The Red Bulls

CAMP SPARROW HAWK, Iraq - As Iraqis celebrated National Sovereignty Day June 30 and U.S. forces moved outside the cities, the border in Maysan province was secured by the Iraqi Army, Department of Border Enforcement and their partners from Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, “Task Force Pathfinder.”

The battery is advising and assisting 1st and 2nd Battalion, 41st Iraqi Army Brigade, and 3rd and 4th Battalion, Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement in Maysan’s marshlands.

The Iraqi forces are responsible for the security of a portion of Iraq’s eastern border. This region has a long and costly history with Iran.  Maysan is littered with military debris and unexploded ordnance from its war during the 1980s. The Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team on Forward Operating Base Hunter is routinely called to collect and dispose of this ammunition.

“During the war, residents were told to leave without compensation from their villages,” said Ehsan Alabadi, a veteran of the Iraq-Iran War who serves as an interpreter on FOB Hunter.  “When they returned, they had to start all over in a place full of land mines and other unexploded bombs.”

Soldiers of Btry. A train their Iraqi counterparts here on Soldier skills such as maintenance, medical first responder, room clearing and patrolling procedures.

“The training is very helpful in getting us ready for the next step,” said Iraqi Army Lt. Col. Abdul Amir, 1st Bn. commander.
Additionally, the battery has been increasing the core abilities of Iraq’s Border Agents while encouraging its cooperation with the IA stationed nearby.
A strong relationship between IA and DBE forces will be required to maintain security along the border after the U.S. departs.

Soldiers of Btry. A are helping bridge this gap by training both units simultaneously. They are enabling both forces and, in doing so, making cohesion easier for them in the future.