The New Job.

As I mentioned earlier, I am now on a MiTT (Military Transition Team) training the Iraqi 6th Infantry Division.  It is a whole new set of challenges.  Dealing with the tribal/familial entanglements, the cultural differences and the language barrier are just a few.  The Iraqi supply and logistics chain is even worse than ours.  We are trying to stand up a Division Headquarters that will eventually control five Brigades in Baghdad.  Right now, only two of the five Brigades are operational.  The Division Headquarters is manned by less than half of the people that they should have.  The biggest problem right now is that we have the Senior Officers but not the complement of Soldiers, NCO's and Junior Officers that we should have.  It is a classic "Too many chiefs and not enough Indians scenario.  (I hope I don't get in trouble with the ACLU or the NCAA for using that analogy...) 

On a good note, my new boss, LTC D. (kneeling in front in the picture) and I got to visit one of the operational Brigades of the Division last week.  Compared to the not-yet-functional Brigade we worked with in the Nightstalkers, these guys were light years ahead.  We had the Division Chief of Staff and the G3 Operations Chief with us.  They are two of the better Officers in the Division Headquarters.  Seeing the Iraqi Soldiers of the 1st Brigade, known as the "Cobras," was heartening.  They were disciplined, professional and soldierly.  This, again, was a far cry from what I was accustomed to heretofore.  I figure if we can bring every unit in the Iraqi Army up to their standards, we can go home.  We can help, but it is ultimately up to them.  Another thing that I noticed was that their FOB was clean and in a fairly good state of repair.  Their Commander Brigadier General "J" was unabashedly proud of his unit, and he should be.  This is the Brigade that took back Haifa Street.  In fact, there were two guys there from the New York Times doing a story on the Brigade.  I kept my distance from them.

Comments

[MissBirdlegs in AL]

Good thinking on keeping your distance! :) Thanks once more for all you do & for the blog. It's all appreciated.

[Sean]

Good luck on your new job, sounds like it's someplace you can make a difference. We already know that you're good at that.

[YankeePaPa]

..There are a lot of people who are very proud of you and all that you and all the other service members are doing in Iraq today..congratulations to all of you..Carry on American Soldiers..Semper Fi..

[ET]

Still sounds like an important mission. Do your best and make a positive difference. We're behind you all the way.

[Edward]

Hi MAJK,
This is definitely supporting the KEY mission, standing up the Iraqi people to run their own country in the face of arhabi mayhem. General "J" has every right to be proud of his Brigade, and you will be giving him more like it. I wish you great satisfaction in a job well done.

[Chevy Rose]

That photo reveals the faces of pride of country. I'm praying that the Iraqians suceed in establishing a united country for their children futures. They can depend on America to help them keep it too. No more "VietNams" in this century for sure. I'm also praying for you and your safety. God bless America.

[kat-missouri]

These guys look pretty squared away. the concept of loyalty to something other than family and tribe and religion is going to be a hard sell since loyalty to anything else in the past was a no go or could get you in major trouble.

The concept of an idea that one believes in above all others, an idea that joins you to all others in your country despite differences is a long process if you're not born to it.

I guess we are fortunate in that.

[tmg]

So the New York Times might write positive story? Woo-hoo!

Thanks for keeping us up to date on the real news. While at the airport last week, I spoke with several soldiers that were beginning or ending their R&R. Their smiles were infectious. It seemed so obvious that they were proud of the progress in Iraq and that we are winning.

I wasn't born in the U.S., but I am a citizen now. Talking with those brave men reminded me of how lucky I am.

Thank you Major, and God bless.
-tmg

[jamie]

You all look like some very proud soldiers. That is awesome that you guys can have that much effect on each other.

Thank You, all of you.

[Dan]

Thank you for the nice pic. You guys look good.

Also, thank you for avoiding the NY Times. You did not give them any words to twist.

And, speaking of twisted words, I HOPE the military leadership is learning Arabic. It will help in many ways.

Thank you for your service.

---Dan

[Marcus Aurelius]

I taught in the Middle East for six years.

The biggest ray of hope is:
Another thing that I noticed was that their FOB was clean and in a fairly good state of repair.

Wow! Without the assistance of Indians, Bangledeshis, and Filipinos nothing in my host country was clean.

Where I was can be described as a cargo cult. They had the $$ and brought in all sorts of people to build nice new and large buildings and said "There we are a modern society". However, it takes more than nice buildings. Sounds like some cultural attitudes are changing.

From clean and orderly FOBs to building up NCOs.

[devildog6771]

Major, you have again brought us a great story of the Iraqi determination to be self determining and free. You have also shown that your efforts have been successful and that we appear to be mking some new friends in the world based on respect and the determination to have a free peaceful world.

I can't wait for the Article from those reporters. However, if they fail to report a true accounting, I will certainly be ready for that too. I am sure you will find many bloggers will likewise make sure the truth comes out.

Keep up the good fight sir. May God look after you and the rest of our troops. May God also look after these brave Iraqi who, despite the fact that the terrorists are targeting them, refuse to settle for anything less than freedom and Democracy. God bless them in their struggle.

[Mike]

Here's the Times story -- and it is, in fact, very positive.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/14/international/middleeast/14baghdad.html

[Matt]

What are your experiences with the Iraqi Assitance Group (IAG) or Iraqi Training Teams (ITTs)? I am leaving for Iraq within a month and wanted some insight on what to expect once assigned to those organizations.

[Jessica]

http://famous-people.t35.com/name20/vinessa-shaw.html