More Soldiers, new firearms, better procedures, strengthen Iraqi Army
BAGHDAD — Vast improvements to Iraq’s national Army are leading to a force that will eventually stand on its own, a Coalition commander said today.
“They’re increasing their capabilities to be able to do that every day,” Army Brig. Gen. Robin Swan told online journalists and bloggers during a conference call from Baghdad. Swan heads up the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team with Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq.
“From my foxhole, from a training, from an equipment standpoint, from an operational standpoint, the way that they’re fighting today, the way that they’re standing firm in their ground, really conducting some sophisticated operations throughout the country, most notably, certainly out in al Anbar province, but also up in Ninevah and here in Baghdad as well, so a lot of great improvement on that line,” he said.
Although the Army’s logistics system is in its infancy, the general explained, parts of the system are improving.
“From the standpoint of unit-level logistics, they’re getting better,” Swan said.
Setting up bases where Iraqi Soldiers can pick up supplies or even overhaul vehicles, as they can only at Taji national depot now, will take as long as 18 months to accomplish, the general said. That is why Coalition experts are embedded with Iraqi Soldiers to help determine solutions that make sense to Iraqis, he said.
“We have really very robust logistics-expert teams that are in every support unit … trying to assist in establishing what the right logistics policies and procedures are,” Swan explained. “That effort is beginning to pay some very good dividends.”
For example, cumbersome and strict procedures had been in place to circumvent corruption and to keep dangerous items out of the wrong hands, the general explained. “Every ammunition requisition up till now has had to come all the way back from Baghdad, get 29 or 30 signatures, and then get issued back out,” Swan said.
Now, new procedures are in place to allow trusted Iraqi commanders on the ground to directly authorize the release of ammunition, even via telephone, without compromising security, the general said.
Another significant development, the general explained, is the wide distribution of M-16 rifles to Iraqi Soldiers, replacing antiquated AK-47s.
“They believe that it is a new, improved weapons system. They see Coalition forces using it to great effect, and they take it as a mark of moving forward,” Swan said. “It is, in my view, a badge of national pride for them to get the M-16.”
New recruits to the Iraqi Army continue to volunteer every day, the general said. Each is fully vetted, and those chosen are prepared to deploy with one of 13 divisions of the Army that will patrol throughout the country by next year, Swan explained. Getting recently commissioned and noncommissioned officers into Iraqi formations as they are ready and continuing to mentor them is helping move the national Army toward self-sufficiency, the general explained.
“Increasing capabilities of the tactical competence of Soldiers, leaders and units, partnering, certainly with our formations and being able to continue that and to have access to Coalition enablers is an important part of what they’re doing,” Swan said.
(By David Mays, special to American Press Service)
Sunday, 28 October 2007
By 1st Lt. Richard Ybarra
115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
BAQUBA — In a ten-day span, the 5th Iraqi Army Division, partnering with 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division put the squeeze on al-Qaida in Iraq (AQIR) in back-to-back operations on Oct. 5 and 15, in Diyala province.
The operations, titled “Rock Drill” and “Rock Bone Breaker” netted big cache finds for both the Iraqi Army (IA) and the 1- 38 Inf. Regt. The IA scored the first heavy blow against al-Qaida in Iraq when they found a large weapons cache in a cemetery north of Muradiyah during Operation Rock Drill.
The cache was discovered by 4th Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th IA Division, acting on information given by Concerned Local Citizens. It consisted of (6) automatic weapons, (4) two-way radios, (2) rocket propelled grenades, (2) anti-tank mines, (2) rifles, large quantities of ammunition and both electronic and print al-Qaida in Iraq propaganda. In addition, (2) improvised explosive devices were discovered nearby the cemetery.
“The IA was definitely in control; they had the larger force and cleared all the culturally sensitive sites such as the mosque and the cemetery, finding the cache in the cemetery,” said Capt. Duane Bailey, 1-38 Inf.’ Bayonet Company commander.
During the operation south of Muradiyah, a Stryker combat vehicle was struck by an IED, resulting in no injuries to the crew and minor damage to the vehicle. A command wire was discovered and traced, resulting in the detention of two individuals. Both men tested positive for traces of explosives on their hands and were subsequently turned over to the IA.
On Oct. 15, 4-2-5 IA again teamed up with 1-38 Inf. for Operation Rock Bone Breaker, targeting a peninsula encompassed by the Diyala River, which is known to local Iraqi citizens as “the bone” and a village locally known as “Mechanics Two.”
The mission was conceived by the 4-2-5 IA, then planned and undertaken jointly with 1-38.
“This was a great mission, planned and executed with our partners from the 4-2-5 IA. It could not have been possible without the initiative of the IA,” stated Maj. Matt Moore, 1-38 operations officer.
Bone Breaker was the Stryker Soldiers’ opportunity to shine, as they discovered one large weapons cache containing assorted weapons and ammunition as well as two smaller caches containing homemade explosives.
The larger weapons cache, found on the peninsula, contained (20) propane tanks, (34) blasting caps, 500 feet of detonation cord, (21) assorted demolition charges, equipment for an 82 mm mortar team including the tube, tripod, ammunition, fuses and range quadrant scale, (3) rocket propelled grenades with rockets and various small arms ammunition.
“4-2-5 IA and 1-38 Inf. Regt continue to develop a strong working relationship in their combined operations area,” stated U.S. Army Maj. James A. Van Atta, team leader for 4-2-5 Military Transition Team. “The IA is now able to take the lead in planning missions. Their development, their willingness to plan and then execute on the battlefield is encouraging.”
These successful operations did not slow the 1-38 Soldiers and their IA partners as they continued to press the advantage. Both units again joined forces Oct. 19 and 20 to hold a Combined Medical Engagement and Humanitarian Aid drop in the south Baquba neighborhood of Khatoon.
“The success of 3-2 Stryker Brigade, who was here before us, set the conditions for the success of recent operations. The IA here are proactive, learning all the time and doing well.” said Capt. Victor Satterlund, Attack Company commander, 1-38 Inf. “Together, we have kept AQIZ off balance and kept them from getting a foothold back in Baquba.”
“We have won the trust of the local population by providing security and working on projects such as water, medical aid, schools supplies and humanitarian aid,” Satterlund continued. “What you are seeing here is progress.”