Multi-National Division – Baghdad “First Team.....Team First” Saturday, June 27, 2009 Academy trains ISF to maintain security Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Alex Licea, 3rd BCT PAO Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Alex Licea, 3rd BCT PAO Spc. Miguel Angel Trevino, of Uvalde, Texas, assigned Staff Sgt. Damian Remijio, of Chicago, assigned to to Troop K, 5th Sqdn., 73rd Cav., 82nd Abn. Div., shows Troop K, 5th Sqdn. 73rd Cav. 82nd Abn. Div. instructs his an Iraqi National Police officer the proper way to hold Iraqi partner during a training event in order to prepare his weapon during a training event June 24 at FOB to maintain security across their area of operation. The Hammer, Iraq, located outside of eastern Baghdad. The academy trains and mentors the ISF on basic Soldier training event is part of the squadron’s newly developed skills such as troop leading procedures, entering and “Panther Recon Training Academy.” clearing buildings and arresting suspected criminals. By Sgt. 1st Class Alex Licea bilities. them. They have done them to enemy forces. 3rd BCT PAO The two-week academy before and it shows,” said Sgt. For many of the ISF per- FORWARD OPERATING trains both National Police 1st Class William Lillie, of sonnel, training and getting a BASE HAMMER, Iraq — To officers and Iraqi Army Sol- Winshtir, Mass., who is senior chance to be taught by Troop ensure Iraqi Security Forc- diers on the fundamentals of enlisted leader for Troop K. K Paratroopers is an experi- es are ready to handle their combat. Whether it be learn- “However, it is those little de- ence they will remember. country’s security; American ing how to move in a combat tails, such as what do in case “They have been teaching Paratroopers are taking their formation or planning, devel- the officer or senior leader us new and useful information Iraqi partners to school in the oping and executing a combat goes down [that] we are try- that I know will help all of us sprawling deserts outside east- operation, ISF personnel are ing to instill in them. We want in the future,” said a NP as- ern Baghdad. receiving first-hand instruc- to empower the next leader in signed to the 3rd NP Bde., 1st Dubbed the “Panther Re- tion from their U.S. counter- charge to carry on and make NP Div. “This is an experience con Training Academy,” parts. decisions.” I will never forget and I will Paratroopers of Troop K, 5th While some ISF person- “The great thing is that they always cherish.” Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regi- nel in the academy have been want to learn and have a great A graduation ceremony is ment, 3rd Brigade Combat already performing their du- attitude,” he added. scheduled for this weekend. Team, 82nd Airborne Divi- ties throughout the country, During the program, ISF But Troop K Paratroopers will sion, Multi-National Division the academy aims to fine-tune personnel are taught in subjects not have much time to relax – Baghdad, are advising and those skills. such as leadership responsibili- because a new cycle of train- mentoring their ISF partners “They know and under- ties, first aid training, individu- ing and a new group of stu- in order for them to hone their stand the big picture in many al movement techniques, team dents are scheduled to come in combat abilities and responsi- of the things we are teaching movement drills and reacting soon after. PAGE 2 June 27, 2009 Joint combat patrol searches sand, swamp By Sgt. Jon Soles metallic objects. MND-B PAO “If it’s a small piece, it BAGHDAD — The sight of will be a little beep, but if it’s a platoon of American Soldiers something large, it will be a big and their Iraqi Army partners beep,” said Marcello. in the desert with metal detec- A few times, the detectors tors and shovels may look like gave off beeps and IA soldiers a treasure hunt, but was, in from the 3rd Company, 4th Bat- reality, a search for weapons talion, 24th Brigade, 6th Iraqi caches reported to be hidden in Army Division, turned the sand the area. with shovels. Only small pieces In the ongoing effort to deny of rusted metal that appeared to insurgents weapons, the Soldiers be garbage were found. The Sol- of Company D, 1st Combined diers also searched a swampy Arms Battalion, 63rd Armor area near the Euphrates River, Regiment, 2nd Brigade Com- but did not find any weapons bat Team, 1st Infantry Division, caches. However, Turner said dug into sand and swamp near he was not discouraged, as the the village of Khadir in Abu mission gave the Americans Ghraib, here, June 23. and the