The Arrowhead

ARROWHEAD The

Est. 1919

Vol. 2, Issue 12

Exercise ends in success for ISF

May 2011

Cover photo by Sgt. James Kennedy Benjamin 305th MPAD, USD-S Public Affairs

Photo by Sgt. Jeremy Spires 36th Inf. Div., USD-S Public Affairs

This month...

4

Wounded Warriors return to Iraq Denied the opportunity to go home on their own terms, eight service members wounded in Iraq during previous deployments returned to seek closure and see first-hand the results of their sacrifice during Operation Proper Exit.

10

Operation Lion’s Leap

14

A force growing stronger

Operation Lion’s Leap, which combined Iraqi Army, Navy, Air Force and Special Operations assets, showed military leaders the progress the ISF has made over the past several years.

Members of the 3rd Battalion, 32nd Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division completed three weeks of training on southern Iraq’s An Numaniyah Training Base.

ARROWHEAD The

Division Commanding General Maj. Gen. Eddy M. Spurgin

Division Command Sergeant Major Command Sgt. Maj. Wilson Early

Public Affairsr Lt. Col. Eric Atkisson w Deputy Public Affairs Capt. Brian Melanephy w Command Information Officer 1st Lt. Adam Musil w Command Information NCOIC Sgt. 1st Class Merrion LaSonde w Layout and Design Sgt. Jeremy Spires w Staff Writers Staff Sgt. Chanelcherie DeMello, Sgt. David Bryant, Sgt. James Kennedy Benjamin, Sgt. Raymond Quintanilla, Spc. Eve Ililau w Contributing Writers/Photographers Lt. Col. Enrique Villarreal, Maj. Steven Keihl, Staff Sgt. Garrett Ralston, David The ARROWHEAD is a monthly magazine distributed in electronic and print formats. It is authorized for publication by the 36th Infantry Division Public Affairs. The contents of The ARROWHEAD are unofficial and are not to be considered official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, including the Department of Defense. The ARROWHEAD is a command information publication in accordance with Army Regulation 360-1. The Public Affairs address is: 36th Infantry Division Public Affairs, APO AE 09374. Contact Sgt. 1st Class Merrion LaSonde via e-mail at merrion.lasonde@iraq.centcom.mil, 1st Lt. Adam Musil via e-mail at adam.musil@iraq.centcom.mil or Sgt. Jeremy Spires via email at jeremy.spires@iraq.centcom.mil.

Arrowhead 8 sends...

ISF provides safety and security to their country thanks to your hard work

W

elcome to another edition of The Arrowhead, the official magazine of the 36th Infantry Division. The focus of this issue is force protection and security, and I hope that some of the articles and photos will enlighten you about the great work our Soldiers are doing to advise and assist the Iraqi Security Forces as they prepare to assume full responsibility for their national defense.

For the past eight years, the United States military has worked diligently to help the Iraqi government create a military force capable of defending the borders of Iraq and bringing safety and stability to its people – I believe we are beginning to see the fruits of our labor. With a little over three months remaining in our deployment, we can all feel proud of the progress the ISF have continued to make since we arrived.

In this issue you will read about some of the progress, including Operation Lion’s Leap, a joint training exercise involving Iraqi Special Operations, Iraqi Navy, Iraqi Aviation, and the command battalion for the 14th Iraqi Army Division.

This operation, in particular, was an important step in the growth of the Iraqi military and highlighted their ability to conduct multi-layered and complex operations.

The success of Operations Lion’s Leap is a credit not only to the Iraqi Army, but to the men and women of USD-S. Our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines provided the mentorship necessary

government officials are similar to engagements with Iraqi Army and Iraqi police officials. Based on this mission set, it should be no surprise that the Department of Defense called upon some of Texas’ finest Citizen Soldiers to help conclude Operation New Dawn.

Lastly, I just want to thank all of you again for what you do and your commitment to the mission.

No one can be certain of what the future may bring, but all of you can look back on this deployment knowing that you served with honor and integrity and that you helped give the Iraqi people a chance to make the most of their hard-won freedom.

for the 14th IA Division to develop the concepts and planning for the exercise.

Throughout our time here, I have seen first-hand the Iraqis’ commitment to their mission, duty, selfless service and all the other intangibles that make the U.S. military what it is today. There is always room for improvement, of course, and it is encouraging to see that our counterparts in the ISF are committed to improving their processes and organizations.

For our National Guard soldiers these types of missions being conducted in USD-S are nothing new. In fact, some of our missions in Iraq are similar to our Stateside missions. For example, Tadreeb al Shamil, an all-inclusive training to teach the Iraqi Soldiers skill level one tasks, is essentially no different than Annual Training.

We are also conducting counter terrorism operations similar to our coordination with local Texas Brig. Gen. Len Smith law enforcement.

Our Iraqi Deputy Commanding General border security is similar to Texas Maneuver border security and leadership 36th Inf. Div., USD-S engagements with local Texas

W

ounded

B

ASRAH, Iraq– Denied the opportunity to go home on their own terms, eight service members wounded in Iraq during previous deployments returned to seek closure and see first-hand the results of their sacrifice during Operation Proper Exit on April 26.

