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The concept of using small embedded 

teams of military advisors to assist foreign 

security forces is not new. However, the 

concept of using these teams in Iraq and Afghanistan has garnered considerable public 

attention over the last year, especially since 

the publication of the Iraq Study Group’s 

report in December of 2006. 

In this report, the Study Group stated in 

their first sentence that “there is no magical 

Transition Teams: An overview

formula” for success in Iraq. However, one 

of the Group’s key recommendations was 

that “the United States should significantly 

increase the number of U.S. military personnel, including combat troops, embedded with 

and supporting Iraqi Army units.” At the time 

this article was published, the U.S. Army, Air 

Force and Navy had already consolidated 

transition team training at Fort Riley., under 

the 1st Infantry Division. Teams had been 

training in Kansas for months already, and a 

significant number of Big Red One transition 

teams had already deployed to Iraq. 

Nobody knows for sure what the future 

holds in Iraq, but it’s likely that the requirement for transition teams will continue. 

These teams provide essential support for 

developing security forces vital to stability 

in both Iraq and Afghanistan. With effective 

security forces, these nations’ governments 

will be able to operate in increasingly stable, 

relatively peaceful environments. This stability will hopefully allow the Iraqi and Afghan 

governments to focus more of their resources 

toward improving their quality of life, through 

democratic and economic advances.

The Army began using transition teams in early 2004, as 

operations shifted to the self-reliance of Iraqi and Afghan security 

forces. Initially, teams were provided primarily by units already 

in Iraq. These “internal” teams 

operated with minimal training 

and resources in their efforts to 

advise, teach, and mentor the Iraqi 

Security Forces (ISF). 

As the role of transition teams 

increased in importance, the Army 

began, in 2005, training advisory 

teams at several locations, to include Fort Carson, Colo.; Fort 

Hood, Texas; and Camp Shelby, 

Mississippi. 

In March 2006, U.S. Army Forces Command decided to consolidate transition team training at Fort Riley initially under the 24th

Infantry Division, commanded by MG Dennis Hardy. The mission 

would be passed to the 1st Infantry Division upon its arrival Aug. 1. 

LTG Russel Honore’s First Army would provide the initial cadre of 

trainers from one of his training support brigades to augment Fort 

Riley, while the 24th and then 1st Infantry Division reconfigured their 

organizations to train these teams. 

On the 1st of June, 2006, Soldiers from First Army’s 2nd Brigade, 

91st Training Support Division, commanded by COL Ray Lamb, 

started adviser training at Fort Riley. Initially, only teams headed 

for Iraq were trained at Fort Riley, but since then the teams bound 

for Afghanistan have also come to Kansas for their training. On 

August 1, the 24th Infantry Division transferred authority for Fort 

Riley and the training mission to the 1st Infantry Division. 

Dedicating the 1st Infantry Division Headquarters and two of 

the Division’s brigades to transition team training demonstrated the 

Army’s commitment to the transition team mission. Although the 

Army was criticized by some journalists for moving too slowly, the 

Army recognized as early as 2004 the value of transition teams, and 

took the initiative by creating teams “out of hide” while developing 

a strong training program. 

Visits by Army, Department of Defense, and Congressional 

leadership to Fort Riley underscored the importance of the transition team training mission. Fort Riley hosted nearly all key leaders 

in the fall of 2006, to include Vice Chief of Staff of the Army GEN 

Richard Cody, Chief of Staff of the Army GEN Peter Schoomaker, 

Secretary of the Army Francis Harvey, and Secretary of Defense 

Donald Rumsfeld. 

The bottom line became clear: the consolidation of training at 

Fort Riley under the 1st Infantry Division provides standardization 

of high quality training, more effective use of resources and fast 

integration of lessons learned.

A brief history of 

transition teams

Series by 1st Infantry Division

Public Affairs Office

Photo by Anna Morelock
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In short, transition teams advise, teach and mentor Iraqi and 

Afghan Security Forces, and provide direct access to Coalition 

capabilities such as air support, artillery, medical evacuation and 

intelligence gathering. As advisers, teams help develop capabilities 

of Iraqi and Afghan Security Forces, so they become capable of 

independent, effective security operations. 

Teams typically travel in armored Humvees, and spend most of 

their time with the Iraqi or Afghan unit they advise and support. 

The normal size of teams is 10-16 military personnel, depending on 

the type of unit they advise. However, the number of members in a 

team can range from as few as three to as many as 45. Many teams 

are supplemented in theater with security or other support. 

Only highly qualified senior officers and noncommissioned 

officers are employed in teams. These officers and NCOs bring a 

wide range of combat and combat support specialties to include: 

operations, intelligence, logistics, communications, engineering, 

fire support, medical and garrison operations. This multi-functional 

aspect of teams is further complemented by considerable individual 

combat experience. 

Teams provide mentorship: flexible, resilient and steadfast teams 

provide a positive and professional example for their Iraqi partners 

in dealing with adversity and the challenges of serving in a democratic nation. They work with their Iraqi and Afghan counterparts 

to enhance the understanding of the rule of law and fundamental 

human rights. 

The officers and NCOs of these teams are selected based upon 

their grade, skill and experience match, balanced with the amount 

of time they have had since their last deployment (dwell time). 

Also, it’s not just active Army training: Fort Riley trains Soldiers 

from active duty, the Army Reserve, and National Guard as well as 

airmen and sailors from our sister services. 

As a side note, the Marines currently differ in the way they deploy 

teams. Their teams are connected to regimental rotations, whereas 

the Army, Air Force, and Navy send out teams independent of unit 

rotations. The Marine Corps is committed to the same principles of 

transition team training, and the 1st Inf. Div. communicates closely 

with the Marine Corps to ensure parallel training and standards. 

What are Transition Teams?

The mission of transition teams is to advise, teach and mentor 

Iraqi and Afghan security forces, and to provide direct access to 

Coalition capabilities such as air support, artillery, medical evacuation and intelligence gathering. In the end, transition teams assist 

Iraqi and Afghan Security Forces in assuming full responsibility for 

the security of their country. 

Over the past three years, the Iraqi Security Forces have been 

rebuilt from the ground up to be a modern, effective fighting force. 

Afghan Security Forces were in place already, but the increased effectiveness of both nations’ forces are a result 

of initiatives taken in early 2005 and training 

provided by embedded transition teams. 

The role of transition teams in both Iraq 

and Afghanistan likely will not diminish in 

the near future. These teams are crucial in 

the establishment of professional security 

forces that effectively support the fledgling 

democratic governments. With the establishment of effective security forces, the governments of these nations gain credibility and 

the ability to carry out their political missions 

— missions based on democratic values 

that will bring a better life to the people of 

those nations. 

Much of what these teams do goes unnoticed by the public, and that’s not necessarily 

a bad thing; it’s part of what these teams do. 

They lead from behind. They put the Iraqis 

and Afghans up front, in the lead for security 

missions of all types. Good transition teams 

guide their units to victory – victory on the 

battlefield and victory in the eyes of the 

Iraqis and Afghans. As public confidence in security forces grows, 

Iraqi and Afghan security forces gain pride and effectiveness.

From October 2006 to September 2007, the 1st Infantry Division will train approximately 4,500 officers and noncommissioned 

officers in this critical mission. While there is no “magic formula” 

for success in Iraq and Afghanistan, each of these Big Red One 

transition teams undoubtedly will help create the conditions required 

for success. 

Transition Teams on the battlefield
Training Transition Teams

The benefits of consolidating train

ing at Fort Riley under the 1st Infantry Division are numerous, to include 

a more effective use of resources and the 

standardization of training. Certainly, moving all training to one location saves money 

and streamlines processes. Most importantly, however, the consolidation ensures 

the highest standard of training for each 

deploying team

Each team trains for approximately 60 

days at Fort Riley. Training focuses on seven 

core competencies: combat skills, force 

protection, team support processes, technical 

and tactical training, adviser skills, counterinsurgency operations and understanding 

the culture.

