Sons of Iraq represent future, freedom

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Brian Davidson
  • 447th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AFPN) --  Iraq just moved closer toward freedom and independence -- 54 steps closer to be exact.

Each step is represented by one of 54 elite Iraqi soldiers who have begun explosives ordnance disposal school, the first group to enter the school since the free elections in January.

The soldiers will learn how to deal with ever-increasing attacks on civilians, government officials and coalition forces by insurgents using improvised explosive devices.

Once they complete the three-month training, the soldiers will begin taking over explosives disposal responsibilities for coalition EOD troops who are supporting the war on terrorism.

The EOD training is just one more step in what has been a long road for the soldiers who are making history in Iraq. Assigned to the 1st Iraqi Army Brigade, a National Guard unit, they began basic training in November and then took over sector responsibilities near the Tigris River and then here.

With help from coalition Soldiers and Airmen, this small group of men have already proven themselves on the battlefield -- and stood bravely in the face of evil.

“Not only are these soldiers ready to do whatever they have to for a free Iraq, but in doing so they also know insurgents have put a price on their head,” said Army Spc. Christopher Mott, a Louisiana National Guard Soldier who has been with the Iraqi soldiers since they began training. “It’s a privilege to work with these men. They want to be here. They want to learn. They want to build their country and protect the innocent.”

One soldier was shot through both legs while working at an entry control point, and insisted on returning to duty as soon as he was able to walk again, Specialist Mott said.

Some Iraqi soldiers have already made the ultimate sacrifice for their beliefs -- killed by terrorists and insurgents.

The Iraqi soldiers boarded a U.S. C-130 Hercules for their trip to EOD school, the first time all but a few had ever been in an aircraft.

Although there was no interpreter on hand and few of the soldiers spoke any English, the aircraft’s crew was able to make the basic safety instructions understood.

When military aircraft leave Baghdad International Airport, the takeoff is extreme -- climbing and banking rapidly to escape possible attack from the enemy, and this takeoff was no exception.

The soldiers were not sure what was going on as the G-forces pushed them hard into their seats and the deck angled sharply. One moment the aircraft seemed like it was standing on its tail as it clawed at the sky for altitude and the next it snapped into a bank nearly pointing one wing straight up. Throughout the ordeal, they watched Staff Sgt. Jamie Mucciarelli, a loadmaster, calmly go about her duties, and realized the extreme takeoff was a normal procedure. Then they were like teenagers on a rollercoaster throwing their hands in the air and yelling for more.

Once the aircraft leveled off, some soldiers dozed and others only wanted to get up and look out the windows.

“Only a few seemed to feel sick from the ride, but most were having a heck of a time,” said Sergeant Mucciarelli, who is deployed from the 41st Airlift Squadron at Pope Air Force Base, N.C. “It feels pretty special to help teach them what military airlift is all about and support their mission.”

Once the aircraft landed, the flight crew took a few minutes to take some group pictures with their historic passengers, and then the soldiers put on their game faces and gathered their weapons and gear for the next leg of their journey.

They were met by airmen from the Royal Air Force special forces and by U.S. Navy Lt. Tony Brinkley, military technical adviser for the Iraqi army EOD school.

“They’re in for some pretty intense training,” Lieutenant Brinkley said. “This is only the first class of about 10 who will be learning here in the coming weeks. We have already have Iraqi instructors, and soon the Iraqi army will have the skills they need to defeat terrorists who threaten the future of the country.”

Although few of the soldiers have any formal education beyond the equivalent of the fifth grade, their determination to learn often impresses their instructors.

“Under Saddam Hussein, very few people were permitted an education beyond reading and writing,” said Iraqi army Sgt. Saddam through an interpreter. “We fight for freedom to learn, freedom to speak and freedom to think.”

Speaking on behalf of his men, Sergeant Saddam said they serve because they are sons of Iraq, and it is their duty.

The soldiers know that trying to build a free Iraq makes them targets to those who supported the old regime.

“We fight for the innocent, and for peace,” Sergeant Saddam said. “We fight so all (people of Iraq) can live without fear.”