“I just want to thank you for what you did for our country and the sacrifices you have made,” said Maj. Gen. Eddy Spurgin, Commander of USD-S and the 36th Inf. Div. during an office call with the wounded warriors. “My division headquarters

Chaplain (Maj) Wayne W. Mays, 36th Inf. Div. Chaplain, says a few encouraging words to Fredericksburg, Va. native, Cpl. (Retired) Isaiah Schaffer, during an office call on April 26. Schaffer sustained numerous combat injuries in 2004 and 2005 in Hiditha and Ramadi, and came to Iraq as part of Operation Proper Exit.

4

W

arriors

Return to Iraq

takes this very seriously. We were just talking about how we want to (finish) our mission with honor and success for the service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice and those that were wounded.”

The wounded warriors spent the day touring the different facilities on the base and visiting with a number of fellow service members. During a town hall meeting at the base Chapel, where the warriors shared their stories, Cpl. (Ret.) Isaiah Schaffer had a few words of wisdom to impart to the members of the military seated before him.

“It’s on the individual to take care of that guy on the right and the left of them, and it is up to those guys to do the same,” said the Fredericksburg, Va. native who suffered numerous injuries during his deployment in Hiditha and Ramadi from to 2005 with the Small Craft Company, 2nd Marine Division. “That’s really the only protection you have. You can have as much up-armor as you want, but if we are not using the best weapon we have, our mind, then we have no protection.”

The participants in Operation Proper Exit visited the 501st Explosive Ordnance Detachment during the final hours of their stay here.

The detachment had on display their mine resistant ambush protected vehicles, and presented them with a class on the current tactics, techniques and procedures used in combating IEDs.

“When they said ‘MRAP’, I though they were talking about a robot or something,” said Cpl. (Ret.) Donny Daughenbaugh, a resident of Houston, Texas, who was injured in 2004 when he was shot in the face conducting a vehicle search on the outskirts of Mahmudiyah. “To see something like this, it really changes the opportunities and survivability of … Soldiers.”

Many of these Soldiers and Marines were medically evacuated out of country due to the seriousness of the combat injuries they suffered in the line of duty. For Daughenbaugh and many others, coming back and being able to leave on their own terms is what this operation is all about.

“When we were here doing our stuff, we couldn’t wait to get out of this place and get back home,” said Daughenbaugh as he sat on the back of a MRAP and talked with Soldiers of the 36th Inf. Div., “but since we didn’t get to finish our time and mission when we left, the way we left it felt like we failed. So we are (in Iraq) for a week and then we get to leave on our own terms and two feet.”

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that they are giving us to be back in uniform and to be with other troops back on bases again,” he added. “Beside the fact that I don’t have a weapon, it feels like I never left.”

Story and photos by Sgt. Jeremy Spires 36th Inf. Div., USD-S Public Affairs

Cpl. (Retired) Donny Daughenbaugh experiments with a robot on display from the 501st EOD, during his tour of the base on April 26. Daughenbaugh was injured in 2004 on the outskirts of Mahmudiyah, when he was shot in the face while doing a vehicle search. Daughenbaugh and seven other service members visited various bases in Iraq during Operation Proper Exit, a program allowing military members the chance to return to Iraq and witness firsthand the changes that occurred because of their sacrifices

Soldier’s Health A

AS SEEN IN THE BASRA BULLETIN, “ASK THE TRAINER” COMES TO THE ARROWHEAD!

s the days grow hotter, so does the need to be fit. Our bodies are well made machines that require maintenance to stay operating at their peak performance. As a health and fitness columnist, I get asked all the time on the best ways to improve your overall physical fitness. So this month for the “Soldier’s Health” section of The Arrowhead, I decided to answer a few of the recurring questions I have been getting over the past month.

I’m trying to gain weight but stay lean.

Will eating a protein bar at night provide me with enough protein?

The recommendations for protein will vary depending on the intensity of your training, but the rule of thumb is approximately one gram of protein per pound of lean body mass. If you don’t know your body-fat percentage, divide your weight in pounds by 2.2 to get your kilograms. For example: 160 lbs/2.2= 73kg =73g of protein

Will drinking water before and during my meals really help me lose weight?

Drinking lots of water before and during a meal is a common dieting trick, but it isn’t necessary to waterlog yourself at meal time.

6

Is it OK to train on an empty stomach every morning?

If you don't eat before you train, your performance will suffer at higher intensities and longer durations. When you wake up, your body is in a fasted state.

You might have trouble just turning on AFN without a cup of coffee, so you can't expect to perform your best without fueling up and hydrating first.

I’m not good at eating breakfast. How much does not eating impact the quality of my run?

Studies have shown that people who run on an empty stomach have a slower pace and their rate of perceived exertion (how hard the run feels) is higher.

Chaplain’s Corner Surviving Separation

By CH (LT. Col) J. Craig Combs 36th Inf. Div. Chaplain, USD-S

N

o one has to remind those of us who have deployed that long deployments are hard on relationships. Although there is some truth to the old adage that “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” for many, it is more like, “Absence makes the heart prone to wander.” It seems that strong relationships tend to get even stronger, while weak or fragile relationships tend to fall apart.

Despite the pain of break ups, especially divorces, and despite the negative impact they have on the people involved, especially if there are children, the rate of broken relationships continues to sky rocket, especially among deployed service members.

In spite of this alarming trend, break ups, and the pain and disappointment that accompany them, do not have to be an inevitable side effect of long deployments.