Beyond these core competencies, teams 

with special requirements receive modified 

training to meet their needs. For example, 

Garrison Support Unit (GSU) transition 

teams have met with local Kansas municipal 

administrators to better learn how to effectively manage a city. 

Training foreign security forces is not 

an easy job, and cultural and language differences pose significant challenges. The 

training at Fort Riley takes these factors 

into account, and teams are provided more 

than 40 hours of language instruction; 

cultural awareness training is incorporated 

throughout. Teams also receive substantial 

training and exercise in the use of interpreters. Interpreters speaking both Iraqi Arabic 

and Dari languages add realism and training 

value to the training environment. 

The goal of each transition team is to 

help the Iraqi and Afghan Security Forces 

establish doctrine and processes which 

should ensure continued stability when the 

teams depart. In order to accomplish this, 

teams must learn to ‘lead from behind’ in 

advising, teaching and mentoring. This is 

a cultural change in itself for most U.S. 

military men and women, who are used to 

‘taking charge and leading from the front.’ 

And yes, women do train and deploy with 

transition teams. Women most often train 

and deploy in teams such as the previously 

mentioned Garrison Support Units or Motor 

Transport teams. 

As the conditions and tactics on the battlefield change, and as we continue to learn how 

to better train forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, 

we also continue to modify and adapt training. IED training is constantly modified, 

sometimes on a daily basis, to reflect the 

most recent tactics and counter-improvised 

explosive device techniques. Counter-sniper 

training was developed to meet that growing 

threat, and teams often return at mid-tour to 

provide face-to-face guidance on what works 

and doesn’t work in country. 

Transition team training first prepares 

teams to advise, teach and mentor Iraq and 

Afghan security forces. However, teams receive extensive training as well in battlefield 

survival skills, weapons, advanced first aid 

and combat driving skills. This critical training helps ensure the survivability of teams 

in Theater. 

Training continues after teams deploy from Fort Riley. Teams 

deploying to Afghanistan undergo an abbreviated training and 

transfer program, but for teams deploying in support of Operation 

Iraqi Freedom, the process tacks on another 24 days.

 Teams headed for Iraq first stop at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, for 

theater-orientation training. Camp Buehring focuses seven days of 

training on High Risk of Capture training, foreign weapons familiarization, crew-served weapons training, counter-IED training, 

convoy live fire, and language training. 

Next is Camp Taji, Iraq, where teams polish skills at the Phoenix 

Academy. The Phoenix Academy is currently an eight-day school 

that provides counter-insurgency training, advisory skills training, 

language training and additional hands-on training for communications systems teams will employ. 

Finally, teams go through a 10-day Relief in Place/Transfer of 

Authority (RIP/TOA) process. During this final phase of training, teams receive detailed briefings, are introduced to their Iraqi 

counterparts, and are made familiar with their area of operations 

by the outgoing team. The incoming team must brief its higher 

headquarters and satisfy the commander that all requirements to 

ensure a successful handover have been met. 

Total training time for Operation Iraqi Freedom teams, including 

the RIP/TOA, is approximately 85 days.

In-Theater training

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Navy Cmdr. Phil Blaine is a pharmacist. He’s also a member of 

a transition team destined for Afghanistan. He and the other members of his team will be standing up a hospital when they deploy, 

but first, they have to get through their training at Fort Riley. 

The equipment they wear weighs between 50 and 70 pounds 

and for someone who isn’t used to wearing it, it doesn’t take long 

to get worn down. That was the hardest thing Navy Lt. Priscilla 

Del Carpio had to deal with.

“Never in a million years did I think I’d be doing all this Army 

stuff,” Del Carpio said. “I knew I’d be deploying sooner or later, 

but I always thought it would have been with the Navy.

‘The body armor is something you get used to eventually,” Del 

Carpio said. “But when I first put it on I thought, ‘holy moly,’ and 

then add your weapons and all your other gear; it wears you down. 

“It doesn’t hurt nearly as bad as it did the first two days I wore it,” 

she said. “The first day I wore it, I really thought I was going to cry,”

Another thing Del Carpio said she had to get used to were the 

terms the Army uses. 

“They speak a different language then we do,” she said. “Sometimes we have them slow down and explain what they just said. But 

we’re getting used to it and it’s become second nature to us now.”

Blaine, Del Caprio and the rest of their team were learning 

building clearing techniques, one of the most dangerous jobs there 

is, said Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Walder, the first sergeant for 

Battery G, 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment.

“We’re showing them the basic stack procedures, sectors of fire 

and entry techniques,” Walder said. 

The training is progressive, Walder said. “It’s the crawl, walk, 

run method of teaching. We’re starting everyone off in glass houses,” said Walder, explaining a glass house as a taped-off area symbolizing a building with rooms. 

The next level for the teams to master is a closed building. 

“It’s basically the same thing as the glass house but we’ve added 

walls and have them work in a dimly-lighted area,” Walder said.

From there, the last step is a blank-fire assault on a building.

“We’ve added pictures of the enemy and of friendly bystanders,” Walder said. “As they make their way through the building 

they have to pick and choose where they fire.

“Knowing how to do this is a great basic skill to have,” Walder 

said. “No matter what type of unit they belong to, if you get told you 

have to do this, there’s no such thing as an administrative move. You 

will have to do it, and knowing how will save their lives.”

“This is like drinking water through a fire hose,” Blaine said of 

the training. “There’s so much to do, so much to learn. We’re like 

sponges and taking it all in.”

Blaine said since he and his team have been training, they’ve 

done a lot of marksmanship, convoy movements, classroom work 

and language training.

“We’ve had a lot of classroom work in the Dari language,” 

Sailors learn Army TT tactics at Funston

Series by 1st Infantry Division

Public Affairs Office

SFC Christopher Walder, Btry. G, 1st Bn., 5th FA Regt., briefs Navy transition team members before they conduct 

the crawl portion of their mission, practicing stacking techniques in “glass houses.”
9

Blaine said. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to converse with our counterparts when we get there. At least we’ll be able to say ‘hello’ and 

‘goodbye.’”

Navy transition team members practice clearing a room during training at one of the post’s urban cluster sites.

(Right) Navy CPT Steve Nichols and Cmdr. Lawrence 

LeClair breach a room during training at one of the 

post’s urban cluster sites.

(Below) Navy CPT Steve Nichols (front) and Navy Senior 

Chief Petty Officer Shawn Ahrens practice clearing a 

room during transition team training at one of the post’s 

urban cluster sites.
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The Iraqi Army Chief of Staff visited 

Fort Riley training areas Jan. 26 to observe 

transition team training, meet with post leaders and conduct a press conference for local 

and national reporters.

GEN Babaker Shawkat B. Zebari, who 

was selected as the commanding general 

and chief of staff of Iraqi Joint Forces in 

2003, met with then commanding general 

of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, 

MG Carter Ham, and with COL Norbert 

Jocz, commander of the 3rd Heavy Brigade 

Combat Team, 1st Armored Division.

Transition team training remains among 

the Army’s top priorities in transferring military authority and responsibility to Iraqi Security Forces, and according to Babaker, the 

mission of American servicemembers in Iraq 

is moving toward a visible conclusion.

“The security situation clearly is most 

critical inside Baghdad,” Ham said. “In 

other parts of the country, there have been 

some great successes with the Iraqi Security Forces. (Babaker’s) convinced that 

cooperation among the Americans, the other 

coalition members and the Iraqis can start to 

bring security to Baghdad just as they have 

in other parts of the country.”

“We hope and we envision that by March 

’08, the vast majority of the American troops 

will be able to leave the country and be 

withdrawn, save for some bases – American 

bases outside the city limits – which can be 

used and relied upon when need be,” Babaker said, through his translator.

The Iraqi general watched as TT members demonstrated close-quarters combat 

techniques to a group of mock ISF members 

at one of the post’s urban cluster sites. 

