to your left and your right that will come up and ask, and actually care about you, and want to know how things are going back home, and with you, and you can be honest with them, that means everything.”
According to Harris, the Army has given him a lot, and he hopes to give some back, “I definitely want to do 20 years,” he said. While in the Army, Harris plans to pursue a degree in business mgt, once again following in his brother Fredrick’s footsteps, who now owns several successful businesses.
Pfc. Ottis Harris really does love his job. “You don’t find too many people who wake up and put on this uniform, and can actually say that they serve their country,” he said. “For me it’s a blessing, knowing that people depend on you to help them when they’re in need of help. It makes you stick your chest out a little bit further.”
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5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment RSS
Military Police Start First District Level SWAT Team
By Sgt. Matthew Moeller
Spc. W Eric Mraz, 3rd Plt, shows Afghan NP officer "Jimmy" how to walk with your weapon.
BAGRAM AIR FIELD - Being one of the only 3 MP officers tasked with mentoring Afghan NP in an area larger than the State of Delaware means being creative. “We were on a soft-knock in Nishagam, and we noticed that it might be good to have a specially trained team,” remembers Army Sgt. Nathan Byrd, the team’s leader. “Well a couple of days later we were watching the movie ‘S.W.A.T’.” For the 3 Grafenwoehr, Germany based Soldiers from 3rd Plt, 527th MP Co, the idea of establishing the first SWAT-like team made up of Afghan police in Regional Command-East, was too appealing to pass up.
Modeling the program off the Army’s own Special Response Teams (SRTs), which Byrd was a former member, the 3 Soldiers developed a comprehensive 15-day program called STT, aimed at turning an ordinary ANP officer into an expert tactical responder.
After getting permission to run the program on FOB Bostick, the team turned to the ANP station in the nearby town of Nari for their first recruits. “We basically went to this one police station and said, give us your best, and we’ll make them better,” one of the team’s members, Army Spc. W. Eric Mraz said. The 6 selected by the ANP for the first class, varied in age from 20 to 35, and the only English any of the recruits spoke was ‘yes’ or ‘thank you’.
Moving past language barriers with the help of interpreters and hand gestures, the 3 MPs soon realized how serious the recruits were about training. According to Byrd, the recruits start every day with physical training so intense it leaves their instructors tired. After that, they begin their lessons for the day, covering everything from escalation of force, room clearing, hostage rescue procedures and hand to hand combat.
“We were hoping to get people who would just retain the knowledge,” Mraz said. “And instead we’ve gotten a group of men, who not only retain the knowledge, but they ask questions, and they build on top of it, and they constantly want to learn more.” During the training, the MPs discovered that the men they were instructing shared many of the same qualities as themselves. “I don’t know how these guys were picked,” Mraz said smiling. “I know we said we want the best of the best to be in this team, but it’s like they picked 6 guys who had our personalities.”
According to Byrd, the MPs even gave the ANP trainees nicknames similar to their own Afghan names. “There’s Jimmy, Dean, Snake, Goolie, Lizard and Rock,” he said. “Now they call each other by their nicknames, they won’t answer to anything else.” Jimmy is the class clown and the team’s favorite recruit. The 7-year veteran of the ANP stated through an interpreter that he joined the program to better defend his country by learning anti-terrorist techniques. “I like training for myself and for others defense,” Jimmy said. If a success, the 3 MPs hope their ambitious idea will be implemented in stations across Afghanistan.
“Right now this is just our trial period, our test baby basically,” Mraz said. “Once we have fine-tuned all the training, that’s when we hope to propose it to other MPs who are working in other areas of op.
The ANP officers have decided to call themselves the STT, in order to differentiate themselves from other SWAT-style teams across the world.
"If I could turn on the T.V. in 10 years and hear something about the STT in Afghanistan, and know I had a part in that, well, that would be pretty cool,” said Mraz.
"Goolie," STT leader, peers around a corner while his team prepares to assault a room, as part of their hostage rescue training.
Afghan NP officer "Goolie" practices hand to hand combat with fellow officer "Lizard."
(From left to right) "Dean, Snake, Jimmy, Goolie and Rock" practice reacting to enemy fire.
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