Iraqi Army Receive Weapons Training by Taskmasters
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Multi-National Division - North www.1ad.army.mil Volume 2 Issue 10 Page 1 oct. 27, 2008 Iraqi Army receive weapons training by Taskmasters Sergeant Alex Abbate, a Scottsdale, Ariz. Native, Alpha Company, 426th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, shows a 4th Iraqi Army Division Soldier how to aim and use the sights of the M16 rifle. Abbate and other Soldiers from the “Taskmaster” Battalion recently conducted a two-week training course on the M16 rifle. Story and Photos BY Multi- Recently, Iraq has purchased we were instructing them on how National Division – North PAO more than 50,000 M-16 assault rifles to assemble the M-16,” said Don from the United States to replace their Nottingham, Bravo Company. “They primary rifle, the AK-47. were also very interested on how the or more than 50 years, the M-16 During recent two-week training M-16 functioned.” Steady position, Fhas been the United States Army’s course, 4th Iraqi Army Division Soldiers aiming, breath control, and trigger weapon of choice. have received M-16 weapons training squeeze: these four fundamentals of From Saigon to Salah ad Din, from 426th Brigade Support Battalion marksmanship were also instilled in the the M-16 rifle family has become the Soldiers at Forward Operating Base minds of the Iraqi Soldiers. symbol of the Infantry and is used by Dagger. “Most of them had the basic 15 NATO countries. The hands-on training, detailed fundamentals of shooting using their The rifle is a lightweight, .223 the various aspects of the M-16 rifle. assigned AK-47,” said Nottingham. caliber, air-cooled, gas-operated, The initial portion, Iraqi Soldiers “They learned quickly in the classroom magazine-fed assault rifle, which is learned how to assemble, disassemble portion about the M-16.” lighter in weight, more accurate, and and clean the rifle. Taskmasters Continued on Page 3 more ergonomic than the AK-47. “They were very attentive while Page 2 oct. 27, 2008 3rd ACR tests new Army program for redeploying equipment Tanks and Bradleys sit in rows awaiting redeployment back to the U.S. The 3d ACR began redeploying some of its equipment back to the U.S. for repair and reset under a new Army pilot program. The program's goal is to speed up the redeployment process so units can get their equipment back sooner and as a complete system. Story and photos by program designed to speed up how the ACR. Master Sgt. Tim Volkert Army redeploys and resets its combat “No one has ever turned in their 3rd ACR Public Affairs power platforms, its tanks and Bradleys, equipment in theater as a complete to get the equipment back to units so system before. We are the pilot unit to he 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment’s they can begin training faster than the see how it works,” Woodyard said. Tfirst step toward redeployment is also current redeployment methods allow. Currently, units have to strip down the the test for an Army pilot program. What makes the program equipment and computer systems before Beginning in late September, 3d ACR different is that the 3d ACR is turning in the vehicles heads back overseas, she units at Forward Operating Base Q this equipment as complete systems, said. By sending the equipment into West and FOB Marez started the which means all of the assorted reset as a complete system, everything Early Retrograde Equipment, or ERE computers, subsystems and other is upgraded and repaired together, and process, and moved some of its tanks, components are turned in together, when it’s returned to the unit, they can Bradleys and other assorted vehicles to said Chief Warrant Officer Nicole E. begin training immediately. staging areas for shipment back to the Woodyard, regimental reset manager, “It will come back in the most United States. Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, current Army configuration, to include The ERE process is a new Regimental Support Squadron, 3d Redeploying Continued on Page 3 Commanding General: Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling Contributing Writers: Master Sgt. Tim Volkert Public Affairs Officer: Maj. Margaret Kageleiry Layout and Design: Spc. Ryan Elliott, 14th PAD Public Affairs NCOIC: Master Sgt. Nancy Morrison Editor: Staff Sgt. Mark Albright, 14th Public Affairs Detachment Contact the Iron Strong at VOIP: 242-1190, DSN: 318-849-0089 or email [email protected] The “Iron Strong” is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of the “Iron Strong” are not necessarily official veiws of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the Task Force Iron. All editorial content of this publication is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the Task Force Iron Public Affairs Office. Page 3 oct. 27, 2008 three languages that we found to be