IA a chance to apply The “Death Dealers” of Co. their training. D, took a rugged dirt path to “Unfortunately, nothing was reach the sand dune, overlook- found,” Turner said. “A lot of ing the nearby village of Khadir. the times I measure success not While some Soldiers pulled se- by results, but by the continued curity, others used metal detec- improvement of the IA.” tors to look for buried objects Turner said the non-commis- that could be weapons or ex- sioned officers of Co. D, have plosives. Capt. Jake Turner, an done a good job of training the infantry officer who commands IA, and the training showed Co. D, said there was good rea- during the cache search. son to search the dune. “I am very proud of the “We did a joint combat patrol NCO-led instruction in this in order to search for caches. company,” Turner said. “The There has been a previous his- NCOs have done a good job tory of caches in the area,” said coaching, teaching and mentor- Turner, a native of Millinocket, ing for the IA.” Maine, assigned to Co. D, 1st Turner also noted that the IA CAB, 63rd Armor Regt., 2nd took up security positions on BCT, 1st Inf. Div. “Beforehand, the summit of the sand dune, I talked with an [Iraqi Army] providing 360-degree security lieutenant about possible loca- in all directions. tions and we came up with a “I was very impressed that Photo by Sgt. Jon Soles, MND-B PAO game plan.” the IA instinctively went to Pfc. Daniel Parker of Jacksonville, Fla., an in- Spc. Thomas Marcello of the high ground without being Honolulu and Pfc. Daniel Park- told,” Turner said. “Today we fantryman assigned to Company D, 1st Com- er of Jacksonville, Fla., both got to see how the ISF training bined Arms Battalion, 63rd Armored Regiment, infantrymen assigned to Co. works in the real world.” 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Divi- D, 1st CAB, 63rd Armor Regt., In the real world, insurgents 2nd BCT, 1st Inf. Div., slowly often use the natural cover of sion, endures the hot summer sun on a sand walked through the sand and palm trees, swamps and sand dune while searching for weapons caches with along gullies with metal detec- dunes to hide weapons, but the a metal detector near the village of Khadir, in tors, which emitted an electron- continued efforts of American the Abu Ghraib area, here, June 23. Despite the ic whine. The Soldiers were lis- Soldiers and the IA working to tening for sustained beeps that uncover caches will keep insur- triple-digit temperatures, a light breeze swept are the tell-tale signs of buried gents on the run. over the elevation of the sand dune. PAGE 3 June 27, 2009 Soldiers rock to First Team band es where Soldiers don’t usually get music or USO tours,” said Rettig, of Defiance, Ohio. Having G. O. 1 Under- ground come out and play for the Soldiers helps life on the FOB seem a little more normal and the band loves doing it. “It’s great to be able to come out here,” said Rettig, “and to be able to help people relieve the stress from their everyday job.” Photo by Sgt. Mary Phillips, 30th HBCT PAO Guitarist Sgt. Jason Smelser (left), of Killeen, Texas, and bassist Staff Sgt. Dennis Milne, of Rockford, Ill., with the 1st Cav. Div. Army Rock Band, jam at FOB Mahmudiyah June 23. The band, known as G.O. 1 Underground, plays for Soldiers in Iraq. By Sgt. Mary Phillips there. were enjoying themselves just 30th HBCT PAO Spc. Daniel Thompson, of as much as the Soldiers watch- BAGHDAD — Soldiers Headquarters and Headquarters ing them. at Forward Operating Base Battery, 113th Field Artillery, “It is great that the Army has Photo by Sgt. Mary Phillips, 30th HBCT PAO Mahmudiyah had a chance to was one of those who gathered given me the opportunity,” said Sgt. 1st Class Mary Danger- “lose themselves in the music” in front of the stage well before Spc. Chris Rettig, lead vocals field, of Broadway, N.C., as- and escape from their troubles, the show started. for the band. “I get to do what I signed to Co. E, 230th BSB, if only for a little while, thanks “It gives you a little bit of love and help other Soldiers at 30th HBCT and Senior Air- to G. O. 1 Underground, the 1st home,” said Thompson, of the same time.” man Greg Jones, of Colum- Calvary Division’s Army Rock Jacksonville N.C. “Where I live The Army rock band travels bus, Miss., with the 732nd Band. I go to concerts all the time.” to FOBs all over Iraq, trying to ESF Sqdn., Detachment 2, G.O. 1 Underground came G.O. 1 Underground played raise the spirits of the Soldiers dance together during a con- to the FOB, June 23, and put on non-stop for about 2 1/2 hours.