“This is a basic thing that they are doing 

here, but it is very useful because they can 

put that into practice in the field when they 

go to Iraq,” Babaker said of the training.

Anytime a country’s highest ranking 

military officer visits training it’s important, 

Ham said.

“In this case it’s particularly important 

for him to see the training that’s on-going 

for the advisers because it’s his soldiers that 

we’re advising,” Ham said, adding that the 

general gave the trainers good insight, tips 

and advice on the training along with strong 

encouragement to continue. 

One piece of advice Babaker offered U.S. 

military leaders was to remain focused on 

relations with Iraqi citizens.

“Mostly he’s asked to make sure that 

we continually emphasize the importance 

of understanding the cultural environment 

in which our advisers and our Soldiers are 

operating, so that they can be more effective 

in their missions inside Iraq,” Ham said.

“I am confident that the Iraqi army will be 

a very powerful, very strong, very capable 

army in the near future, and it will be a great 

friend of the American people and military,” 

Babaker said. “We will be with you Americans shoulder-to-shoulder in enforcing the 

rule of law – not just in Iraq – even outside 

of Iraq. And, terrorism has to be eradicated 

through the cooperation that exists between 

you and us.”

Iraqi Army Chief of Staff GEN Babaker Shawkat B. Zebari, center, watches as transition team training advisers demonstrate urban operations techniques during his visit to a Fort Riley training range Jan. 26 to observe TT training. 

While there, he also met with post leaders and conducted a press conference for local and national reporters.

Story and photo by

SGT Stephen Baack

1st ID PAO Editor
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A Fort Riley transition team Soldier home for some rest and recuperation stopped by post to visit with transition teams in training 

to share insights about the Iraqi theater of operation.

SSG Jeffrey Marks, a mobilized Army Reserve Soldier from 

Fayetteville, N.C., was eager to share his knowledge.

“As a student here, I would have liked a veteran to be able to visit 

with us about the actual job in Iraq,” Marks said. “I didn’t hesitate 

to volunteer to return to Fort Riley and talk with the teams.”

He is but one of many who have volunteered. 

This program has been around for a while now. “Having the 

deployed graduates visit with current trainees has been a real plus 

for us,” said MAJ Brett Gullett, then-S-3, chief of operations for 

the Fort Riley training mission. “We currently have more than 30 

transition team members scheduled to rotate through here between 

now and the first week of March.” 

Gullett said he has received positive reports from both the returning Soldiers and current TT Soldiers.

“From all reports, this is something that everyone seems to think 

is a very good idea and we will continue to do as long as possible,” 

Gullett said, who explained the two-to-three-day visits normally are 

tacked onto a TT Soldier’s R and R leave.

“Every effort is made to 

hook up the veteran with his 

replacement team and anyone 

who has been deployed knows 

how nice it is to meet your 

replacement,” he said.

“The TT member in training has the chance to ask many 

questions and this helps the 

teams with the fear of the unknown,” Gullett said. 

When meeting with the 

replacement team isn’t possible, other measures are taken. 

Marks visited briefly with the 

Soldiers of Class 10, who were 

manifesting, and then with a 

border transition team from 

Class 13. 

“We were able to talk about 

his role as a military intelligence officer, the assets he 

has and the level of support for 

his team,” said CPT David Salazar, intelligence officer, Class 13. 

“Although we have different roles – he’s a police adviser and we 

will be a military border team – our jobs are similar in an adviser 

role capacity. 

“I’m glad to see Soldiers are coming back to share their experiences,” Salazar said. “Soldiers from our eventual forward operations 

base in Iraq have come back and spoken with us, and that has been 

very helpful.”

He added that they have been in e-mail contact, too.

Gullett said this is but one area where TT training has been 

Story and photo by MSG Jack Lee

1st Brigade PAO

updated. “We continually evaluate our training effort and make 

changes as necessary,” Gullett explained. 

Marks praised the training he received at Camp Funston.

“As an Army reservist, there was a lot of good and needed training 

for me,” he said. “For instance, I never fired an [M-9] pistol until 

I was here or had much experience 

driving a Humvee.”

He experienced both during his 

training at Fort Riley.

“All in all, what this training did 

was to prepare me to be careful, that 

I needed to be conscience and aware 

– in the right mindset – at all times,” 

Marks said. 

Marks added he appreciated 

the cultural awareness training he 

received.

“The Iraqis seem to love us to 

death,” he said. “We were very well 

received and they seemed glad to see 

us.” Working closely with the Iraqis 

has taught him something, too. The 

Iraqi police are young and cultural 

awareness is an ongoing process, 

Marks said. 

“Through an interpreter I told 

a young policeman I admired his 

gloves,” Marks related. “Well, the 

next day he tried to give them to me – which is their custom. 

“I thanked him and very politely told him that I had a pair and 

didn’t need his,” Marks said, relieved the issue was settled nicely, 

with no hurt feelings.

‘From all reports, this is something that 

everyone seems to think is a very good 

idea and we will continue to do as long 

as possible.’

- Maj. Brett Gullett

then-chief of operations for TT training mission

SSG Jeffrey Marks, mobilized Army Reserve Soldier 

and transition team veteran, shares his knowledge 

during his visit to Fort Riley
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CAMP TAJI, Iraq – New basic training 

graduates with the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division (Mechanized) 

trained with the assistance of military transition teams from the 1st Infantry Division 

here recently on how to conduct cordon and 

searches. 

The training consisted of the IA troops 

performing practice raids in two building 

“mock-ups.”

According to CPT Eric James, operations 

officer and adviser for the 329th TT, the 

training lasts three to four weeks and readies 

the Iraqi troops before they have to encounter the challenges of working in actual urban 

environments and checkpoints.

“We’re taking new Iraqi soldiers, before 

they get assigned to a company, and giving 

them additional training,” said James, a native of El Paso, Texas. 

In addition, the training, which has been 

referred to as “train-the-trainer” style instruction, allows the team’s subject matter 

experts to assist Iraqi noncommissioned 

officers and warrant officers to give blocks 

of instruction – all the while junior enlisted 

Iraqis are training simultaneously. 

This, James said, is important to the Iraqis 

eventually taking full control in every aspect 

of military operation. 

“We’re trying to push them forward, 

essentially putting them in the lead when it 

comes to planning, resourcing and execution 

for missions and training,” he said. 

Prior to coming to Iraq, SSG Michael 

Lewis, a combat medical adviser and trainer 

for 329th TT, trained at Fort Riley to learn 

how to instruct Soldiers in infantry-style 

Story and photos by SGT Jon Cupp

1st BCT, 1st Cav. PAO

Big Red One transition teams train Iraqi Army

An Iraqi army instructor (right) prepares his trainees, all Iraqi army soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 9th 

Iraqi Army Division (Mechanized), to storm a building “mock up” Dec. 19 during training on Camp Taji, Iraq. 

‘I hope every Iraqi citizen 

feels the same way I feel. I am 

really proud to wear the Iraqi 

Army uniform.’

- PVT Abdul Shakir, 3rd Bn., 

2nd Bde., 9th IA Div. (Mech.)
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tactics. A medic and a native of Leesville, 

La., Lewis is now training Iraqi soldiers 

alongside his Iraqi noncommissioned officer 

counterparts.

“Working here, we’re getting to see the 

infantry side, and it’s an important role, but 

it’s just one part of all the training to help 

them build a company,” he said.

Lewis, who is also helping the Iraqis 

put together a medical aid station, said he 

is impressed with the progress of the Iraqi 

soldiers. 

“Sometimes we’ve had to catch up with 

them,” Lewis said. “The better they do 

their training, the better they can take over 

their own security. We show them what to 

look for during raids and at checkpoints so 

when they actually get out there they won’t 

overlook anything.”

IA soldiers said they all have their own 

reasons they train to defend their country.

