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 Army training center prepares last division headquarters deploying to Iraq By Maj. Eric Verzola
                Operations Group Alpha, Battle Command Training Program
 JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash., - Operations Group Alpha trained the Texas National Guard's 36th Infantry Division for upcoming operations in southern Iraq. The citizen-Soldiers from the "Arrowhead" Division will deploy to southern Iraq later this year. It is the last division headquarters scheduled to deploy to southern Iraq in Operation New Dawn. The mission rehearsal exercise (MRX) was conducted by Operations Group Alpha, Battle Command Training Program (BCTP) here at the Battle Command Training Center. Based at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., the U.S. Army's Battle Command Training Program prepares commanders and their staffs for warfighting overseas and in the contemporary operations environment. The exercise consisted of two phases. The first phase began on Oct. 18 and lasted two weeks. It was followed by a mid-exercise assessment, Phase II, which started on Nov. 8 and ended today. The 36th, with observation and training assistance from BCTP, will assist in the turnover of over 26 U.S. bases in its area of operations to the Iraqi government as the drawdown of U.S. troops proceeds. The Arrowhead Division has a long history of fighting in Europe during World War I, freeing prisoners from German concentration camps in World War II, and assisting fellow citizens during natural disasters. It is uniquely prepared to make this transition with the government of Iraq. As a National Guard unit, its ranks are filled with citizen-Soldiers from varying real-life occupations and backgrounds, which aptly prepare them to assist in transferring security and civil institutions to the government and people of Iraq. The divisional area of operations will include Basra, in the south of Iraq, and facilitate the withdrawal of troops and equipment. As with previous coalition units in the area, the 36th will continue to advise and assist Iraqi security forces, including the Iraqi army, police and department of border enforcement. Some in the unit have likened the period that the 36th is entering to the Marshall Plan, which followed in the aftermath of WWII. The Marshall Plan saw significant U.S. technical and economic assistance to European countries in an effort to spur economic growth and political stability. During the recent mission rehearsal exercise here, the unit dealt with a scenario that included civil unrest, infrastructure and road challenges, reduced number of forces, interaction with State Department personnel, drawdown of forces, and stability operations, all while continuing to foster partnership with Iraqis. To better prepare the unit, the exercise involved the expertise of Iraqi role players and leaders from the 1st Infantry Division, the unit that the 36th will be replacing. Maj. Pat Wentz, an engineer observer/trainer for OPSGRP Alpha, said he was impressed by the unit's innovation and tactical skills. "I was able to assist the 36th in refining their primary task of basing, infrastructure development, current operations and plans," he said. "They have developed a great tool for tracking route clearance with their area of operations during this exercise." Col. Jack Flowers, commander of OPSGRP Alpha, said he is proud of Operations Group Alpha, which arrived a week prior to Phase I of the four-week exercise. "Their hard work to prepare the 36th for this historic mission will have a lasting effect in forming an enduring strategic partnership with the government of Iraq," he said. "They did a superb job in executing the MRX and preparing the division staff here in JBLM."
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