in “This was beneficial to the IA Taskmasters from Page 1 the class,” said Nottingham. Soldiers,” said Sgt. Daniel Walker, Bravo Taskmaster instructors brought The Iraqi Army Soldiers were Company. “They got firsthand instruction the Iraqi Soldiers to the range to able to successfully move through the on how to operate, breakdown, and fire practice firing their new rifles to enable course, learn the basic fundamentals of the M-16 rifle by American Soldiers that them to put their knowledge to practical the M-16 rifle, and possibly become a have experience.” use. more proficient fighting force. “The range itself was the biggest success,” said Sgt. Andrew Chard, Bravo Company. “It allowed the other instructors and me to see how the information we imparted to them was received and utilized,” he said. “They performed magnificently through the zero and qualification phase.” Chard said the progress throughout the course was outstanding. He and fellow Taskmaster Soldiers had to improvise and become creative to communicate with their Iraqi partners. “The language barrier was a difficult portion to overcome, said Nottingham. However, “their enthusiasm Sergeant Alex Abbate, a Scottsdale, Ariz. Native, Alpha Company, 426th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade to learn overcame the problem with Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, shows a 4th Iraqi Army Division Soldier where the rounds he fired from his Iraqi Soldiers trying to interpret one of M16 rifle impacted his target. quicker. The end result is that units Redeploying from Page 2 get their systems back sooner, Learn said. all upgrades,” Woodyard said. “This process will allow us to Another benefit is this process get the combat power systems back will reduce the risk of loss and damage about 120 days earlier than in previous that can occur, said Sgt. 1st Class deployments,” Woodyard said. Patrick Learn, the Transportation and That provides major benefits for the Logistics section noncommissioned unit when it returns to home station. officer in charge for 1st Squadron, 3d “Training with borrowed ACR. equipment is not the same as your “I predict a whole lot less assigned equipment … a crew will property loss investigations with the know the strengths and limitations of system coming back as a complete equipment they are familiar with,” said unit,” he said. “Commanders will receive Learn. their equipment ready for mission rather Once this program is complete than piecing it back together. and the process adjusted based on “It will also be beneficial to the feedback, the Soldiers of the 3d ACR commanders to sign one document predict that it will be a great change for rather than several for each individual how Army units redeploy. component,” Learn added. “This will be a great benefit While the current deployment once all the bugs are worked out, Tanks and Bradleys sit in rows awaiting redeployment process and the pilot program’s schedule saving the Soldiers and the Army both back to the U.S. The 3d ACR began redeploying some of for redeploying equipment is basically time and assets,” Learn said. its equipment back to the U.S. for repair and reset under the same, the new process is much a new Army pilot program. Page 4 Homefront News oct. 27, 2008 ELECTIONS asked his audience to be ready to display public has endorsed Obama. support for Obama during such a crisis. But "Colin Powell is one of the nation's Republican vice presidential candidate noting that President John Kennedy faced similar foremost experts on national security, and the Sarah Palin misrepresented to a campaign early foreign tests, Biden predicted Obama fact that he's crossing party lines to support audience Thursday what her Democratic would fare well because he's "got steel in his Obama says a lot more than any of the false counterpart Joe Biden has said about Barack spine." attacks launched by Gov. Palin today," Baker Obama's ability to handle a foreign crisis. Responding to Palin's remark, Obama spokesman said. "Sen. Obama's own running mate, Isaac Baker noted that Colin Powell, a Republican Palin told several thousand people at the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations and President Bush's former secretary of state, Hobart Arena, "We need John McCain." Committee, has informed us "What I want is a president that a serious international who has spent 22 years in uniform crisis is certain if Obama defending our country," she said. "I is elected and that he is not want a president who isn't afraid to ready to deal with it," Palin use the word victory when he talks told thousands of supporters about the wars we are fighting. I want at a rally in this western Ohio a president who knows how to win city. the war and wants to win the war." That is not what Outside the arena, about Biden told fundraisers last 20 workers from a variety of labor weekend.