“I have a lot of good feelings about serving my country on the ground. I’ve lived 

on all my life to help the Iraqi people,” said 

PVT Abdul Razaq Shakir, who serves in the 

3rd Bn., 2nd Bde., 9th IA Div. (Mech.). “We 

will risk our lives to help our country and to 

fight against the insurgents and anyone else 

who tries to bring our country down.”

“We pray to God to make peace on this 

country to make things normal as they were 

before,” said PVT Al Hamad Vadir, 3rd Bn., 

2nd Bde., 9th IA Div. (Mech.). 

“I hope every Iraqi citizen feels the same 

way I feel,” Shakir said. “I am really proud 

to wear the Iraqi Army uniform.”

Having worked several months with the 

Iraqis, James said he is confident of the abilities of the Iraqi troops and their training.

“Anytime we’ve done big, 

important coalition operations, 

the Iraqi troops have always accomplished their missions,” James 

said. “We roll out with Iraqis many 

times a week to do patrols or check 

on troops in the area of operations 

and we feel as comfortable with 

them as we would rolling out with 

our own troops.”

SSG Michael Lewis (upper left), a combat medical trainer and adviser 

for the 329 Military Transition Team, shows an 

Iraqi soldier the proper 

way to position his body 

for doing a search during 

training on Camp Taji, 

Iraq. 

Inset: Iraqi Army soldiers 

from the 3rd Battalion, 

2nd Brigade, 9th Infantry 

Division (Mechanized) 

storm in and clear a room 

during training on Camp 

Taji, Iraq. The training 

was done with the assistance of U.S. Soldiers 

from the 329th Military 

Transition Team. 
Then- IAG Commander BG Dana Pittard, who was also the 1st

Infantry Division’s assistant division commander for maneuver, 

sat down with seven local journalists at Forward Operating Base 

Army Strong to discuss the current state of the TT mission in Iraq, 

and where it’s headed.

As Pittard explained during his press conference, the IAG is a 

joint command-and-control effort from the Army, Navy, Marines 

and Air Force set up to oversee the dual TT mission of advising and 

force protection for the Iraqi security forces.

Pittard described the evolution of the TT training mission from 

its focus on one of almost entirely combat skills and force-protection survival skills training to the next step of becoming an adviser: 

having an understanding of Iraqi culture and the inner-workings of 

the Iraqi Security Forces.

While the latter has come to the forefront, the former is still 

important according to Pittard.

“We need advisory skills being taught here at Fort Riley,” he said. 

“At the same time, it’s force-protection survival skills. It’s always 

that balance between those, but primarily it’s making sure that our 

advisers are trained in advisory skills and have the preparation 

necessary to be effective advisers of Iraqi Security Forces.”

When one journalist asked him to grade the current state of TT 

training, Pittard said what was once a C+ is getting to an A product 

now due to the focus on advisory skills.

“There are three things that are probably most difficult to teach: 

cultural awareness, language and then the subtleties of advisory 

skills,” he said. “There is really a subtleness that needs to take 

place.”

The aggressive, hard-charging attitude some Soldiers possess 

is not necessarily what TTs require, and it is not what the IAG is 

looking for in its teams, explained Pittard.

“You must have experience,” he said. “You must have knowledge, 

but we want the Iraqi Security Forces to take charge ... we have to 

be very careful about who we pick and how we train people.”

A large portion of the press conference focused on progress – not 

only that of TTs, but of progress within the ranks of the Iraqi army, 

the Iraq police and the Iraqi national police.

“I think we owe it to the American people to have progress, to 

give the American people hope that, in fact, it is going in the right 

direction.”

Pittard listed positive strides in Iraq, which he partially credited 

to the third and most recent version of the Baghdad Security Plan 

effected late last year.

The Iraqi government has learned some lessons from the last 

Baghdad Security Plan, he explained. During the second plan, 

which was from August to October of 2006, several Iraqi army 

battalions had problems deploying to Baghdad. GEN Casey and the 

Iraq Prime Minister commissioned an investigation into the reasons 

behind those problems.

Pittard was one of the two generals in charge of that investigation. He and an Iraqi army general came up with 10 ways to have 

more successful deployments.

He attributes an increased success of Iraqi battalion deployments 

to things like incentive pay, more training and focus on deploying 

units, and recognizing that wherever Iraqi soldiers go, they will be 

able to take leave.

“This has kind of been our framework, or template, for future 

Iraqi army deployments,” Pittard said. “In fact, now in this new 

Baghdad Security Plan, we’ve had nine – I say again – nine Iraqi 

army battalions that have successfully deployed to Baghdad.

“That’s a big deal as far as ownership of securing their own 

capital,” he added. “They’re coming from all throughout Iraq.”

Pittard did not forget to credit the TT effort with much of the 

progress in Iraq.

When he left Iraq as a brigade commander in early 2005, there 

were two struggling Iraqi army divisions, he told reporters. Now 

there are 10 capable Iraqi army divisions averaging between 8,000 

to 10,000 personnel. That is primarily due to the efforts of the TTs, 

he said.

The TTs have also worked hard to oust militia influences throughout the ranks of the Iraqi Security Forces.

“A lot of that has been removed – not entirely – but a lot of that

14
15

has been removed from the efforts of the transition teams again with 

the U.S. forces there,” said Pittard.

“Our transition teams identified five national police brigade 

commanders – out of the nine – that had had militia influences,” he 

added. “All five of those have now been removed. It’s taken a long 

period of time to do that, but they have been removed.”

Since then, he has seen impressive results in Iraq’s newly trained 

national police.

“Out of the four national police brigades that have now graduated 

... there have been zero transgressions,” Pittard said. “I’ll define transgressions as extra-judicial killings or being accused of any militia-type 

crimes. That’s huge because we haven’t seen that before.”

That does not mean, Pittard told one reporter, that these strides 

are a sign that cultural, religious or nationalistic solidarity is a priority. In fact, 

even-numbered divisions of the Iraqi 

army are from specific regions because of 

these differences, while the odd-numbered 

divisions were for the most part recruited 

nationally.

“You must embrace the Iraqi culture 

and accept the fact that there are familial, 

tribal and religious influences,” Pittard said. “We recognize that. In 

fact, it’s to make them more professional – help them to become a 

more professionalized force, but it’s going to take Iraqi leadership 

to really do that.”

He said it will also take the right Iraqi leadership to curb or 

eliminate insurgent infiltration of the ISF.

“What we’ve found is if the right leader’s in charge, whether 

it’s an Iraq battalion commander, brigade commander, division 

commander, less and less of that happens and [there is] more accountability for actions.”

As the current plan is set up, during the early “clear and control” 

phases of securing cities and towns, each ISF brigade-sized unit has 

partnered with it a U.S. coalition battalion of 600 to 700 personnel. 

As troops and police gain control during the “retain” phase, the 

U.S. battalion moves out of the area of operations. The transition 

teams become larger and stay in the area – possibly making them 

the last ones standing.

“Ideally, one day most of the transition teams will come from 

internal sources within our BCTs there in Iraq... ideally.”

If plans such as these fail or cannot endure the lack of support 

and patience of the American people, Pittard points to the pre-9/11 

Afghanistan that represented a sanctuary and breeding ground 

for terrorism as an example of the type of failed state Iraq could 

become.

“The average time of counter-insurgency operations... is about 

nine to 12 years,” Pittard said. “Do the American people have that 

much patience? Probably not. That’s why we must show a certain 

amount of progress. It’s incumbent upon 

us to do that, along with our Iraqi counterparts, who, by the way, are on a different 

timeline. Their timeline is not the same 

as ours in the least bit.”

The Iraqi people have to be also convinced that what is happening now, in 

fact, is progress, he said.

