Posted on 03/29/2009 10:41:02 AM PDT by SandRat
An 8th Iraqi Army Division Soldier looks through the aiming circle to verify the positioning of a target on the final day of 120 mm mortar system training at the 8th IA Div. headquarters, March 24. Photo by Sgt. Rodney Foliente, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs.
CAMP ECHO — Soldiers from the 8th Iraqi Army (IA) Division completed a six-week mortar training course conducted at their headquarters here, March 24.
“The overall training gives them a more immediate capability to hit targets with indirect fire and provide suppression and neutralization,” said Sgt. 1st Class Joel Kane, mortar platoon sergeant, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment.
Kane said the mortar teams add a great deal of fire support capabilities to the IA units, leading to an increase in the division’s strength and ability.
“We applied some of our techniques and tried to add to their abilities to employ their mortar systems,” said Kane. “We’ve given them advanced map reading courses and gun training drills so they can take their crews and form mortar companies. Things have gone very well and I am impressed with their ability to learn the mortar skills.
“Overall, it is a much more professional system than the last time I was here,” continued Kane, who is on his second deployment here. “There are some very good noncommissioned officers and officers that show the ability to take the lead away from Coalition forces.”
The goal is to allow for a train-the-trainer environment where the 8th IA Soldiers can continue to train their fellow comrades, said Staff Sgt. Nick Schmidt, fire direction center chief.
“We’ve had a lot of success with using students from previous classes to act as training assistants,” said Schmidt. “These student-instructors gain more experience to continue training their own Soldiers after we’re gone.”
The course not only helped with mortar systems, but also with advancing Soldiers’ overall skills, such as map reading, said Sgt. Haider, with the 8th IA Div.
His mortar team won the competition, but Haider modestly downplayed taking the lead.
“The goal for this training is to learn and it doesn’t matter who won,” said Haider. “I think we are all the winners. This training will help us maintain security and defeat those who threaten the peace and lives of innocent Iraqis.
“The Coalition forces have given us a great deal of training, now and in the past. We have gained experience and we have become a stronger and greater Army for it,” the 11-year IA veteran continued. “It is good for us to work side by side with [Coalition forces] because we learn from them and also build friendships. My relationship with U.S. Soldiers has been great and I call many of them friends and brothers.
“I want to remain a Soldier and continue to protect my country, my people and my family. The security in the area has been good and there have been no big issues,” Haider said. “I’m confident we will be able to control the security of the country when the Coalition forces leave. We have been working hard and have learned much. We are stronger than we ever were and have proven our ability day after day.”
(Multi-National Division – Center Release)
Normally one looks through an aiming circle to verify the position (lay) of the tube, not the target.
Small point.
I thought, "I didn't know Iowa had Mortar Teams. I wonder if its a combination of horseshoes and hand grenades. Sounds like fun".
Then I read further.
They get their own 120mm mortars starting in June. The GoI bought enough to equip each of their brigades with 9 each (62 sets of 9).
Some news I didn’t have.
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