Picking Up The Slack
The events occurring in Georgia between the country and Russia have required the Georgian Army assisting with the security and stabilization of Iraq to return to their homeland. With those Soldiers no longer patrolling the streets in Iraq, who is picking up the slack?
Most in this country think that we American Soldiers are having to pick up the slack. If you’re one of those, you’d be wrong.
Iraqi Security Forces will partner with the 41st Fires Brigade and occupy several checkpoints and patrol bases previously manned by the 1st Georgian Brigade.
“We want to train and work with the U.S. Army,” said Sergeant Namel Watak, 32nd Iraqi Army Infantry Brigade.
Namel is with a contingent of soldiers from the 32nd IA Infantry Bde., who are working together with soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment at checkpoints in Wasit to keep the province stable and secure.
“We like our job here of running the traffic control point and providing security at the entrance of the patrol base,” he said.
The plan is to have a complete partnership with the Iraqi Soldiers, said 2nd Lt. Charles Hines, with the 2-20 FA Regt., and the IA liaison at the patrol base.
“Right now, the Iraqi soldiers have taken over the responsibility of the traffic control point, but we are going to train them to be able to take over the entire patrol base, go and do presence patrols and set-up temporary traffic control points in our area,” he said.
The 41st Fires Bde. established a very good working relationship with both the Iraqi Police and the IA, said Col. Richard M. Francey, Jr., 41st Fires Bde commander.
“We are integrating with the ISF to make us a better fighting force,” he said. “They have stepped up to the plate, and their partnership is why we are able to take over the mission that the Georgians had to leave behind, with no change in the security and safety of the Iraqi people.”
For Namel, working with the Americans is a chance to get better training, and learn as much from the U.S. Soldiers as he can. “I want to fight fiercely alongside the U.S. Army,” he said. By working with the Americans, “I get more training to be able to do the job.”