“If you ask the Iraqi man on the street, 

they’ll tell you the conditions were better before we came,” he 

continued. “And they’re right from a basic services perspective, in 

the Baghdad area for sure. Politically... it is better because it is in 

fact a democracy, at least from our view. And there are other places 

in Iraq ... where they will tell you it’s much, much better because 

they’re free of Saddam Hussein and the Baa’thist party.

“If we’re talking about the Iraqi Security Force, and that’s the 

lane that I am in, then there has been tremendous progress,” he 

said. “Is it fast enough for the American people? Maybe not. It will 

take time.

 “So, it does vary, but I think ultimately the assessment of our success 

or failure will be the Iraqi citizens,” Pittard added. “Do they in fact feel 

more secure now than they did four years ago? Most will tell you now 

that they don’t. That must be addressed before we ever depart.”

“I think we owe it to the American 

people to have progress, to give the 

American people hope that, in fact, 

it is going in the right direction.”
16

As a group of Iraqis made their way to 

Mecca for a religious holiday, an explosion 

ripped through their vehicle killing and 

wounding the occupants. When Iraqi Security Forces and local onlookers converged on 

the scene, an unknown chemical agent filled 

the air and enveloped everyone.

The transition team Soldiers who encountered this training scenario may never 

see anything quite like this when they get 

to Iraq. Successfully taking on situations 

like this March 22 mass-casualty exercise, 

however, reinforces the faith of at least one 

medic for his combat lifesavers.

“Every day it’s new trials and tribulations, but we’re getting through it and right 

now I am so confident in the team,” said SSG 

Marcell Jones, battalion TT medical adviser 

for Team 93-99. “I don’t see myself having 

any problems with the team as far as medical 

is going and just the personal knowledge that 

the guys uphold.”

The MASCAL, part of the four-day Mission 

Story and photos by

SGT Stephen Baack

1st ID PAO Editor

MAJ Chris Kuhn, battalion team leader for Team 94-07, helps comrades “save a life” as he applies a combat application tourniquet to a dummy during the mass-casualty exercise portion of the team’s four-day, course-culminating 

mission-readiness exercise March 22 around Fort Riley’s urban clusters.
17

Readiness Exercise that serves as the 

culminating evaluation for TTs, tested the 

Soldiers in their combat lifesaving skills 

and in dealing with Iraqi people.

Central to their final test were three 

groups: the civilians on the battlefield 

(COBs), the mock Iraqi Security 

Forces and the observer/controllers, 

who evaluate and provide input to the 

TTs after each part of the exercise.

 “It’s fun,” said Denise Corey, a 

COB at the MASCAL. “Sometimes 

it’s hard work, but I understand the 

reason we’re doing it. My husband’s 

a Soldier, so when he goes downrange 

I want him to be prepared. That’s why 

we’re here ... The more realistic we can 

make it for them, the better the training, 

and the more accurate it’s going to be.

“Our Soldiers are down there 

fighting and being injured and being 

killed, unfortunately, but that’s the 

reality of it,” she said. “It’s extremely 

important to keep them trained properly and to keep them prepared for 

any situation.”

Corey added that the scenarios, 

just like downrange, can sometimes 

change day-to-day. The COBs are instructed to do one thing, she said, and 

10 minutes later it could all change.

“The MRX so far has been pretty 

good,” said CPT Joe Peltier, executive 

officer, intelligence officer, and one of 

the many combat lifesavers for Team 

94-07. “We’ve been thrown in to all 

types of different scenarios that we can 

encounter in Theater. Every exercise 

that they throw at us has been a learning experience. I plan to continue to 

learn and take that forward with us.”

Though Peltier and his team knew 

there would be a MASCAL exercise 

as part of the MRX, he and his team 

had no idea when, where or what the 

circumstances would be.

“I think that’s good for training,” 

Peltier said. “If you know something’s 

going to happen, you’ve got time to get 

yourself mentally wrapped around everything 

that you need to do. You can walk through it 

a couple of times; do rehearsals.

“I think when we get in Theater, we’re not 

going to have time to do rehearsals if stuff 

happens on the fly on the streets, so it’s good 

training for us,” Peltier added.

When the whole thing was over, Peltier and 

others were happy with their performance.

“We performed very well,” he said. 

“People broke down, didn’t have to be asked 

or told what to do. People started identifying 

and reacting based off their training.”

During the after-action review, observer/

controllers gave special recognition to the 

medic on site.

“These casualties are dead,” said SFC 

Grannan to the group during the AAR. 

“Take these out of this area. They do not 

need to be around the live patients. That was 

perfect. Sergeant Jones, you did an excellent 

job, just to let you know.

“I noticed when you went by you did 

correct people,” Grannan continued. “And 

you did look at them and say, ‘Make an 

assessment, make an assessment. Did you 

look at everything?’ You did a super job. 

Congratulations. I think you did an excellent job. You guys are lucky. You’ve got a 

good medic.”

Jones credits a lot of his success to his team.

“When I’m not there I always know 

they’re going to be there for me if the situation permits,” Jones said. “It’s a real good 

thing that they’re combat lifesavers.”

CPT Joe Peltier, executive officer, intelligence officer and one of the many combat 

lifesavers for Team 94-07, applies a combat application tourniquet to a civilian on 

the battlefield during a mass-casualty exercise portion of a group of transition 

teams’ four-day, course-culminating mission-readiness exercise March 22 around 

Fort Riley’s urban clusters.
FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq -- The 4th 

Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division officially 

took over for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division 

in a transfer of authority ceremony here March 8.

COL Ricky Gibbs, commander of the 4th IBCT “Dragons,” 

hailed his Soldiers’ preparation for their mission.

“You have trained hard the past 18 months standing up this 

great brigade,” Gibbs said. “You are well-trained, well-led and 

combat ready.

“I ask you to never lose sight of your principle objectives: protect 

the peace-loving people of Iraq and destroy the thugs and criminals 

who terrorize this country.”

CPL Ed Herring, a team leader from 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry 

Regiment, 4th IBCT, said Multi-National Division-Baghdad troops 

are fighting for a good cause.

“I’m a true believer that if you can help someone you really 

should go out of your way to do it,” he said. “I believe the United 

States has the capability to do that, to help these people have a 

better life for themselves.”

Part of that better life, Herring said, is the freedom of democracy 

and safety within their neighborhoods.

With that thought in mind, the Greeley, Colo., native said the 

unit has been preparing for everything.

“Anything they can throw at us, we want to be able to have 

it already in the back of our minds exactly how we’re going to 

respond to those problems,” he said.

The Dragons’ commander had advice for his troops as they set 

out to provide that better life for the Iraqi citizens of Baghdad’s 

Rashid security district.

“Fear nothing, trust your God-given instincts, know the capabilities of your men and your unit,” he said, “and never ever 

underestimate our enemy or the depths to which he will stoop to 

achieve his objectives.

“I have total trust and confidence in each and every one of you, 

and know we will be victorious on the battlefield.” 

The Dragons have been in Iraq since mid-February. The unit 

activated in January 2006.

Story and photo by PFC Nathaniel Smith

4th IBCT PAO

COL Ricky D. Gibbs, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div. commander, speaks to the troops after the 

transfer of authority ceremony, March 8, at Camp Falcon, Iraq. The Dragon Brigade transferred authority with the 

2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division in the ceremony. 

18
19

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait -- Less 

than a century ago, the U.S. Army engaged 

in trench warfare. Soldiers have adapted to 

different forms of combat over the years, 

and the battle in Iraq is no exception. Today, 

the Army must adjust to the rigors of urban 

combat. 

Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field 

Artillery Regiment not only had to train up 

on their Military Operations in Urban Terrain skills, but they also had to make the 

transition from functioning as artillerymen 

to infantrymen.

To facilitate this transition, the Soldiers of 

Battery B, 2nd Bn., 32nd FA Regt. conducted 

close-quarters marksmanship training at the 

Camp Buehring MOUT Range Feb. 17.

Second Platoon Leader 1LT Jeff Christy, 

Battery B, said his Soldiers have accepted 

the challenge and are performing admirably.

