ING & MNF conduct joint operations
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Story and photos by Spc. Gretel Sharpee
MOSUL, Iraq- As the sky brightened on the early morning hours of Aug. 4, Iraqi National Guard soldiers and Multinational Forces could barely be seen as they monitored streets during a cordon and search in Iraq’s northern city of Mosul. This operation and many others like it, is the dawning of Iraqi security forces taking the lead in protecting the citizens against criminals and terrorists.
In an effort to increase safety for the citizens of Ninevah Province, soldiers from the 101st Iraqi National Guard (ING) continued their search for anti-Iraqi forces while Multinational Forces cordoned the perimeter, into the mid-morning hours.
The mission was designed to seal off a neighborhood suspected of anti-Iraqi activity while soldiers searched every house. Company B, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) had the mission of creating and monitoring a perimeter of the neighborhood, ensuring no one left the area once the searches began.
As the mission progressed, a Multinational Forces commander advised his Soldiers to take up more concealed and stationary fighting positions along the perimeter because of the increased responsibility the ING soldiers were assuming in the operation.
“It was great to see the ING taking such initiative during a joint mission,” said 1st Lt. Lawrence Doan, 3rd Platoon Leader, 2-3 Inf. “My Soldiers were going to be spread thin over our section of the perimeter, but two squads of ING soldiers showed up and took over monitoring the major intersections, which helped us out a lot.”
As ING soldiers moved through the neighborhood, they condensed their operations and sent soldiers to the outer perimeter where Multinational Forces were operating. They quickly organized themselves at street intersections setting up checkpoints and road blocks.
Toward the end of the mission, Multinational Forces only had the job of picking up concertina wire they had placed to block off roads earlier in the morning. The ING soldiers completed their searches and redeployed to headquarters.
The ING soldiers showed the local populace their hard work and dedication to the Mosul area by taking an initiative to seek out the anti-Iraqi terrorist groups that disrupt the innovative progress taking place in Mosul. As the development of the ING progresses into a capable, independent security force, the citizens of Ninevah Province can look forward to a more safe and secure community to live their daily lives in.
(Photo by Spc. Gretel Sharpee)
