Posted on Nov 7, 2015
Army to Deploy 101st Airborne Soldiers to Oversee Iraqi Army Training. Is this some more wasted money and time?
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"Operation Inherent Resolve"
No Boots On The Ground! That's what Obama said. Now, in 2016, 500 soldiers are going to Iraq to "Train Iraq's Military." How long does it take to train Iraq's military? As long as it takes evidently. I'm not sure they can be trained to fight. They remind me of the ARVN's in Vietnam. Some were good soldiers and fighters, and some liked how they looked in a uniform, but would run at the first crack of a weapon. Either that, or go to the other side if they were losing. You decide. It ticks me off.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment (Red Currahee), 101st Airborne Division, lay down suppressive fire Oct. 5, 2015, during a ground assault training exercise in New Mexico. (Defense Department photo/Corey Baltos)
Nov 06, 2015
Military.com, by Matthew Cox
The U.S. Army is sending 500 soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) to Iraq and Kuwait in early 2016 to advise and assist Iraqi Security Forces.
The 101st headquarters element will assume the role of Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command-Iraq, replacing the 82nd Airborne Division headquarters, according to a Nov. 6 Army press release.
During the nine-month deployment, the division headquarters will provide command and control of coalition troops that are training, advising, and assisting Iraqi forces as part of Operation Inherent Resolve to combat militants affiliated with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS.
About 1,300 paratroopers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division recently returned from a nine-month mission of training Iraqi army units as part of the advise-and-assist mission. During that deployment, the 3rd BCT formed in teams and helped to train about 12,400 new Iraqi army soldiers. The teams also worked every day with Iraqi Ground Forces Command.
Iraqi army units are currently fighting in the counterattack to retake Ramadi from militant fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
The 101st HQ began preparing for the 2016 deployment in late summer.
"Operation Inherent Resolve has been the focus of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Headquarters for the last three months," said 101st commander Maj. Gen. Gary J. Volesky.
"Going back to 1942, Screaming Eagle soldiers have always answered our nation's call to duty with pride and tenacity," said Volesky. "This tough mission is our next 'Rendezvous with Destiny' - and we are ready for
No Boots On The Ground! That's what Obama said. Now, in 2016, 500 soldiers are going to Iraq to "Train Iraq's Military." How long does it take to train Iraq's military? As long as it takes evidently. I'm not sure they can be trained to fight. They remind me of the ARVN's in Vietnam. Some were good soldiers and fighters, and some liked how they looked in a uniform, but would run at the first crack of a weapon. Either that, or go to the other side if they were losing. You decide. It ticks me off.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment (Red Currahee), 101st Airborne Division, lay down suppressive fire Oct. 5, 2015, during a ground assault training exercise in New Mexico. (Defense Department photo/Corey Baltos)
Nov 06, 2015
Military.com, by Matthew Cox
The U.S. Army is sending 500 soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) to Iraq and Kuwait in early 2016 to advise and assist Iraqi Security Forces.
The 101st headquarters element will assume the role of Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command-Iraq, replacing the 82nd Airborne Division headquarters, according to a Nov. 6 Army press release.
During the nine-month deployment, the division headquarters will provide command and control of coalition troops that are training, advising, and assisting Iraqi forces as part of Operation Inherent Resolve to combat militants affiliated with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS.
About 1,300 paratroopers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division recently returned from a nine-month mission of training Iraqi army units as part of the advise-and-assist mission. During that deployment, the 3rd BCT formed in teams and helped to train about 12,400 new Iraqi army soldiers. The teams also worked every day with Iraqi Ground Forces Command.
Iraqi army units are currently fighting in the counterattack to retake Ramadi from militant fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
The 101st HQ began preparing for the 2016 deployment in late summer.
"Operation Inherent Resolve has been the focus of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Headquarters for the last three months," said 101st commander Maj. Gen. Gary J. Volesky.
"Going back to 1942, Screaming Eagle soldiers have always answered our nation's call to duty with pride and tenacity," said Volesky. "This tough mission is our next 'Rendezvous with Destiny' - and we are ready for
Iraq
Training
Combat
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 22
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SGT (Join to see) Additional training might work! If the US trainers retain custody of the payroll dollars for participants included somewhere in this 'deal' and pay those US funds directly into the hands of the participating trainees. Certainly not into Iraqi Army hands!
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SGT (Join to see)
That will work if that's in the deal. Wish we knew what the 'Deal' is. Hope and pray the kids stay safe. Our government have put them in harms way again. I hope it's not being done in vain.
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CSM Charles Hayden
GySgt John Olson - Yea, Gunny, now that the truck is in the ditch, should we give them the money to have it towed and then they can skim just a little % off the top - and probably the bottom also!
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Yes it is a waste of time & money. Nothing over in that part of the world is worth the sweat off our soldiers backs.