Although it takes both parties in a relationship to make it work, we can only control or change our own behavior. However, our own attitude and behavior can indeed impact and influence the attitude and behavior of others around us.

Therefore, we need to concentrate on our own areas of improvement in order to make our relationships not only survive the separation of long deployments, but actually thrive in spite of them.

A useful reference point for us to use is the Army Leadership Model of “Be, Know, Do.” BE: For our relationships to survive and thrive, we must BE

committed to the relationship.

Half-hearted will not do. We must BE willing to do what it takes to make the relationship successful.

Therefore, we must BE the kind of partner we want our partner to be. It starts with us. We must BE the kind of partner who can be trusted, who is committed to the relationship and willing to give it our all in spite of difficulties and disappointment. We must be loving, patient, thoughtful and truthful, willing to admit when we are wrong and to forgive when we have been wronged. Good and healthy relationships start with us.

We must BE a good partner.

KNOW: For our relationships to survive and thrive, we must first KNOW ourselves. We must be aware of our strengths and weaknesses, our likes and dislikes.

We cannot try to be someone we are not or try to hide who we really are. Second, we must also KNOW our partner. Life cannot always be all about us. The best relationships are a reflection of selflessness, not selfishness. We must look at things from our partner’s perspective and seek to understand how they see the world around them and what they like and dislike, showing them respect, even when we disagree with their perspective. We must also KNOW something about how relationships work and how the dynamics of personality and cultural and familial history and other aspects can affect the nature of relationships.

DO: Finally, we must take action, take charge and DO the hard work

that needs to be done, committing to DO the things that will enhance and strengthen the relationship, not degrade and weaken it. We must be willing to DO the research, to spend the time, to avoid situations and circumstances that will open doors to bad choices and decisions that will bring harm and disharmony to the relationship. Yes, it is hard to DO. There is nothing easy about making a relationship work. However, the rewards and peace and satisfaction that come as a result of a great and thriving relationship more than make up for the hard work.

There are plenty of experts in this field to turn to, and I urge you to read all you can. However, as a Chaplain, I believe God to be the “Ultimate Expert.” He is the source of perfect relationships and created us with the capacity and need for thriving relationships. Therefore, I will leave you with just a sampling of His advice that has been helpful for me.

“However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” Ephesians 5:33 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4 7

During Operation Torrential Flood on Oct. 25, 2010, approximately 400 Iraqi soldiers with the 52nd Brigade, 14th Iraqi Army Division participated in a live-fire exercise at Tea Leaf Island in Basrah in what some commanders say was the first complex combined-arms exercise of its kind since the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime.

The intent of the exercise was to increase the 14th IA Division’s capability to conduct fullspectrum operations when called upon.

Operation Torrential Flood photos by Sgt. James Kennedy Benjamin 305th MPAD, USD-S Public Affairs

8

Iraqi Soldiers from the 14th Iraqi Army Division prepare for Operation Shining Star on Feb. 14, 2011, an exercise designed to show the combat and security capabilities of the division by combining mortars, tanks and a manned assault river crossing into a live-fire exercise. The exercise also culminated more than a year’s worth of advising, training and assisting efforts between the 14th IA Div. and battalions from U.S. Division – South.

Operation Shining Star photos by Sgt. Jeremy Spires 36th Inf. Div., USD-S Public Affairs Office

Operation Lion’s Leap Joint exercise test Iraqi Army metal

Story and Photos by Sgt. James Kennedy Benjamin 305th MPAD, USD-S Public Affairs

B

ASRAH, Iraq – U.S. and Iraqi Security Forces gathered at Khor Al Zubair, Iraq, April 28, to witness one of the largest jointmilitary exercises in ISF history.

Operation Lion’s Leap, which combined Iraqi Army, Navy, Air Force and Special Operations assets, showed military leaders the progress the ISF has made over the past several years.

“The road to today’s concluding phase of Lion’s Leap was neither short nor easy,” said Lt. Gen. Michael Ferriter, commanding general for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Training Mission- Iraq. “You have achieved your goal, and Iraq is even stronger today than before.”

To start the one-hour exercise, Iraqi Air Force helicopters dropped two squads of Iraqi Special Operations commandos at the first objective, where they assaulted and cleared an objective in minutes.

Soon after, the second phase began when artillerymen launched

10

mortar rounds into the second objective that laid several hundred meters across the river from military and media spectators.

Several Navy speedboats filled with IA Soldiers made their way from the north to that same objective where they disembarked to initiate the third phase. As the surge from the ground forces continued, four Air Force and Army Aviation helicopters made multiple rounds over the second

site, providing air support for the ground forces.

Iraqi units executed their duties in the field today successfully, said Lt. Gen. Mohommad, commander for the Basrah Operations Center.

“The exercise is different from its predecessors,” Mohammad said explaining that the previous exercises dealt with border security, whereas this exercise focused on liberating an island inhabited by terrorists.

Iraqi Security Forces launch artillery rounds into one of the objectives at Khor Al Zubair, April 28, during Operation Lion’s Leap. The one-hour exercise, which occurred in five phases, involved air, land and sea assets of the Iraqi Security Forces.

