Iraqi Army Soldiers guide a Humvee engine to the ground with a small crane as part of a vehicle repair course, Aug. 30, 2008, at Camp Taji, northwest of Baghdad. Photo by Sgt. Whitney Houston, 2nd Stryker Brigade 25th Infantry Division.

CAMP TAJI

The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled vehicle (Humvee) course was conducted by a Military Transition Team (MiTT) and focused on repair techniques, and ensuring IA Soldiers could teach their fellow Soldiers. The students’ proficiency was evaluated with a hands-on test at the end of each day.

“We’ve basically taught Iraqi Soldiers how to be instructors,” said Staff Sgt. Hatsady Siriphokha, a native of Elizabethtown, Ky., serving on the MiTT. “Each day we’ve taught different topics.  However, the most important part was to make sure they knew how to teach their Soldiers. Anyone can turn a wrench, take things apart and put them back together, but teaching is different.”

It’s necessary to teach IA Soldiers to maintain these vehicles because as MND-B forces transition to mine resistant ambush protected vehicles, the Humvees are given to IA.

Now that the IA Soldiers are savvy with Humvee maintenance, another batch of IA mechanics will go through the same course next month – but will be taught by the newly trained graduates of this course.

The IA mechanics were quick to learn these tasks, and Siriphokha said he is satisfied the IA students are competent in maintaining the vehicles and teaching others to do the same.

“These guys are very smart,” Siriphokha said. “A lot of the things that we’ve taught them, they already know. I feel they are very efficient and will be able to go back and teach their Soldiers. I feel like we’ve accomplished our mission.”