AUGUST 26, 2024 – Advise, assist, and enable, a key component of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve’s mission to enhance partner capacity in Iraq, was on full display this past month at the Task Force Redleg Artillery Course in western Iraq, July 14 – Aug. 1. During this time, the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 112th Field Artillery Regiment, 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, serving as Task Force Redleg, hosted their Iraqi counterparts for an exchange of ideas as they worked side by side in a field artillery training course.
The training has become a part of the task force’s deployment rotations in recent years. It was last organized in December of 2023 by the 10th Mountain Division’s 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment. Picking up where the 2-15th left off, the N.J. Guardsmen collaborated with leadership from Military Advisor Group – Iraq and the Iraqi Armed Forces to ensure another successful course.
The course consisted of 32 Iraqi Soldiers from the Division of Artillery’s 1st Brigade and 38 field artillerymen from Task Force Redleg. The 3-112th provided the advisors, instructional regimen, supplies, equipment, and training areas for the course. The training included classroom instruction, hands-on practical training, weapons maintenance, and culminated with a live fire exercise. A primary focus of the course was to exchange best practices of all elements of field artillery: calling for fire, securing and operating a command post, gun line operations, map reading, land navigation, terrain sketching, and radio communications.
The subject matter covered over the course of two weeks contained the equivalent of what the Iraqi Artillery School covers in six months, according to Iraqi Armed Forces Capt. Dhiyaa Husseie Majeed Dayhood. “The US military is a very advanced military and it was a good experience for us, and they were very generous with information. They took the time to answer all the questions we asked,” he added.
However, what evolved between the training partners transcended the subject matter of the course: mutual respect and friendship.
“Our first impression was this is going to be extremely difficult because of the language barrier, but we easily overcame that with help from our linguists,” said Staff Sgt. Tyler Simmons, Bravo Battery’s platoon sergeant. “As the training event unfolded, and progressed, we saw better communication between our Soldiers. Everyone became more engaged and enjoyed laughs with one another. This was a first-time experience for the majority of us, and we believe we gained more knowledge throughout our time working with them.”
Dayhood shared the same sentiment: “I wish we had more time to spend with each other on these exercises, because I felt we were really benefiting from this experience of working together. What this training really showed is that by working through mutual cooperation, we can defeat ISIS together.”
Once the instructional period ended, it was time to put their learning to the test. The partner forces worked together to perform a live fire exercise utilizing the M119 Howitzer to demonstrate their proficiency, readiness, and interoperability.
After a successful exercise, the class attended a graduation ceremony and received certificates for the successful completion of the training.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. David Eckenrode, commander of the 3-112th, applauded the efforts of the Iraqi soldiers: “We really appreciated their dedication and willingness to learn. They were clearly invested in this training. When they go back and share this knowledge with their fellow Soldiers, they are enabling their units and developing new capabilities to utilize on the battlefield. These new capabilities will give their battalion or battery overmatch against any enemy, to include Da’esh (ISIS) and ensure that they never regenerate to threaten their country.”
By Staff Sgt. Bruce Daddis