“It [Lion’s Leap] was really a stair stepping event that was truly, truly amazing,” said Maj. George Sellers, a Soldier with the 36th Infantry Division, Texas National Guard, and the primary planner for the 36th Inf. Div. Iraqi Security Force Cell. “Each one [operation] was a paradigm leap from the last. We are proud of the outcome.”

The exercise ended with no serious injuries, but with laughter and smiles from ISF Soldiers showing that the fruits of their hard labor had finally paid off.

Iraqi military leaders, Soldiers and their U.S. counterparts gathered for a feast to celebrate the successful exercise.

“You are witnessing history in the making and a product of an enduring partnership between our forces and our countries,” Ferriter said.

ABOVE— An Iraqi Air Force Helicopter launches simulated missiles at an objective at Khor Al Zubair, April 28, during Operation Lion’s Leap, the largest joint-military exercise in Iraqi Security Forces history. The one-hour exercise, which utilized Iraqi Army, Navy, Air Force and Special Forces assets, demonstrated the progress that ISF have made in the last several years of working with U.S and other Coalition Forces.

BELOW—Iraqi Special Forces commandos with the 6th Regional Commando Battalion form a single-line formation as they prepare to assault an objective at Khor Al Zubair, April 28, during Operation Lion’s Leap. The air insertion of the commandos marked the started of the largest joint-military exercise in Iraqi history since 2003.

A little arm-bar here a touch of a choke-hold there...

Spc. Jose Quilantan, a radio transmitter operator for the divison operation center, demonstrates a choke-hold on a fellow Soldier during the Modern Army Combatives class.

For 10 days, nine Soldiers from the 36th Inf. Div., trained to become instructors in the Modern Army Combatives program, ensuring that they would be able to survive a close quarters hand-to-hand engagement and have the ability to teach fellow Soldiers the skills necessary for them to survive as well.

On May 18, CW2 Dwight Pitt, Sgt. Michael Hernandez, Sgt. Matt Boyd, Spc. Daniel Gerig, Spc. Jose Quilantan, Spc. Maryann Trumpfheller, Spc. Jonathon Duvall, Spc. Brent Murray and Spc. Carlos Gonzalez stepped up to that challenge.

“It’s hard and physically demanding but we always tell them this isn’t the course to become a MMA fighter or a great fighter, what we need is instructors in the Army, “ said Staff Sgt. Neale Alanis, an instructor for MAC since 2008. “The main goal of the course is to make sure they can take what they learn here and be able to teach any Soldier on the battlefield or in training.”

“I would recommend that everybody (take the course),” said Sgt. Matthew Boyd, a medic with Division Special Troops Battalion and a new instructor in MAC. “It is good to know how to stay alive…either by ending the fight quickly or keep it going until help arrives.”

The U.S. Army teaches four different courses in combatives. These Soldiers are now qualified on Level one, which teaches the basics and certifies them as instructors. Level two builds on the skills from the introduction course and will expound on the reasoning behind the philosophy and methodology of the program.

Level three takes level one and two skills and integrates them into unit-level training regiment. Level four is designed to develop master trainers for MAC. “Being deployed has been a benefit when it comes to training like this,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Todd Richardson, Division Special Troops Battalion Command Sergeant Major for the 36th Inf. Div. “We get the chance to do a lot that we wouldn’t be able to do back home…and we hope to have as many of these Story and photo by Sgt. Jeremy Spires classes as we can before we re-deploy.”

36th Inf. Div., USD-S Public Affairs “By doctrine, we are allowed to teach civilians and ASRAH, Iraq – Hearts pounding; sweat dripping; other armed forces,” said Alanis, who now has nine arms, hands and legs moving with lightening additional instructors to help teach the course. “I have speed; red-faced and short of breath, two competitors been talking with other (service members), and they are grapple, all with the goal of dominating their adversary people interested. Maybe we can get some Air Force and delivering the blow to either kill, incapacitate or and Marine (personnel) in here to learn from them as just survive. well.”

B 12

G6 Help Desk- The 36ID “Geek Squad” Story and photo by Sgt. Jason Kaneshiro 305th MPAD, USD-S Public Affairs

B

ASRAH, Iraq – Who do you turn to when it seems as though a demon has possessed your laptop? The Soldiers of the G6 Help Desk, that’s who.

With technical know-how and a ton of patience, they’ll exorcise the bugs in the system and keep data flowing and the digital gears of the Army turning.

“They are the ones people come to when things don’t work,” said Master Sgt. Vanessa Verstuyft, noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the Help Desk.

“They have to deal with the many unique personalities of all the customers and maintain their customer services skills under stressful situations at times.”

In addition to fixing user issues, the Help Desk Soldiers are responsible for maintaining connectivity throughout Contingency Operating Base Basra and elsewhere in the U.S. Division-South operational environment. Their efforts allows for a continuous flow of information that gives leaders greater situational awareness throughout U.S. Div.-South and U.S. Forces-Iraq.

“What’s unique about them is that they have direct contact with customers on a daily basis,” said Sgt. Maj. Daniel VanDerMark, signal operations sergeant major with 36th Infantry Division, Texas Army National Guard.

One of the biggest daily challenges has been customer education, explained VanDerMark. There are times when a computer problem that a user encounters could have been avoided if they had a better understanding of how their digital tools function.

