Combat Troops Interact With Iraqi Groups Teaching Skills
Marine Instructors working with Iraqi soldiers to teach and instruct unity look to the words of Frederick Douglas to help inspire their students. “I would join and unite with any person to accomplish right and to join with no one to do something wrong” – Frederick Douglas.
These words by Douglas help to model for Iraqi Soldiers and trainees the importance of working to overcome struggles to achieve human liberty. Iraqi soldiers, officials and citizens are working hard for their own future.
Marines working to teach skills in the Zaidon area are instructing Iraqi Police students and candidates in techniques that are heavy in teamwork, unity, and working together as a unit and as a team.
Team members at the Police training facility are given challenges and asked to solve them as a unit, working together. This is often the first time that Iraqi soldiers have been challenged to work and achieve a common goal together.
“These individuals are civilians, and they have been bravely guarding different areas and checkpoints for a long time,” stated 1st Lieutenant Todd Richardson. Lt. Richardson is the Commander of a Platoon with Weapons Company, Third Battalion, and 3rd Marine Regiment. “They are wanting real authority not just to be civilian watchers, and they are finally getting their chance,” said Lieutenant Richardson.
Some of the students have entered the training program with bias or hard feelings toward other students. This program has been about breaking down the barriers, and creating a sense of teamwork and shared goals.
