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Coalition, Iraqi troops train together in Mosul

Jul-15-2006 » Filed Under: 172nd SBCT

Spc. L.C. Campbell
138th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

MOSUL — Iraqi Army Soldiers from the 2nd Division, 2nd Brigade, integrated with Coalition Forces to conduct a combined live fire exercise to show the IA leadership how to use enablers and how it will benefit their mission.

Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarter Company, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, and Military Transition Teams intergrated air support such as helicopters, planes, mortar systems, and Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided missile systems into the training for the IA to use as enablers.

“Today the 172nd conducted a combined live fire exercise with the Iraqi Army’s 2-2 Brigade,” said Sgt. 1st Class Keith Colbert, battalion support non commissioned officer, HHC, 1-17th, 172nd SBCT. “We incorporated 120mm mortars, OH-58 Deltas, which is a tactical helicopter, and direct fire systems.”

According the Colbert, this exercise was important because it is key to getting the IA established. The IA currently does not have mortars or aviation elements. This training helped the IA learn how to use them and how they affect their missions.

“One of the key pieces of the next transition for Iraq is that IA learn how to use key assists, which we call enablers,” said Capt. Thomas Kurtz, operations officer, HHC, 1-17th, 172nd SBCT. “This gave them an opportunity to learn how to use enablers when they have a target on the ground that they want to engage.”

According to Kurtz, this was a very hard part of training. There is of course the language barrier that exists and the concept itself.

“I would like to take what I learned today and share it with my other brigade and battalion fire supports and look at what we were able to do and what needs to be improved upon,” said Colbert. “I see the future being very positive for the IA, and I believe that they will transition very quickly in their role when the time is right.”
Last Updated ( Saturday, 15 July 2006 )


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