Just as Soldiers are taught the basic functions of

their weapons to be able to quickly diagnose and fix a malfunction, Help Desk Soldiers strive to educate and encourage their customers to know how the system works and how to alleviate the problems that they may face in the future.

“What impresses me the most is their temperament,” VanDerMark said. Customers can be very upset and impatient when they walk up to the Help Desk and some take the approach of “This isn’t working and you have to fix it now,” he said.

Since arriving in theater, they have pulled together and completed over 3,600 jobs. Despite unforgiving deadlines, they continue to encourage each other to do their best to maintain their troubleshooting and problem solving skills, said Verstuyft.

The Help Desk Soldiers most recently completed the task of replacing some of the laptops used in division headquarters.

“There are many steps involved in replacing someone’s laptop,” said Verstuyft.

From saving user data for transfer onto the replacement computer and prepping it to join the network to sterilizing the old laptop to be turned in, the help desk has come together to make this a painless process for our customers, she said.

“I’m very proud of all my help desk teams and have confidences in them to get the job done,” Verstuyft said.

Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Garrett Ralston 3d ACR Public Affairs

A

N NUMANIYAH, Iraq – Members of the 3rd Battalion, 32nd Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division completed three weeks of training on southern Iraq’s An Numaniyah Training Base Apr. 27.

The 3rd Battalion is the second Iraqi unit to complete training as a part of “Eagles Rising,” a comprehensive training program developed by the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment to enhance the combat capabilities of the Iraqi Soldiers.

Since Eagles Rising began in March, members of the 3rd ACR have worked closely with both the Iraqi training cadre and the Iraqi Soldiers to ensure they are prepared, not only to conduct their security mission, but also to maintain current internal training needs.

“The original focus was simply to develop the Iraqi Army’s attack and defend operations,” said Lt. Col. Terry Hodgson, the Iraqi Security Forces cell chief with the 3rd ACR Stability and Transition Team, and a native of Orangeburg, S.C. “For several years their focus has been on fixed site security. They haven’t spent much time on traditional tactics.”

During two training rotations the Iraqi cadre have worked with platoon and company level Soldiers on a wide variety of skill sets. The culmination of the most recent class was a large exercise that would test the Iraqi Soldiers on much of what they had learned.

A force on force battle between Iraqis and 3rd ACR Soldiers lasted nearly two hours. The Iraqi Soldiers defended their positions from the enemy Soldiers while artillery simulators, smoke grenades and star cluster flares provided extra effects. The Iraqi Soldiers prevailed, with only 13 casualties when the dust settled.

The cadre also focused on training the Iraqi Soldiers on basic force protection exercises that will increase their resiliency in their daily operations.

RIGHT—Pfc. Ryan Gaskins, a cavalry scout with Troop F, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, originally from Nashville, Ga., tightens a laser adapter on the rifle of an Iraqi Soldier before training on the An Numaniyah Training Base April 25, 2011. The Iraqi Soldiers are conducting training as part of “Eagles Rising,” a comprehensive program designed to enhance the Iraqis basic combat skills. Members of the 3rd Battalion, 32nd Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division recently completed the second rotation of Eagles Rising.

14

“During the second iteration, assistance on the Iraqi Army’s internal security was requested [by IA leadership],” said Hodgson. “Iraqi Soldiers face many dangers every day during their operations.”

As the phases continue Iraqi cadre plan to add force protection training to the regular attack and defend exercises they are conducting now.

“It has been a long time since my men have trained on Soldier tasks,” said Staff Brig. Gen. Majid Fadil Al Zohairi, commander of the 3rd Battalion. “We are now sharper on using terrain and our weapon systems. We are definitely ready to take our positions and serve our country.”

Zohairi believes with each new class, his men continue to take hold of the training and are leading from within their own ranks.

“I think the center will now be better prepared to execute full spectrum operations training,” said Hodgson. “We have also instilled in the junior officers that some great training can be conducted right at their home stations without massive resourcing. That’s an important idea that I hope the Soldiers and leaders will take away from this training.”

RIGHT —An Iraqi Army commander with the 3rd Battalion, 32nd Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division informs his men before a training iteration at the An Numaniyah Training Base April 25, 2011. Members of the 8th IA are training with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment to enhance their platoon and company level combat skills.

BACKGROUND — An Iraqi Soldier of the 3rd Battalion, 32nd Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division sits waiting behind a veil of smoke for an advancing enemy force during training at the An Numaniyah Training Base April 25, 2011. Members of the 3rd Battalion recently completed the second rotation of “Eagles Rising,” a program developed by the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment designed to enhance the Iraqis attack and defend tactics and basic force protection measures.