“They’re absolute sponges,” Christy said. 

“Each time we train, a new dynamic is introduced into this training. They’ve really absorbed it, and they’re doing a fantastic job.”

The unit has made great progress from the 

beginning of their close-quarters marksmanship training in October to now, Christy said.

SFC George Allen, the platoon sergeant 

of 2nd Platoon, Battery B, said the training has been more intense than previous 

training.

“Here, we have subject matter experts 

who help assist not only myself and the 

platoon leader,” Allen said, “as well as those 

lower enlisted to grasp what it’s like to maneuver and engage on a target. Not only is 

this training intense, but it prepares us for 

our next step headed toward Iraq.”

Allen said his Soldiers are accepting their 

tasks enthusiastically.

“I can honestly say I wouldn’t want to 

deploy with another group of Soldiers,” he 

said. “The Soldiers of 2nd Platoon, Battery 

B, are very highly motivated, eager to train, 

and eager to learn. They’re focused on the 

mission at hand.”

SGT Joshua Hess of Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 

practices his skills on a Military Operations in Urban Terrain range at Camp Buehring, Kuwait.

Story and photo by

PFC Nathaniel Smith

4th IBCT PAO
The audience waiting anxiously in the 

stands March 26 at Craig Gym, some holding signs, erupted into a thunderous applause 

when the Soldiers of Company A, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment marched into 

the gym before the break of day.

The Soldiers were welcomed home from 

their yearlong deployment to the Horn of 

Africa during the ceremony.

As the applause died down, “Iron Ranger” Commander LTC Frank Zachar spoke 

to the crowd.

“These men have seen and done more in 

a year than most Americans dream of doing 

in their entire lifetime,” Zachar said.

While deployed in support of Combined 

Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, which 

was based out of Djibouti, Africa, the unit 

conducted force protection operations, built 

schools and dormitories, and trained Ugandan and Ethiopian armies.

“It was very rewarding to know that we 

were training a military that is going to play 

a large role in the future of that continent,” 

said CPT Joel Huelsmann, company commander for Co. A, 1st Bn., 16th Inf. Regt.

“It was very humbling and I know my guys 

enjoyed it and got a lot out of that program,” 

Huelsmann added. “Up until the very last 

minute, they were working hard and doing a 

good job reflecting the ‘Big Red One.’”

“Thanks for all you have done...Mission 

complete. Duty first. Fall out,” Zachar said 

at the end of his speech.

On the command of ‘fall out,’ a sea of 

people rushed the floor in order to greet 

their loved ones.

“I started bawling [when I saw him]. I 

was extremely happy,” said Shery Tucker, 

wife of returning Soldier SSG Michael 

Tucker, a squad leader in the company.

“It feels great [to be home],” Tucker said. 

“I have my wife and my kids here.”

Tucker spoke candidly about his experience in Africa. “A lot of people think that 

when we got to Africa we don’t really do 

anything when we’re over there,” Tucker 

said.

The U.S. Navy and Army engineers 

worked together to build the schools and 

dormitories and “it was our job to keep 

them safe while they did it. So we did a 

tremendous amount of work over there for 

the people of Djibouti and other countries,” 

Tucker said.

After the ceremony, many of the Soldiers 

said goodbye to their comrades, with whom 

they had spent the past year in Africa, and 

exited the building with their Families by 

their side.

“It’s great to be back home and great to be 

back on American soil,” Huelsmann said.

Though Devil Brigade elements have still 

been redeploying, Company B of 1st Bn., 

16th Inf. Regt. has returned, as well as the 

1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment 

and 1st Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment.

Story by PFC Andrea Merritt 

1st Sust. Bde. PAO

Stacy Haynes embraces her husband, SPC Gordon Haynes, who just 

returned from a year’s deployment to 

the Horn of Africa.

20

SGT Matthew Pirone holds his daughter, Isabella, at the redeployment ceremony for Company A, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment.
 2521

A little more than a year ago a small contingent of Soldiers 

marched onto Fort Riley’s Cavalry Parade Field and became the 

1st Combat Aviation Brigade, starting a new chapter in aviation 

history. On Aug. 30, the 1st CAB Soldiers marched onto the same 

field to start another chapter during their deployment ceremony.

“Today, you stand ready with more than 2,800 Soldiers and five 

civilians representing 70 different occupation specialties,” said 

BG Keith C. Walker, 1st Infantry Division assistant division commander for operations. “And now you are going into the thick of 

it.”

The 1st CAB is headed to Iraq in support of the Global War on 

Terrorism. Their mission in theater will be to support the Iraqi government’s ongoing efforts to improve internal security, economic 

growth and infrastructure development.

“Your aircraft, crews and the support personnel who keep them 

flying are a vital piece in the fight,” Walker said. “You’ll support 

ground troops negotiating the complex urban environment. You’ll 

guard convoys and patrol neighborhoods. You’ll help provide 

transportation for Soldiers and security from the air.”

COL Jessie O. Farrington, 1st CAB commander, said he knows 

his Soldiers and civilians are ready to meet their upcoming missions, which will include attack, reconnaissance, assault, lift and 

medical evacuation operations.

“I assumed command of this great brigade two months ago and 

have been absolutely impressed with the challenging path they followed to get to this point,” Farrington said. “The commanders and 

leaders down to the lowest level are responsible for the tremendous combat readiness of this brigade.”

Farrington showed off his brigade to Walker, Sen. Sam Brownback and Rep. Jerry Moran during an inspection of the troops at 

the ceremony.

The brigade prepared for their Iraq deployment with numerous 

battalion field exercises, combat training center rotations, gunneries and mission rehearsal 

exercises.

“The intensity and aggressiveness of this preparation will prove invaluable 

and undoubtedly will save 

lives of Soldiers within the 

brigade and ground forces 

we support and fight with,” 

Farrington said. “All this 

could not be accomplished 

without the support of the 

Family members. Their 

unwavering support will 

prove to be a stabilizing influence.”

The United States “is a 

special place, it is not the 

land that makes it special, 

it is the people – it is you. It 

is your willingness to commit, it is your courage, it 

is your willingness to sacrifice that make this place 

special,” Brownback said 

during the ceremony. “I thank you for doing it.”

The ceremony concluded with the brigade, battalions and companies casing their colors, which will remain cased until a ceremony in Iraq, and the singing of “The Big Red One” song and “The 

Army Song” to send the Soldiers off on their journey.

“While in Iraq, the Combat Aviation Brigade will fly tens of 

thousands of combat hours in very trying conditions ... while 

maintainers, transporters, logisticians, fuelers and administrators 

in this great brigade work around the clock in order to sustain this 

monumental effort,” Farrington said.

“Why do we ask so much – our country has called, our division, 

this brigade and these great Soldiers have answered that call and 

the Soldiers on the ground that face uncertainty and possible death 

around every street corner demand it – and the 1st Infantry Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade will be there – it’s what we do.”

Story by SPC Michael Howard

1st CAB PAO

COL Jessie Farrington, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade 

commander, (second from right) takes BG Keith C. Walker, 1st Infantry Division assistant division commander 

of operations, Sen. Sam Brownback and Rep. Jerry Moran on an inspection of the troops Aug. 30 during the 1st 

CAB’s deployment ceremony on Cavalry Parade Field.

Photo by SPC Michael Howard

Post wishes farewell to 1st CAB

Units of 1st Combat Aviation Brigade line Cavalry Parade Field for their deployment ceremony.

Photo by SFC Jefferey Troth
22

BAGHDAD — A project crucial to removing sewage was recently completed in the Risalah neighborhood of the Rashid West 

security district, a primarily Shia neighborhood in the southwestern 

portion of the Iraqi capital. The area had been suffering from a glut 

of standing sewage, made worse by the heavy rains over the past 

several weeks.

