Airmen train Iraqi soldiers on base defense

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Brian Ferguson
  • U.S. Central Command Air Forces Public Affairs
AR RASHEED BASE, Iraq (AFPN) --  When most Airmen think of base defense, they may think about security forces checking ID cards at the gate. However, a U.S. team in Iraq is showing that base defense means much more.

A group of five security forces Airmen and their Army commander have combined to form a base defense unit, or BDU, team. They are tasked with training and advising the Iraqi Army on base defense tactics at Ar Rasheed Base, an Iraqi post on the outskirts of Baghdad.

“The mission of BDU team 3602 is to mentor and guide our Iraqi counterparts on how to do a base defense mission,” said 1st Lt. Frank C. Bigelow, assistant team chief.

The Airmen are filling what are normally Army positions, training the 1st Iraqi Army Division/Iraqi Intervention Forces. The positions are called “in-lieu-of” positions. The six servicemembers are the only Americans on the base.

“I came here because I didn’t want an Army guy who has already been to Iraq four times to have to come back,” said Master Sgt. Tony Pesson, NCO in charge and tactical operations center liaison.

Surrounded by more than 250 Iraqi Army troops, the BDU advises and helps train the Iraqi soldiers on procedures for conducting vehicle searches, people searches and tower operations.

“The overall security of Iraq is probably the most important thing in re-establishing this nation as a country,” Sergeant Pesson said. “Without security, basic functions can’t happen.”

Iraqi soldiers are the BDU team’s first line of defense on the base. Each morning hundreds of workers line up to enter the base. The soldiers search every person and vehicle that enters.

Team members said training is going well despite a few obstacles, the main one being communication. Translators help with communication between the Americans and Iraqis, but it is still a struggle every day.

“Our greatest challenge is breaking the language barrier. We have to use translators to communicate, but some things just get lost in translation,” Lieutenant Bigelow said. “We are in a strange environment, and we have to try to blend with the Iraqis and work within their culture.”

The team is two months into their one-year deployment to the base.

“Cooperation is happening every day at the highest level and I hope the cooperation continues,” said Iraqi Col. Ali, base commander. “I am indebted to the American team because they are helping to improve the battalion, the officers and all the soldiers so they can better serve our country.”

The Iraqis aren’t the only ones learning and gaining from this experience.

“I have already grown a lot and experienced many things most Americans will never get to do,” Sergeant Pesson said. “There are only six Americans here and more than 250 Iraqis. This is a unique experience (that) no one I know in the Air Force, besides the guys I’m here with, will have an opportunity to do.”