In honor of all the EOD Technicians

16

Airforce Senior Airman Michael J. Buras September 21, 2010 Afghanistan

Marine Staff Sgt. Joshua J. Cullins October 19, 2010 Helmand Province, Afghanistan

Army Staff Sgt. Shane S. Barnard May 19, 2010 Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan

Army Staff Sgt. Matthew J. West August 30, 2010 Brunkhorst, Afghanistan

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Floyd E. Holley August 29, 2010 Helmand Province, Afghanistan

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Floyd E. Holley August 29, 2010 Helmand Province, Afghanistan

Air Force Senior Airman Daniel Johnson October 5, 2010 Kandahar, Afghanistan

Marine Staff Sgt. Jordan B. Emrick November 5, 2010 Helmand Province, Afghanistan

who made the ultimate sacrifice in 2010 Army Spc. Wade A. Slack May 6, 2010 Wardak Province, Afghanistan

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Justin E. Schmalstieg December 15, 2010 Afghanistan

Army Capt. Jason T. McMahon September 5, 2010 Afghanistan

Marine Master Sgt. Daniel L. Fedder August 27, 2010 Helmand Province, Afghanistan

Army Staff Sgt. Derek J. Farley August 17, 2010 Afghanistan

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Eastman July 18, 2010 Helmand Province, Afghanistan

Marine Sgt. Jason T. Smith November 19, 2010 Helmand Province Afghanistan

17

1st Cav. Div. advises and assists local ISF

By Maj. William Mott STT, 1st Bn., 12th Cav. Regt., 3rd AAB, 1st Cav. Div.

B

ASRAH, Iraq- Basrah is a 19,000 square kilometer Southern Iraqi province with a growing population of three million people. The Basrah Operations Command is the command and control element headquarters for all Iraqi Security Forces operating in the Basrah Province.

The BaOC is located at the Shat Al Arab Hotel and is sustained by C Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. This coalition enables Task Force Charger to meet with and advise ISF on a daily basis, and allows TFC to shape decision making of key Iraqi leaders creating a pathway for bilateral information flow.

At the heart of this operation representing U.S. Forces is the battalion tactical liaison officer in charge, Maj. Luis Cruz, a Stability Transition Team member from 1st Bn, 12th Cav. Regt. He runs the Battalion Tactical Center 24 hours a day with the assistance of two non commissioned officers and two O-9Ls. The O9Ls are both linguists and translators who facilitate ISF operations order, briefing translation, situational awareness and Key Leader Engagements support.

Maj. Cruz employs C Co., Soldiers well versed

The Basrah Operations Command as seen during a humanitarian mission on March 7, 2011. (Photo enhancement by Sgt. Jeremy Spires, 36th Inf. Div., USD-S Public Affairs)

18

in the areas of biometrics and sensitive site exploitation to assist with individuals arrested for terrorist and criminal acts against the government of Iraq and U.S. forces.

The BaOC is commanded by Staff Lt. Gen. Muhammad Juwad Al-Huwaidy.

It is a Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior, and Ministry of Oil Command Center in the Basrah Province that promotes the Rule of Law and economic development.

Some of the interagency offices at the BaOC are the Basrah Security Council, Joint Targeting Meeting and Counter Indirect Fire Working Group.

The BaOC has a Joint Operations Command and Control center that is manned 24 hours by senior officers and LNOs from MoI, MoO, MoD agencies and U.S. Forces. It consists of a morning and evening update brief and also crisis action monitoring.

On the Joint Operations Center floor, Maj. Cruz advises ISF daily on significant activities as they develop, and briefs the appropriate LNO, and senior staff members. He coordinates USF support in the form of Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance, Quick Reaction Force, Explosive Ordnance Device, and Information Operations products.

Steel Dragons help southern Iraq prepare for future security Story and photos by Spc. Sharla Lewis 3rd AAB Public Affairs, 1st Cav. Div.

T

ALLIL, Iraq – The 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade hosted a conference with local military and police officials to discuss ways to secure southern Iraq’s main roadways April 26 at Contingency Operating Base Adder.

The battalion impressed upon the Iraqi Security Forces the need for emplacing sustainable systems that they can maintain after U.S. troops drawdown. The highlights of the meeting included new map standards, implementing the approval of roadside workers through local police stations and assisting them in maintaining the momentum developed in recent years.

The conference has been five weeks in the making, said the battalion’s commander, Lt. Col. Robert Wright. Leaders from the platoon level conducted key leader engagements all over Dhi Qar and Muthanna provinces to ensure that local officials were aware and could provide feedback on the topics covered at the conference.

“This is only the beginning of a series of councils and we wanted everyone to be prepared for the meeting,” he said. “We got a lot of positive feedback because of that.”

The local leaders said they liked the idea of standardized map legends. The use of physical reference points instead of letters and numbers on maps will help them respond faster to emergencies in unfamiliar areas.

“The average Iraq Army Soldier doesn’t have a map in his vehicle,” Wright said. “Using common reference points will make their responses quicker.”

Also discussed was the importance of screening

contracted workers in the area. The Iraqi leadership expressed concerns of potential criminals using roadside jobs as gateways to emplace bombs, and decided that background checks would eliminate those concerns.

Many of the tactics discussed will secure routes during the responsible drawdown of U.S. troops later this year and will keep local roads safe for years to come.

“The most important thing we took from this meeting is the coordination of work for future success,” said a local police official.

Lt. Col. Robert Wright, the commander of 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division explains the importance of having a standardized map legend for junior Iraqi Soldiers and police officers to understand at a recent route security conference at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq April 26.

One World

Closing the gulf of misunderstanding

By Sgt. Jason Kaneshiro 305th MPAD, USD-S Public Affairs

B

ASRAH, Iraq– What do you think of when you hear the word “Muslim?” It’s a word that can mean different things to different people and can stir visceral emotions in some.

Entire libraries could be filled with the volume of books written about the subject. Scholars have devoted entire professional careers to the study of Muslims and Islam.