The completed project, dubbed Sewage Pump Station TC3, now 

allows neighborhood sewage to be pumped out of the neighborhood 

and to a main station that serves the entire southern Baghdad region. 

The pump station required refurbishment of the building, installation 

of the two primary pumps, purchase 

of two portable pumps and installation of a new transformer to power 

the entire system. 

Contractors completed all work 

Feb. 1, and an inspection by members of the city council was concluded about a week later, marking the 

formal completion of the project. 

 “The inspection by the city council was critical to this project. 

It marks the formal completion and gives the council ownership 

of the pump site,” said CPT Patrick Bailey of the 2nd Brigade, 1st 

Infantry Division’s Essential Services Cell.

The Risalah city council, in cooperation with the Baghdad Essential Services Council, began planning the project nearly six 

months ago. 

There were a few setbacks. Initially, the project was beset by 

security concerns and some small attacks at the site. Other challenges included the beginning of the rainy season, which slowed 

work due to wet conditions. 

“The contractor was able to complete this project because the security situation has drastically improved since it was started,” Bailey 

said. “TC3 shows the people of this area that things are improving 

and that their local governments really do work.”

Story by CPT David Levasseur

2nd BCT, 1st Inf. Div. PAO

CPT Patrick Bailey and CPT Nick Bauer, both from the 

2nd BCT’s Essential Services Cell, inspect the new facilities at Sewage Pump Station TC3.

Photo by MAJ Robert Nash

Dagger Brigade spearheads project

Pump station improves quality of life for Risalah residents
23

BAGHDAD – The commander of U.S. 

Army Europe met with Soldiers from 1st 

Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd 

Brigade, 1st Infantry Division out of Schweinfurt, Germany, in the Iraqi capital’s 

Rashid district April 16.

GEN David McKiernan rode with the 

Vanguards from Forward Operating Base 

Falcon, where the 1-18th is based for their 

current deployment, to Combat Outpost 

‘Carter,’ the Company C, 1-18th’s outpost 

named for one of their Soldiers killed by an 

explosively formed projectile in late 2006.

During the visit, McKiernan read the oath 

of enlistment to a group of Co. C Soldiers 

who were re-enlisting.

PFC Patrick Hyatt, an infantryman from 

St. Louis, Mo., said he enjoyed having the 

general preside over his re-enlistment.

“It’s nice having him come and interact 

with the Soldiers,” he said. “It shows the 

Soldiers who he is and what he does.”

As for why Hyatt decided to re-enlist, 

he said the opportunity to learn and experience more in the Army was too much to 

pass up.

“I like the experience of what I do, it 

teaches me more,” he said. “I want to see 

Story and photos by

PFC Nathaniel Smith

4th IBCT PAO

new things.”

After completing the ceremony, McKiernan gave all of the Soldiers the opportunity 

to ask him questions, and he also took the opportunity to ask them about their concerns.

“It’s not often that we get to come down 

here and talk face-to-face,” McKiernan said 

to the troops.

Questions from the Soldiers from Co. C 

varied, but the main focus was on the recent 

announcement of an extension for all U.S. 

forces in Iraq, as well as the schools and 

hospital back in the Schweinfurt military 

community.

GEN David McKiernan (right), the commanding general of U.S. Army Europe, talks with Perruindian, Ind., native 

SPC Jason Landrum, a gunner with Company C, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry 

Division, about his decision to re-enlist at Combat Outpost Carter in Baghdad’s Rashid district April 16. The general 

conducted a re-enlistment ceremony and met with the Schweinfurt, Germany-based troops during his visit.

USAREUR general meets with

1st ID’s 2nd Brigade downrange
24

Challenging weather, ticks, scorpions, 

copperheads, one rattlesnake, a black widow 

and a tarantula the size of a grapefruit are 

par for the course for 3rd Infantry Brigade 

Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division trainers 

at the Expert Infantry Badge test site. 

“Don’t forget the chiggers,” Sgt. William Gooding, a brigade intelligence noncommissioned officer and radio trainer, 

said. “I have bites all up and down both 

legs. I won’t miss the chiggers.”

Training the Soldiers who are going out 

for the EIB isn’t as tough as testing for the 

badge, but it’s no walk in the park, either. 

It’s basically four weeks in the field. No air 

conditioned offices. No nice lunches at the 

local sushi bar. Heck, even a mundane trip 

to the dining facility is hard to manage. Out 

here, Meals Ready to Eat are the popular 

dish, though there are freshly-cooked hot 

dogs for sale next to the site entrance. 

Ah, the test site. Consisting of 22 lanes 

spread over a good-sized area on West Fort 

Hood, it was “landscaped” by the trainers. Every neatly-placed rock that lines 

entrance ways was moved by hand. Every 

sandbag (and there are plenty) was filled 

and placed by a trainer. Every Big Red One 

design, also was done by them. Of course, 

there is a bit of an incentive – the winning 

lane design will receive an Army Commendation Medal, he said.

Decorating took place during downtime. 

At times, a trainer has nothing to do but 

sweat like a pig or get soaked by a thunderstorm. Other times, it’s a steady stream of 

Soldiers for hours on end. 

“It’s been a good experience for all Soldiers out here,” Gooding said. “The trainers 

get to do what they initially were taught to 

do when they came into the Army.” 

Normally, Soldiers testing for the EIB 

are trained by Soldiers who already have 

the badge. That is not the case this time 

around. In fact, female Soldiers are training infantrymen. 

Pfc. Heather Campbell, a Chemical, Biological, Radioloical, Nuclear equipment 

NCO with the 201st Base Support Battalion, 3rd IBCT, 1st Inf. Div., has been on 

site since early June.

“Usually, it’s just EIB holders doing the 

training, but the brigade didn’t have enough 

badge holders,” she said. “So people in the 

particular MOS are doing it.”

Overall, training infantrymen has been 

a positive experience for her – though she 

did have one sergeant refuse training. 

“I like it,” Campbell said. “I think they 

respect us (women) more. We are out here 

helping them get their badges. And we’ve 

been helpful, like giving them hints to help 

them remember nerve agents.”

Just being on site from 0700 – 1700 for 

a month should garner a trainer respect. 

They drink nearly eight liters of water each 

day and take whatever nature throws at 

them. In Campbell’s case, bugs have been 

the problem. 

“Let’s see,” she began. “I had scabies 

out here in June. Last week I had little 

bumps all over my face and ears. It was so 

bad that my eye swelled shut and my throat 

was beginning to swell.”

Bug bites and disease aside, she sort of 

enjoys it. 

“It’s an escape from society and I like that,” 

she said. “It’s hot as hell, but it’s peaceful.”

An Expert Infantry Badge trainer gives course instructions to a 3rd IBCT Soldier during train-up for the EIB competition.

Story by SGT Todd Goodman

3rd IBCT PAO
25

Story by PFC Andrea Merritt

1st Sust. Bde. PAO

Soldiers and supporters from Fort Riley 

and surrounding areas gathered at Cavalry 

Parade Field Aug. 24 to attend the deployment ceremony for the Soldiers of the 1st 

Sustainment Brigade.

The brigade, which is composed of 

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 

the 1st Signal Network Detachment and 

the Special Troops Battalion, is scheduled 

to deploy this fall.

Guests at the ceremony included BG 

Keith Walker, 1st Infantry Division assistant division commander of operations; 

Robert Shadley, a retired major general 

who commanded the Division Support 

Command, which reflagged as 1st Sust. 

Bde. in February, from 1990 to 1992 during Desert Storm; and four mayors from 

Platte County, Mo., who sponsor the Special Troops Battalion, 1st Sust. Bde.

When the clock struck 9 a.m., cannons 

blasted to signal the start of the event. During the ceremony, the ADC(O) presented 

1st Sust. Bde. with a campaign streamer, 

which had been awarded to the 

DISCOM for its deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004 to 

2005.

