Airman, Marine help Iraqi commandos to communicate

  • Published
  • By Army Sgt. Matt Murphy
  • Multinational Security Transition Command-Iraq Public Affairs
SAMARRA, Iraq (AFPN) --  Instead of being surrounded by electronic equipment in an office, an Airman and Marine found themselves setting up communications during an active combat mission as part of an operation for the Iraqi ministry of the interior.

Tech. Sgt. Billie Lowell and Marine Capt. Steve Monsour are spending several days working with Iraqi security forces as they clear the city of Samarra, Iraq, and its surrounding villages of terrorists and insurgents.

It is essential in an operation this size to have high-frequency radio communications and a repeater to help transmit signals, said Col. Jim Coffman, a special adviser with Multinational Security Transition Command-Iraq.

“Watching the Iraqis execute missions is great,” Captain Monsour said. "Setting up their radios is a small part of the operation, but just being here on a combat mission and witnessing how well coordinated the Iraqi forces perform raids and capture insurgents makes it worth getting out of the office."

While testing radio frequencies, he said he saw Iraqi police commandos bring suspects into custody during a raid in an outlying village.

“This is a unique experience for me, because we rarely have the opportunity to go to the field in the Air Force,” Sergeant Lowell said. “This is a side of the war that I otherwise wouldn’t see. Providing and coordinating communications for the Iraqi teams is something that is really important for them. The tactics the Iraqis use are constantly changing so good communications is absolutely necessary.”

During a raid mission, Sergeant Lowell programmed a radio to hone in frequencies to provide better communications for the Iraqi teams.

An Iraqi officer on the mission complimented Sergeant Lowell for her work with the radios. He said his ability to talk to his teams maintained order during times they needed to change directions and pursue another course of action. (Courtesy of American Forces Press Service)