Michael Heydari did his best to condense as much as he could into one hour.

Heydari, most recently in Iraq with the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Tatweer program, offered a lecture on Islam to all personnel at Contingency Operating Base Basra, April 13 at the United Service Organization’s theater here.

The lecture covered topics including the differences between the Sunni and the Shia, marriage, prayers, fasting, and the role of women in Islam.

“Talking to members of the military at COB Basra, they expressed a need and a desire to know about Islam,” Heydari said in an e-mail interview.

Heydari added that military personnel also wanted to learn more about the differences between the Shia and the Sunni as well as other cultural issues, both because of the importance of understanding those subjects in relation to their mission in Iraq and because of the changes currently sweeping across the Arab world.

One of his first propositions was that Muslims see the world through

20

the lens of Islam in a way that other people may not initially understand.

“Islam is not only a religion; it is a way of life,” he said. He continued to explain how it shapes the perceptions and behaviors of Muslims on very basic levels outside the sphere of religion. The teachings and laws of Islam cover areas of life from social interactions to economics and politics. With so many aspects of life guided by religious scripture, it may be of little surprise that the literal translation of ‘Islam’ is ‘submission’ or the total surrender of oneself to God. How that way of life may be perceived by others is one of the reasons that Heydari was prompted to offer the lecture.

For instance, there is a common belief that Islam dictates that female adherents have little to no rights. “’Technically,’ women have many of the same rights as men do in Islam,” Heydari countered.

“Women are allowed to get a divorce, marry whom they choose, and own property. Family planning and abortion is also permissible.

Islam affords women many rights.”

Why, then, would there be the belief that women are relegated to second-class status?

“Even though women have these rights, it is the enforcement in countries today that is different,” said Heydari.

Heydari offered a possible explanation that long-held tribal traditions may account for the wide gulf between what is supposedly allowed in Islam to what is actually practiced in certain Muslim

communities.

Born in Tehran, Heydari moved to the U.S. at the age of 23 and received advanced degrees in engineering and economics. His first wife was a Catholic from Mexico and his second is from Kansas. With such a background, Heydari has had multiple occasions to practice tolerance and understanding of different cultures and religions throughout his life. Although he does not practice or advocate any religion in particular, his intent was to present an objective view of Islam to his predominately Western audience, he said.

1.4 billion: Muslim world population

50+ countries: where the population is greater than 50% Muslim

17: number of those

countries that the Muslim population is over 50%

85%: percentage of

Muslims who are Sunni

14%: percentage of Muslims who are Shia

354 days: number of days in the Islamic calendar 622 C.E.: year that the Islamic calendar was started Ashura: holy event that is as important to the Shia as the crucifixion of Christ is to Christians www.google.com/images

Iraq Marshes: Then, Now, and Forever?

Stories and images courtesy of David 36th Inf. Div. Interpreter, USD-S Public Affairs

M

arshes of Iraq (called in Arabic “Al-Ahwar”) are areas of wetland at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in southern Iraq. They cover a large area stretching from Al-Kut in the north to Basrah in the south.

The most important of these marshes is AlChebayish Marsh in Dhi Qar, which is considered the largest marsh in area (about 600 km²), then AlHowaizah Marsh and Al-Hammar Marsh, in addition to another set of marshes that are related to each other and distributed in Basrah, Dhi Qar, and Maysan in an area of more than three million acres in southern Iraq.

Some believe these marshes region were the orginial “Garden of Eden” in the Old Testament.

Inhabitants of the Tigris-Euphrates marshlands are known as “The Marsh Arabs” (in Arabic ‘Arab AlAhwar’), also known in Iraqi dialect as the Ma’daan, and they are in the south and east of Iraq and along the Iranian border. Ma’daan live in huts, known as Sarifahs, built from reeds with elaborate latticework entrances and attractive designs that go back to ancient times.

The origins of the Ma’daan are still a matter of some interest. Ethnographers found it difficult to classify some of the Ma’daan’s social customs and speculated that they might have originated from India, while others speculated that they had Persian origins.

Many historians and archaeologists provide strong circumstantial evidence that Iraq’s Marsh Arabs share a link to the ancient Sumerians, people who inhabited southern ancient Mesopotamia (today’s southern Iraq).

There are links between the Marsh Arabs and the ancient Sumerians, based on shared agricultural practices and methods of house-building.

There is, however, no written record of the marsh tribes until the ninth century A.D., when the Akkadians absorbed the Sumerians.

World-renowned Norwegian explorer, Thor

Heyerdahl, an archaeologist and ethnographer wrote: “In the veins of the Ahwar Arabs there runs Sumerian blood more than that in the veins of any other Arabian tribe. Only those Ahwar Arabs are the grandchildren of the ancient civilization.”

Inhabitants of marshes live on small islands, natural or manufactured, and use a type of boats called Mashoof in movement and travels. Mashoof looks like gondola, which is the traditional flat-bottomed rowing boat in Venice, Italy.

Marshes have a positive impact on the environment and are considered a good source to provide plenty of food, such as fish, birds and agricultural products that rely on the availability and sustainability of water, such as rice and sugar cane.

The tribal guesthouse, which is called the “Mudhif”, acts as the political, social, judicial, and religious center of Marsh Arabic life. It is also the place where visitors are offered hospitality.

