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3rd SBCT Continues Relations With IA

Aug-16-2006 » Filed Under: 3/2 SBCT

Written by by Spc. L.C. Campbell, 138th MPAD

MOSUL, Iraq - Leadership from the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division met to discuss the areas of operations with the commander of the 4th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army (IA) Division, Aug. 11, in Mosul, Iraq.

Brig. Gen. Noor Aldeen, commander, 4th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division and Col. Steve Townsend, commander, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team 2nd Infantry Division, talked about two important things that Aldeen expressed concern about. They were IA Soldier retention in 2nd Battalion, and maintenance for the humvees that were donated to the IA by U.S. Forces.

“We have lost almost 200 Soldiers in two weeks,” said Aldeen. “There are various reasons, but they range from the fact the battalion has suffered from two suicide vehicle borne improvised explosive devices recently, Soldiers are tired, some have been in Mosul fighting for two years, and that new Soldiers are not reliable.”

Aldeen relies on his most experienced Soldiers. Those are the Soldiers that were trained back in 2000, and have the experience to fight the insurgency in the Ninevah Province.

According to Aldeen, the new Soldiers coming into the brigade are not well trained in basic Soldiering skills. They are not reliable enough to even follow basic rules.

“The new Soldiers only have two months of training and it is very hard to depend on them,” said Aldeen. “They are not disciplined enough, and with the amount of Soldiers we are losing the more we need to depend on our experienced Soldiers.”

Aldeen concluded that he needed a lot more Soldiers quickly. The reason was that they have lost so many that the work load on the remaining Soldiers will begin to intensify and could cause them to quit as well.

Aldeen also brought up the fact that the Humvees that were donated by the U.S. were not getting the proper maintenance required to keep them running. Al Kisik is the Headquarters for the maintenance department, and they are receiving replacement parts for the Humvees, but the brigade is having a hard time getting the damaged Humvees to Al Kisik to be repaired.

“I have hired great mechanics from the local area to come and work for our battalions,” said Aldeen. “They do a great job repairing the Humvees, but when it comes to special things; it then requires us to take them to Al Kisik. We get more work done on the battalion level.”

According to Townsend, 4th Brigade is due to receive 15 new Humvees by the middle of August. Aldeen is looking forward to getting the new equipment.

“I like the initiative from Aldeen,” said Townsend. “He is a good example of where IA leadership needs to head.”


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