Monticello Live

Members of the 1st Battalion of the 185th Aviation provided the aviation assets during annual training at Swindle Airfield in Walnut Ridge, Ark.  “The most important take away from the practice missions is making lessons learned on things that would have been better if you’d had the resources and assets that you needed,” said 1st Lt. Melissa Shipman, Blackhawk pilot for the 185th. 

(Photo by 2nd Lt. Theresa L. Walker, 119th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Sgt. Shaun Taurone, from Dover, Ark., explains his training experience within the tactical operations center for flight operations with the 77th Aviation Brigade’s 1st Battalion of the 114th Security and Support.  Communication is their first priority and identifying the equipment needed is part of this annual training. 

(Photo by 2nd Lt. Theresa L. Walker, 119th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Checking the signal.  Tech. Sgt. Bill Smith, left, practices aligning a satellite with the help of Staff Sgt. Scott Roach.  The men are members of the Arkansas Air Guard’s 154th Weather Flight, which provided weather support to the Arkansas Army Guard’s 1st Battalion, 114th Security and Support during their recent annual training. 

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A Soldier with 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery  Regiment, 101st Airborne Division provides instruction during a vehicle  search class in the Radwaniya community of Baghdad. “They are a very proud  people, and they want very much to protect their community,” said 2nd Lt.  Vincent Barber.
(Photo by Maj. Craig Heathscott, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public  Affairs Office)

Spc. Jason Stevenson (foreground), 1st Battalion, 320th  Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, serves as the  demonstrator during personnel search training at a school in the Radwaniya
community of Baghdad.  “Our guys are very professional. . . great [enlisted  leaders], and we’re basically trying to teach them skills we’ve learned in  our careers,” said 2nd Lt. Vincent Barber. “The more we train the Iraqis the  more effective they become, and the less hands on we have to be with them.  We want them to take over the security of their community.”
(Photo by Maj. Craig Heathscott, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public  Affairs Office)

During a vehicle search demonstration, a ‘Sons of Iraq’  student in Radwaniya opens the hood to begin the search. The SOI training  was being conducted by 1st battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment of the  101st Airborne Division. “I want to protect my family and keep it safe from
the outside terrorist,” claims one middle-aged Iraqi man attending the  course.
(Photo by Maj. Craig Heathscott, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public  Affairs Office)

A Soldier with 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment of  the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, shows his ‘Sons of Iraq’ students how  to detain an individual during a personnel search. “They know the area, and  the people in it. And when strangers come up to a checkpoint, they are very critical of them as to why they are in the area,” said Col. Kendall Penn,  commander of the 39th. “It’s their community, their home. If the [Son's of  Iraq] are successful you can rest assured that the Coalition is going to be
more successful”
(Photo by Maj. Craig Heathscott, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office)

Staff Sgt. Justin Fisher, of Hatfield, Arkansas, speaks with his interpreter while training the ‘Sons of Iraq’ on vehicle searches. Fisher is a member of 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
(Photo by Maj. Craig Heathscott, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office)

Members of the ‘Sons of Iraq’ participate in hands on training in Makasib with the 39th’s 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment. The Soldiers are working to train the SOI to more effectively secure their own communities.  “It’s a win-win situation as they have a sense of pride for what they are doing, and they’re able to provide us with valuable information that allows us to be that much more effective in our mission here,” said Col. Kendall Penn, commander of the 39th.” 

(Photo by Maj. Craig Heathscott, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office)

Staff Sgt. Justin Fisher, of Hatfield, Arkansas, provides ‘weapons posture’ training to members of the Sons of Iraq. Fisher is a member of 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.  “Bottom line, we want the Iraqi citizens to own security of their country, and we’re doing our part to ensure they have that opportunity,” said Col. Kendall Penn, commander of the 39th. (Photo by Maj. Craig Heathscott, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office)