In the early 1990s, that way of life came to an abrupt end when Saddam Hussein ordered the marshes to be drained to punish the local population for an uprising after his failed invasion of Kuwait, a problem exacerbated by the continued construction of dams upstream. The act of draining marshes had bad effects on weather and increased pollution.

After 2003, Iraq’s marshes were re-flooded and about 58% of the marsh area present in the mid1970s has been restored in the sense that standing water is seasonally present and vegetation reasonably dense. However, the lack of connectedness among the various re-flooded marshes remains a concern for species diversity.

Moreover, the volume of water that flowed into the marshes in the first years of restoration may not be able to be sustained as the country stabilizes and economic and agricultural activity resume.

As a result, the ultimate fate of Iraq’s marshes is still uncertain. www.greenprophet.com

One People

A moment in history...

By Lt. Col. Enrique Villarreal 36th Inf. Div. Command Historian

I

n military organizations, the practice of carrying colors, standards or guidons to act both as a rallying point for troops, and to mark the location of the commander, is thought to have originated in ancient Egypt some 5,000 years ago. Although today they are largely used for their symbolic importance, in the past flags had real practical value on the battlefield; in the confusion of battle, they helped a soldier keep track of where his unit was, and if things went wrong they were a useful rallying point. During the Texas Revolution, flags became an integral part of the fight for freedom, from the battle of Gonzales, the first episode in the Revolution, to the Texas Declaration of Independence, Texans fought under at least eight flags: Gonzales, Dodson, Scott, Dimmitt, Brown, Red Rovers, Troutman, and Baker. Below are four of the most popular flags in Texas history.

Gonzales Battle Flag • First used in 1835 during the Texas Revolution.

• Considered a symbol of defiance.

• Slogan can be considered a modification of the response from King Leonidas of Sparta to the Persians during the Battle of Thermopylae. When asked that his men lay down their weapons, he replied, “Come and get them.”

Dodson Battle Flag • The Dodson Flag was sewn by Mrs. Sarah Dodson during the Texas Revolution.

• The colors resemble the flag of Revolutionary France.

• Flew over Texans in Cibolo Creek and may have been the first Texas flag raised in San Antonio. Was one of two that flew over the cabin used to ratify the Texas Declaration of Independence.

New Orleans grey Battle Flag • Only flag still in existence that possibly flew at the Alamo.

• Flag represents the first company of the New Orleans Greys and was presented to the Greys by a group of East Texas “Ladies.”

• Currently the flag is located at the National Museum in Mexico City and attempts by the State of Texas to bring the flag back to Texas have failed.

San jacinto Battle Flag

• The flag was brought to Texas by Sidney Sherman.

• It was allegedly painted by James Beard and presented to the Newport (Kentucky) Rifle Company formed to help Texas fight the Mexican Army.

• The silk flag was given to the state by Sherman’s decendants in 1896 and now hangs in the House chamber today.

22

36th Inf. Div. Hall of Heroes Tech. Sgt. Charles H. Coolidge

Company K., 141st Infantry, 36th Infantry Division

L

eading a section of heavy machine guns supported

by I platoon of Company K, T/Sgt. Coolidge took a position near Hill 623, east of Belmont sur Buttant, France, on 24 October 1944, with the mission of covering the right flank of the 3rd Battalion and supporting its action.

T/Sgt. Coolidge went forward with a sergeant of Company K to reconnoiter positions for coordinating the fires of the light and heavy machine guns.

They ran into an enemy force in the woods estimated to be an infantry company. T/Sgt. Coolidge, attempting to bluff the Germans by a

show of assurance and boldness called upon them to surrender, whereupon the enemy opened fire.

With his carbine, T/Sgt. Coolidge wounded two of them. There being no officer present with the force, T/Sgt. Coolidge at once assumed command.

Many of the men were replacements recently arrived; this was their first experience under fire. T/ Sgt. Coolidge, unmindful of the enemy fire delivered at close range, walked along the position, calming and encouraging his men and directing their fire.

The attack was thrown back. Through 25 and 26 October the enemy launched repeated attacks against the position of this combat group but each was repulsed due to T/Sgt. Coolidge’s able leadership.

On 27 October, German infantry, supported by two tanks, made a determined attack on the position. The area was swept by enemy small-arms, machine gun, and tank fire.

T/Sgt. Coolidge armed himself with a bazooka and advanced to within 25 yards of the tanks. His bazooka failed to function and he threw it aside.

Securing all the hand grenades he could carry, he crawled forward and inflicted heavy casualties on the advancing enemy.

Finally it became apparent that the enemy, in greatly superior force, supported by tanks, would overrun the position. T/Sgt. Coolidge, displaying great coolness and courage, directed and conducted an orderly withdrawal, being himself the last to leave the position.

As a result of T/Sgt. Coolidge’s heroic and superior leadership, the mission of this combat group was accomplished throughout four days of continuous fighting against numerically superior enemy troops in rain and cold and amid dense woods.

23

A memorial service for 1st Lt. Omar Vazquez and Private 1st Class Antonio Higgins was held on Contingency Operating Station Delta on April 28. The two fallen Soldiers were from Fox Troop, Sabre Squadron, 3d Armored Calvary Regiment. (Photo by Sgt. James Kennedy Benjamin, 305th MPAD, USD-S Public Affairs)