Safe House Surprise: Training the Iraqi Army in Chain of Command

Text Box:  GHAZALIYA, Iraq, July 17 — Four hours after door-to-door ID checks began in this Baghdad suburb, I return with the Delta Company to pick up the trainers of the Iraqi army from the 114th Military Transition Team (MiTT). It’s time for a surprise checkpoint inspection. The Iraqi Army safe house and surrounding neighborhood for this checkpoint are scary—no lights, no electricity. The MiTT troops have been trying to get the Iraqi government to provide assets, like a generator to charge their radios and flashlights, but with limited success. The safe house sits about 15 meters from the checkpoint, and there are rolls of concertina wire and Jersey barriers protecting the house that the coalition built. We slowly walk up to the roof of the gutted house, where the Iraqi soldiers are sleeping. Gunfire pops in the distance as Sgt. First Class Bernard Garlick questions the Iraqi officer in charge of the house. Garlick is disappointed (not the first time I’ve witnessed U.S. disappointment in Iraqi colleagues) at seeing only a handful of people inside—three on duty, the rest sleeping. Five minutes into the rooftop meeting, the crack of gunfire close by sends us into the house. After another quick discussion, Garlick orders the lieutenant in charge to tell his commanders that they need more soldiers. “They probably won’t because they’re not used to giving their superiors suggestions,” Garlick says, then passes on the information to his superior for follow-up the next day. “The sooner the Iraqi Army gets on their feet, the better,” Garlick continues. “The MiTT helps form working relationship—guaranteed they can’t do it without our help.” —Leslie Sabbagh


SPC Craig McBaine, one of JSS

Thrasher's medics,

returning from a mission.