“Your support is vital to MultiNational Division – Baghdad’s mission,” Walker said. “The work you 

will do quietly, professionally, behind the scenes 24 hours a day, seven 

days a week are the reasons our units 

are so successful today.”

Since August 2006, the unit has 

relocated from Germany to Fort 

Riley, Kan., reorganized from DISCOM into the 1st Sust. Bde. and is 

now preparing for its deployment to 

Iraq.

“As we have reorganized into the 

1st Sustainment Brigade, we build 

upon the DISCOM legacy that traces 

its roots back to 1917 ... Now is our 

chance to stand upon the shoulders 

of the giants that have gone before 

us, move forward and turn a page in 

a new chapter of the 1st Sustainment 

Brigade’s history,” said COL Kevin 

O’Connell, commander of the 1st 

Sust. Bde.

The brigade’s mission during deployment will be to “plan, monitor, 

control, synchronize and supervise 

all sustainment, human resources 

and financial management support 

to forces in central Iraq,” O’Connell 

said.

After the speeches, the brigade 

and its subordinate units simultaneously cased their colors, which they 

are slated to uncase in another ceremony once they reach their destination.

LTC Robert Brem, commander of Special Troops Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade, 

and CSM Eugene Thomas, the battalion’s command sergeant major, case the unit’s colors during the brigade’s deployment ceremony Aug. 24 at Cavalry Parade Field. They 

cased their colors simultaneously with the brigade’s other subordinate units, Headquarters and Headquarters Company and the 1st Signal Network Detachment.

Photo by PFC Andrea Merritt
26

One way to beat rush hour traffic and 

avoid roadside bombs is to park under a helicopter, strap the Humvee to it and let the 

chopper airlift it to the destination.

That is what the 2nd Battalion, 2nd 

Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade 

Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, was 

training to do July 25.

It’s called sling load training and was 

the regiment’s first major training event coordinated as a company. This exercise has a 

couple of practical uses. First, it eliminates 

the need to look out for improvised explosive devices. 

“Anytime you can reach your objective 

without traveling roads in Iraq, you minimize risk by 90 percent,” First Sgt. Christopher Kowalewski, Company D, 2nd Bn., 

2nd Inf. Regt., said. “That is huge.”

And secondly, it makes squeezing into 

constrained battlefields feasible.

“There are different ways to get to a 

battlefield,” said CPT Kitefre Oboho, commander of Co. D, 2nd Bn., 2nd Inf. Regt. 

“This gives us options. For example, in 

Afghanistan you can’t always drive to your 

objective. There are places where a helicopter can go that a Humvee can’t. It gives 

us flexibility when trying to fit into a confined area.”

Prior to the field exercise, the company 

trained for hours upon hours at the battalion, 

rigging vehicles and de-rigging them, then 

doing it all over again. Proficiency is the key.

“Every platoon in Delta will be sling 

load certified and tactically proficient,” 

Kowalewski said. “Training will continue. 

We definitely won’t be satisfied today.”

A proficient unit should be able to rig a 

vehicle in less than 10 minutes. And while 

some groups successfully rigged a vehicle in 

eight minutes, some needed a bit more time. 

There are a lot of checks and rechecks that 

must be done before airmailing a Humvee. 

“You just have to pay close attention to 

make sure everything is set right and taped 

down,” said PV2 James Caird, a 2nd Bn., 

2nd Inf. Regt. infantryman. “You have to 

secure the heavy equipment that is inside 

the vehicle, like shovels and pick axes. 

Right now, it’s simulated, but in real world 

environment you’d also have ammo cans 

and fuel.”

“You could really injure Soldiers if 

things fall out or off, like side mirrors and 

antennas or freak accidents like the windows blowing out while flying over a city,” 

said Pfc. Joel Moreno, a 2nd Bn., 2nd Inf. 

Regt. infantryman.

Once the vehicles were rigged properly, 

the Chinooks, provided by Company B, 2nd 

Bn., 4th Inf. Div., flew in and the exciting 

portion began. As the giant choppers hovered above the Humvees, several Soldiers 

ran out, fighting the wind from the rotars, 

climbed atop the vehicle and strapped the 

chopper’s line to the rig. Once secured, signals were given to the pilot and away went 

the Humvee – next stop, the landing zone. 

But there was more than just sling load 

training going on during this exercise. 

Soldiers not preparing the Humvees for 

takeoff were pulling security. Even proper 

radio communication classes were going 

on simultaneously. No down time for this 

group of infantrymen. And it was a constant check-up of who was and who wasn’t 

wearing the proper equipment, such as eye 

protection.

“You! Get over here,” Kowalewski 

yelled. “What goes over these (he pointed to the Soldier’s eyes)? 

Why aren’t you wearing 

them? Hey, show me how 

you engage an insurgent. 

Right now, show me. Pretend there is one coming at 

you right now.” The Soldier 

turned and raised his weapon. “How are you going to 

engage him with no magazine in your weapon?”

Mentoring never stops.

“You have a lot of young, 

inexperienced privates who 

don’t have a clue about 

combat situations,” he said. 

“If you are lackadaisical 

with little stuff, you are going to have problems in the 

future. Iraq is a different 

animal completely. We are 

going to beat that fact into 

their heads.”

Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat 

Team, prepare a Humvee for lift-off during the battalion’s sling load exercise.

Story by SGT Todd Goodman

3rd IBCT PAO
27

After more than two years of inactivity 

not even Mother Nature’s lighting, which 

detained mission plans for more than five 

hours, could prevent the “Thunderbolts” 

from returning a little Soldier-made thunder to Fort Riley July 30.

Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment rolled their tanks from 

Custer Hill to the firing range and patiently 

waited for the ammunition point to release 

the rounds for their M1A1 Abrams.

“We conducted an LFAST, which is a Live 

Fire Accuracy Screening Test,” said Staff Sgt. 

Kevin Lewis, a master gunner for Company 

C, 2nd Bn., 70th Armor Regt. “Basically you 

shoot the tanks and make sure they’re hitting 

what they’re supposed to hit.

“The overall goal is to successfully 

screen each one of the tanks,” he added. 

“We just picked these tanks up from (new 

equipment training) and this is the first time 

that we actually got to use them.”

“These are brand new tanks that have 

been refurbished and we don’t know whether or not the main gun is going to work,” 

said Spc. William Diederich, a Thunderbolt 

tanker. “We are going to launch some big 

bullets down range to make sure all of our 

systems and weapons are good to go,” Diederich said before his tank and crew went 

up to fire. “It will be my fist time. I’m kinda 

nervous,” he added.

Sgt. Chadwick Reed, gunner for the battalion commander’s tank, was in the first 

tank to fire on Fort Riley in more than two 

years.

“It was a little different,” Reed said with 

a smile on his face. “It actually felt pretty 

good. I haven’t been on a tank in a while.

“It definitely improved morale,” Reed 

said. “This is our job; it’s what we do. This 

is our money maker right here.”

Reed wasn’t the only one who thought 

the training brought 

the tankers together.

“It’s training as a 

team, getting to know 

them and know how 

they operate,” said 

Spc. Ian Poe, a loader 

for 2nd Bn., 70th Armor Regt.

Fifteen tank systems were inspected in 

spite of minimal staffing and poor weather. 

Several others tests 

will be conducted in 

the next couple of 

months to ensure the 

fire control systems 

on the Abrams work 

properly.

But the training 

doesn’t stop here.

“We’ve got maneuvers we still have to go 

on. We still have to go 

to National Training 

Story and photos by

PFC Francisca Vega, 1st ID PAO

An M1A1 Abrams tank from 2nd Bn., 70th Armor Regiment unleashes hell July 30.

(Below) Staff Sgt. Kevin Lewis (front, 

on truck), master gunner for 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment, hands 

M1A1 Abrams ammunition to Soldiers 

to fire July 30 during a Live Fire Accuracy Screening Test on a range here.

Center of course. We still have a gunnery to 

fire and actually qualify to use our tanks,” 

Reed said.