Marines Honor Five Iraqi Soldiers

[seruriermarshal]

Marines Honor Five Iraqi Soldiers

52 minutes ago

By FISNIK ABRASHI, Associated Press Writer

NASSIR WA SALAAM, Iraq - U.S. Marines honored five Iraqi soldiers Friday for saving a Marine's life in a May ambush near the restive city of Fallujah.

Col. John Toolan, commander of the 1st Marine Regiment, handed out red leather-bound awards and Marine medallions to the five Iraqis at a ceremony that also honored recruits who completed a training program in the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps.


"Both Iraqi soldiers and Marines were willing to shed their blood in order to make sure that we get a free Iraq (news - web sites)," Toolan said at the ceremony at Camp India, a Marine training base for the Iraqis. The event was attended by local leaders.


The five Iraqis were on a joint patrol with Marines when they were ambushed May 30 in Karma, a suburb of Fallujah, 40 miles west of Baghdad. Attackers fired on the patrol, wounding one Marine. The Iraqis returned fire, providing cover for Navy medics assisting the wounded Marine.


By their action, the Iraqis "turned the tide of the ambush," the text of the award read.


The new members of Iraq's security force graduated after a seven-day program that included courses in marksmanship and conducting patrols. Dozens have already graduated from this center near Fallujah.


Standing in the courtyard, in blue berets and white scarfs, the Iraqis lined up with their Marine instructors.


Iraqi Gen. Asal Shaker, in charge of security for Anbar province, told the 162 graduates they will be taking orders from the new interim Iraqi government after the June 30 handover of power.


"It is for the people of Iraq to choose who will protect them in the future," Shaker told The Associated Press.






Thank you , New Iraq soldiers !

[Aussie E]

Good to hear positive news about the new Iraqi army! When this is all said and done they will be a solid fighting force in the region as they are being trained and taught by one of the greatest fighting forces we have every seen.
Keep up the good work!
LEST WE FORGET

[Argyll]

The new members of Iraq's security force graduated after a seven-day program that included courses in marksmanship and conducting patrols. Dozens have already graduated from this center near Fallujah.

Seven days?...........it takes at least a week to teach someone weapon handling drills,patrolling techniques.....the
same,.........marksmanship.....longer............maybe 7 weeks,but not turning out new recruits in 7 days.........that's bloody irresponsible if this is the case..........it takes 18-24 weeks to train a British Infantry soldier!!

[Ratamacue]

The new members of Iraq's security force graduated after a seven-day program that included courses in marksmanship and conducting patrols. Dozens have already graduated from this center near Fallujah.

Seven days?...........it takes at least a week to teach someone weapon handling drills,patrolling techniques.....the
same,.........marksmanship.....longer............maybe 7 weeks,but not turning out new recruits in 7 days.........that's bloody irresponsible if this is the case..........it takes 18-24 weeks to train a British Infantry soldier!!

My guess is that it was a typo. Probably 7 weeks, which is still a bit on the skimpy side, but I think they're trying to train these guys through experience on patrols with Marines and soldiers.

[MEGR]

Argyll, have you ever encountered the new Iraqi army.. If so, what did you think? Anyways, good for those 5 soldiers, good to know there are guys like that who want to do good for us and their country.

[seruriermarshal]

Iraq people need more like this soldiers , then allies will earlier left Iraq .

[DixieDude]

They are probably trying to train them before the handover on June 30: thats why its so fast.

[AOCBravo2004]

Anyone stop to consider that these guys were maybe members of the old Iraqi Army and know the basics of soldiering???? The Marines and other Coalition forces may just be building on the skills they already know hence the short span of their training.

[talib_killa34]

Need ALOT more success stories like this in order for Iraq to pull itself up.

Hopefully, they are getting there.

Good luck to those who do try to make a new nation! :)

[MARINO]

Go Irak!!!! woot

[seruriermarshal]

I believe Iraq will rich and peace , and Iraq people will freedom and safe .

[Locked N Loaded]

The sooner they can stand on their own feet and fight for their own Country, the faster the Coalition can start slowly sending troops home. This is definetly a step in the right direction for Iraq. I know it's a long process but it's a start. The faster Sadr and his group of thugs see they can not just storm a City and take over Government buildings, police stations, etc., without any resistance to speak of, the faster order will be restored to a more respectable level. Reconstruction can pick back up with people feeling more secure. Don't get me wrong, I am in NO way stating because of this one situation Iraq is now safe and that the Iraqi Security Force is "ready-to-go", but it is a start and confidence builder.

L n L

[seruriermarshal]

The sooner they can stand on their own feet and fight for their own Country, the faster the Coalition can start slowly sending troops home. This is definetly a step in the right direction for Iraq. I know it's a long process but it's a start. The faster Sadr and his group of thugs see they can not just storm a City and take over Government buildings, police stations, etc., without any resistance to speak of, the faster order will be restored to a more respectable level. Reconstruction can pick back up with people feeling more secure. Don't get me wrong, I am in NO way stating because of this one situation Iraq is now safe and that the Iraqi Security Force is "ready-to-go", but it is a start and confidence builder.

L n L

Yes , you are right , step by step .

[Red]

Marines Honor Five Iraqi Soldiers

52 minutes ago

By FISNIK ABRASHI, Associated Press Writer

NASSIR WA SALAAM, Iraq - U.S. Marines honored five Iraqi soldiers Friday for saving a Marine's life in a May ambush near the restive city of Fallujah.

Col. John Toolan, commander of the 1st Marine Regiment, handed out red leather-bound awards and Marine medallions to the five Iraqis at a ceremony that also honored recruits who completed a training program in the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps.


"Both Iraqi soldiers and Marines were willing to shed their blood in order to make sure that we get a free Iraq (news - web sites)," Toolan said at the ceremony at Camp India, a Marine training base for the Iraqis. The event was attended by local leaders.


The five Iraqis were on a joint patrol with Marines when they were ambushed May 30 in Karma, a suburb of Fallujah, 40 miles west of Baghdad. Attackers fired on the patrol, wounding one Marine. The Iraqis returned fire, providing cover for Navy medics assisting the wounded Marine.


By their action, the Iraqis "turned the tide of the ambush," the text of the award read.


The new members of Iraq's security force graduated after a seven-day program that included courses in marksmanship and conducting patrols. Dozens have already graduated from this center near Fallujah.


Standing in the courtyard, in blue berets and white scarfs, the Iraqis lined up with their Marine instructors.


Iraqi Gen. Asal Shaker, in charge of security for Anbar province, told the 162 graduates they will be taking orders from the new interim Iraqi government after the June 30 handover of power.


"It is for the people of Iraq to choose who will protect them in the future," Shaker told The Associated Press.






Thank you , New Iraq soldiers !
That is great,nice way to build confidence in these guys.