Taking back their own country..from the terrorist
Does this sound like people who look at the Task Force as a Invading Army? The vast majority of Iraqi's support the new Iraqi government and want it to succeed.
BAGHDAD, Iraq, March 19, 2005 — Even as Iraqi soldiers train with U.S. soldiers to secure a new future for their country, they cannot forget the dangers which lurk in the background.
“There is a list for people who are in the (Iraqi National Guard) that the terrorists want to kill,” said an interpreter with the 40th Iraqi Army Brigade. “My name is second on that list. If somebody kills me they will get $1,000.” "[The Iraqi National Guard] understand that they are here to take their country back from the insurgents and terrorists, and to make Iraq a better place. I believe that some of them join up because of the money, just like in the U.S. Army, but most do it because they want to help their fellow Iraqis." U.S. Army Capt. Mark McClellan
The interpreter, speaking on condition of anonymity, discussed differences between Iraqi armies of the past and today as he participated in reflexive live-fire training given by U.S. soldiers assigned to Task Force Baghdad March 12 at Camp Independence. His U.S. trainers had nothing but praise for the Iraqi forces.
“We are teaching the [Iraqi National Guard] how to do reflexive fire,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Pete Peters, Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment. “It’s the same training all the soldiers in the 3rd Infantry Division receive before they come over here to Iraq. We do this training so that they can go out on the Iraqi streets and do patrols on their own.” Even though 4th Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment has been working with this group for a short while, they have been able to focus on more advanced training because the previous U.S. unit, the 1st Cavalry Division, did such a great job with the Iraqi National Guard, said Peters, a native of South Portland, Maine. “It’s been real easy for us to just jump in and continue their training. 1/9 Cav. did a great job of bringing this group up to where we didn’t have to change anything when we took over for them.” Instead of taking an entire battalion of Iraqi National Guard soldiers and training them all at the same time, the U.S. soldiers use the “train the trainer” method. After learning how to properly apply the training, the assorted Iraqi platoon leaders, platoon sergeants and section sergeants go back to their squads and platoons to share what they have learned with their troops, Peters said.
“They have been getting real good since we’ve got here,” Peters said. “They are real quick learners. They want to succeed and to achieve something special. They have a huge desire to learn.” Capt. Mark McClellan, scout platoon leader for Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment, compares their motivation to the reason men and women join the U.S. Army, but the Iraqis have an extra incentive. “They understand that they are here to take their country back from the insurgents and terrorists, and to make Iraq a better place,” he said. “I believe that some of them join up because of the money, just like in the U.S. Army, but most do it because they want to help their fellow Iraqis.” The Iraqi National Guard interpreter said he’s enjoyed working with the U.S. Army thus far regardless of potential danger. “I have been working with the Americans for two years,” he said. “It’s been very nice. I get to help people and kill terrorists. I like my job. Before, in Saddam’s army, nobody really liked their job. In one month, we made two dollars; now I make $400 a month. It’s very different, now I can eat or go out and have fun with people. I love my job a lot.” McClellan has already seen the fruits of his and the Iraqi National Guard’s labors. “I’ve already seen it on Haifa Street,” he said. “People are cleaning up their own streets, putting in their own sewer systems. This [Iraqi National Guard] group is the one that cleaned up Haifa Street. They are the ones taking grenades and getting shot at, and they have a lot of pride behind what they are doing right now.” McClellan has seen an improvement in their military skills, he said. But the real success is out on the streets.
“You can see how proud they are when they drive around in their trucks with the Iraqi flag flying in the wind, and people in the streets are waving to them,” he said. “One time we came back from a patrol and there were all these children cheering for their troops. You could see the smiles on the Iraqi soldiers faces. That’s why they do this.”