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MSG Floyd Williams
This country has spiraled out of control, we need tougher laws and definitely to make our military stronger again in numbers, training, and finances especially for those with families.
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SGT (Join to see)
MSG Floyd Williams, we all know that, but how do we get done? Anyone with a pea brain can tell our country and military are getting the shaft. I don't know how to get that changed with the politicians in office right now.
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MSG Floyd Williams
SGT (Join to see) - Somewhere down the line things have to change for the better in politics, if people can forget about race and complaints, take a honest evaluation who is best qualified to be Commander-in-Chief and other key positions in Government and State I believe this country can recover and head in the right direction. In the meantime, all this in house fighting and constant changes for the sake of changes isn't accomplishing anything but more frustration and division.
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This is a picture I took when I deployed to Baghdad for the surge in 2007, and I think it summarizes my thoughts really well. America can send men like this fine American soldier (who I've deliberately photo-edited out identifying info for the sake of his privacy) I served with to train the Iraqis, but we face(d) two challenges in doing so. First, you can't train a will to fight, and second you can only work with the quality of the people given to you to train. Fat lazy slobs like the Iraqi soldier pictured seemed to be the norm for those I encountered as my local "counterparts." When the Mahdi Army revolted in early 2008 the Iraqi Army didn't fight back. They abandoned their positions and ran like cowards despite possessing superior firepower and numbers. They lacked the will to fight, and it was a problem then as much as it's a problem now. When Iraqis start giving a shit about their future and come together to fight for it is when I'll support sending American troops to go over and train and assist them. That day isn't today, and I don't foresee it coming any time soon.
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SGT (Join to see)
Awesome SGT (Join to see). My thoughts are they are so used to someone, like Saddam, telling them what to do where, when, and how, they can't think for themselves. They don't have any fear of being executed by a scumbag like Saddam, so now they are doing what they want to do without any fear of that happening as long as we are there. They have no initiative, no drive of any kind, and, like you wrote, they are cowards. Also, there's no telling how many are Taliban or/and ISIS supporters.
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MSG Floyd Williams
I can't believe a entire country need training to protect themselves, it is a setup to possibly to slaughter our troops. We should've learned by now, we can't tell friend from foe.
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MSG Floyd Williams
I believe it is effective when it comes to men and women in harms way. The longer we linger around our military personnel is at greater risk. If all those countries who are "crying wolf" get tired of their situation, they will come together to make a change or continue to stay in the same state of mind it is up to them not the U.S.
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SGT (Join to see)
SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL, Thanks Joe. I worry about all of the men and women in the Middle East. I don't want to read about more casualties. Keep them in your prayers.
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Is a lack of training really what the problem was/is with the Iraqi Army? I'm all for it if it will actually help but I don't think it will. It's difficult if not impossible to change a culture.
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SGT (Join to see)
You got that correct CPT (Join to see). You have to want to learn what to do, and how to do it, but only if you have a sincere desire to do so, and those clowns don't have the desire or guts to do so.
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If I'm not mistaken, this deployment is actually part of their normal deployment rotation... These troops were already there "advising and training", right?
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SGT (Join to see)
So, MSgt Curtis Ellis, 500 Screaming Eagles replaced 1100 82nd Airborne troops? If that's the case, the deployment personnel were cut back. Thanks for your response.
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MSgt Curtis Ellis
SGT (Join to see) - My apologies, just a question... Don't forget, I'm Air Force...
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SGT (Join to see)
What? No apologies needed. I didn't intend my response to be taken as offensive. I was thinking you were correct, and the number of troops being deployed was cut back. I apologize.
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SGT (Join to see)
Thanks LTC (Join to see), For your comment. I think that's going to be be the same sentiment within our RP family.
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LTC Michael Hrycak
Although I agree with some of the comments from others that previously deployed and trained the Iraqi Security Forces, as it is their right, but I would like to see our efforts come to fruition by not giving them a way out. I remember sending their Soldiers to academies that we stood up and paid for, and equipping them to be ready to take over the fight. I believe that we needed to stay there in an advisory role, more to ensure the standards are adhered to, as well as technical (leadership/training/fighting) assistance. We all remember those of our fellow Warriors that didn't come home alive, so we cannot let their efforts, more importantly their lives, be foresaken.
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Ummm, haven't we spent over 10 years "training" them already? What possible other training can we provide that they haven't picked up in the past decade? I guess there goes the whole 'I ended the war in Iraq' and 'no boots on the ground'...I will just continue to pray for my brothers and sisters and hope that they all come home!
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MCPO Roger Collins
What is the definition of crazy? Doing the same over and over, and expecting different results? Please, please come on 2017 so that we MAY find solutions to global/domestic policies that don't include band-aids and red paint. If we are foolish enough to elect Clinton, all bets are off.
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