|
Coalition Engineers Train Iraqi Soldiers to Build Bridges |
|
|
|
Tuesday, 16 September 2008 |
By Michael Behlin
3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
 Spc. Roberto Giron of the 74th Multi Role Bridging Company works to teach an Iraqi combat engineer how to properly set bridge panels during the unit’s training session held at Camp Taji. The training of the Iraqi army combat engineer is just another step in helping the country sustain itself in the future. Photo by Spc. Michael Behlin.
With the country being able to govern, defend, and sustain itself, the U.S. military presence has the possibility of being reduced.
Getting the military to the point of sustaining itself means getting it trained to handle the tasks and requirements expected of them. Whether it be combat operations, engineering, or transportation, having an Iraqi military knowledgeable in these areas would be beneficial.
Aiding in the engineering side of things is the 74th Multi Role Bridging Company, 20th Engineer Brigade, of Fort Hood, Texas, whose members have been training Iraqi Army engineers in the finer points of bridge building.
The 74th MRBC, which is based at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, is well on its way to training an efficient Iraq combat engineer unit capable of handling bridge operations on its own.
“Our goal here is to go through sort of a crawl process to get familiar with the bridges and be able to build one on their own,” said 1st Lt. Benjamin Johnston, 74th MRBC's 2nd Platoon leader. “The end goal is to have the Iraqi engineers able to stand up a bridge company on their own and our goal here is to start the initial training.”
To complete this task, the 74th MRBC members, through a translator, taught the Iraqi engineers the basics on how to build different types of military bridges. The engineers went through days of classroom instruction and hands-on training which taught the basics of how to construct a temporary bridge. More instruction was planned during the trip, but with Ramadan beginning and as respect to the Iraqi engineers, training came to an end.
Even though the training ended early, the engineers saw this training opportunity as a sign of what’s to come in the future.
“This training is important to the Iraqi engineers because they learn to operate in this capacity on their own,” said Staff Sgt. Jorge Acevedo, 74th MRBC section sergeant. “With the Iraqi engineers being knowledgeable about bridge building, they rely less on Coalition forces.”
The training, while short, was beneficial to both the country’s future and infrastructure. Having safe transportation methods would allow civilians, troops, and supply convoys to travel throughout the country more effectively.
This training is all a part of what’s to come for the country of Iraq as Coalition forces continue to transfer control. |
|
|
|
|
Photo Gallery
Climb Aboard
Color Guard
Little Buddies
Dust Off
|
