Content provided in partnership with

Out of the comfort zone, into the combat zone: instructor jumps at chance to help train Iraqi noncommissioned officers

Airman, Feb, 2005 by Louis A. Arana-Barradas

Tech. Sgt. Rich Parsons was excited when he got orders to Iraq. Not the typical reaction most servicemembers have to such news.

But this was a sweet deal, the professional military education instructor said. He'd be doing exactly what he did at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho--training future noncommissioned officers. Plus, it was a unique opportunity for travel in a career field where people rarely deploy.

"Besides, I'd have a hand in helping shape the new Iraqi army," he said. "And I'd get to do my job in a hostile environment." To him, that part alone was worth the trip.

Most Popular Articles in News: The Ten Best Laptop bags; Tata plans cheapest-ever car for Indian market; GLOBALIZATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF UNDERDEVELOPMENT OF THE THIRD WORLD; Corn is good for you; Corn is not only a tasty treat, but also a cereal that ...; THE 50 BEST STYLISH HANDBAGS TO CARRY; More »

Sergeant Parsons also knew he'd be in a place much different than the high desert plains he'd gotten used to at Mountain Home. There, he was a PME flight instructor at the Gunfighter Airman Leadership School. It's a great place to work, he said, but he enjoys the challenges outside of normal duty.

A deployment junkie, he needed some excitement. A trip to Iraq was the answer. So in February 2004, he packed his bags and headed for the war zone.

Sergeant Parsons knew he was one of 30 Air Force PME instructors deployed to Iraq, but he found out he'd be working for the U.S. Army with Army, Navy and Marine Corps instructors. His welcome to Baghdad--a rocket propelled grenade attack.

"We didn't get hit. But we were ducking and diving and doing all that stuff," he said. "People were freaking out." At Balad Air Base, "we took mortar hits every night."

For four months Kirkush Military Training Base, northeast of Baghdad, was home. Saddam Hussein built it as a showcase because it was close to the Iranian border. But no Iraqis ever occupied it. So, the instructors moved into barracks meant to house the Republican Guard.

"They weren't in the greatest shape, but it beat living in tents," Sergeant Parsons said.

Within days, the Americans began training at the Iraqi army's equivalent of a noncommissioned officers academy. The training was all U.S. Army, and the instructors taught the curriculum right out of the Army's primary leadership development course. Basically, the Americans were teaching Iraqis squad leader tactics. The first group of students would, in turn, make up the core of the instructor cadre that would take over the teaching duties at the school.

But it wasn't all smooth sailing. Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines all have their own way of doing things. So the challenge was to adapt to the Army way of doing things. Sergeant Parsons said it wasn't easy. But the Airmen soon learned to "stay in their lane," he said. And they fought to prove wrong the Army stereotypes of them.

"The Soldiers didn't think we could do physical training, or run," he said. "But we proved we could stay right up there with them."

Eventually, the instructors meshed into a team. But most trainees couldn't speak English, and none of the instructors spoke Arabic, Farsi or Kurdish. Some recruits couldn't even speak to or understand each other. So Jordanian military officers and noncommissioned officers worked hand-in-hand with the Americans. They interpreted and taught weapon classes. They also taught the drill and ceremonial parts of the course, since both countries use the British system. In some cases, students acted as interpreters for classmates.

"The first week was hectic," Sergeant Parsons said. "We weren't real sure at the beginning if everything was going to work out."

But it did. After six weeks, the Americans had adapted. The cadre made changes and tweaked the course. They dropped parts and added some. And they got to know their students.

The Iraqis are not unlike students he trains at home, Sergeant Parsons said. Some joined for the salary. Others wanted to support their families. The best part, he said, was that all the troops wanted to be there. They wanted to be part of the army so they could help protect their country.

"And they were there by choice--not because they were forced to join," he said.

Sergeant Parsons made Iraqi friends. They communicated with sign language, broken English and photos. Sitting on blankets, they'd talk about many things, especially their families.

"I learned that family is important to lraqis," he said. "It was an awesome experience."

And he heard horror stories, too. One student told him Saddam's sons killed his entire family. Another saw Saddam's troops drag people out of their homes to shoot them in the streets.

"The fact they joined the army showed just how brave these men are," Sergeant Parsons said.

New recruits are motivated and patriotic, he said. One arrived for training with a bullet still lodged in his infected foot. After an operation, doctors told him he couldn't go through the class. But he came back. The day the first class graduated, there he was, ready to start the next one.

Graduation day was a good day for instructors and students, Sergeant Parsons said.

Out of the comfort zone, into the combat zone: instructor jumps at chance to help train Iraqi noncommissioned officers

Airman, Feb, 2005 by Louis A. Arana-Barradas

Find Research Guides for:

Find Featured Titles for: Reference

Most Popular Articles in News

Most Popular Publications in News