Basic Engineering Course Taught To New Sailors
Baghdad
The instruction of the new Iraqi River Patrol is continuing. U.S. Navy instructors are working closely with Iraqi River Patrol personnel to teach them how to instruct their own officers in the finer points of boat handling and basic engineering.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Joseph Aldana, with the U.S. Naval Special Warfare 3rd Unit, Bahrain, is one of the instructors that is working with senior Iraqi River patrol officers. He is overseeing instruction in a ten-day basic river and boat-engineering course. From this course not only with Iraqi River personnel learn new concepts and boat equipment information, but also they are slowly learning how to become instructors themselves.
The concepts and subjects that are being taught are Basic Electricity, Marine Electricity/Battery, Troubleshooting, Planned Maintenance System Checks, and backing seals and gaskets. “We are teaching them instructor skills as well as new skills. They will be able to function and perform on the water during emergencies more effectively” said Petty Officer Aldana.
“The primary goal we have is to make sure that these principals are known and understood, to form a good engineering foundation for them as they will be teaching their own soldiers these concepts soon,” stated Aldana.
“Facing and defeating the barrier of language is the most challenging part of this entire process,” said Aldana. “Most of these students have some basic knowledge of boating or engineering, that makes it a great deal easier for me personally to teach them,” said Aldana.
