Published: March 31, 2011
Battalion Live Fire Exercise Showcases Iraqi Army's Logistical Programs
By Sgt. Shawn Miller
As U.S. soldiers watched intently, Iraqi army infantryman swept across an open plain to assault a mock village during a battalion live fire exercise at Forward Operating Base Normandy.
As the final test of skills learned during a 25-day Tadreeb al Shamil training cycle, Iraqi soldiers assigned to 4th Battalion, 21st Brigade, 5th IA Division demonstrated their ability to plan, rehearse and execute the battalion-sized exercise independent of U.S. assistance.
More important than simply proving their capacity to independently conduct the training event, Iraqi leadership showed the logistical progress made by Iraq's military, said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Philip Riglick, executive officer of Company A, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment.
An Iraqi army mortar crew assigned to 4th Battalion, 21st Brigade, 5th IA Division fires an 81 mm mortar during a battalion live fire training exercise at Forward Operating Base Normandy, Iraq.
Photo: Sgt. Shawn Miller
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In recent years, Iraqi Army supplies often remained stockpiled in warehouses far from ground troops, Riglick said.
Iraqi leadership now shows an improved logistical system capable of distributing assets to units in the field, noted Riglick, with the live-fire exercise serving as tangible proof of their capabilities.
"They're consuming and using the resources owned by Iraqi Ground Forces Command ...," said Riglick, a native of Granite Bay, Calif.
"The only thing we supplied them was the knowledge on how to do this throughout the cycle," he said.
U.S. soldiers of Company A, part of 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, serve as instructors and advisors to Iraqi trainees during Tadreeb al Shamil, the IA initiative focused on building cohesion among units and modernizing Iraqi ground forces' capability to defend Iraq.
U.S. forces transitioned many of the teaching duties to Iraqi cadre working at the Kirkush Military Training Base and FOB Normandy, along with the responsibility to supply and finance Iraqi soldiers.
Beyond the logistics of supplying hundreds of battalion troops for the event, senior Iraqi officers also demonstrated their planning skills, integrating mortar and helicopter teams into the exercise.
Battalion officers poured through their manuals, laid out terrain models and reviewed training from the month's classes to determine the best methods for directing their soldiers to successfully attack the "enemy" stronghold without the need for U.S. help.
"The main issue we had with the event was the short amount of preparation time," said Col. Anwar, commander of 4th Bn., 21st Bde.
The battalion achieved its goal, despite only having three days to organize and plan the assault, said Anwar.
Effectively coordinating the exercise and maneuvering a battalion while adding in mortars and helicopter teams-all while using live ammunition-underscored the importance of the exercise displaying the IA's progress, said Riglick.
After the successful completion of the live fire exercise and the Tadreeb al Shamil training cycle, Riglick added, Iraqi leadership will see the tangible benefits of continued training, especially once the Iraqi soldiers return to their duty stations.
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