NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 2007
desert
WITH all the media hoo-ha surrounding British
operations in Basra, it’s easy to forget that just a
couple of hours’ drive away a small Royal Navy-led
team is behind one of the success stories of post-
war Iraq. Here, the sailors and Royal Marines of the
Naval Transition Team provide an insight into their
vital mission.
Platform booties
LIKE their British and American their run against the clock – four
counterparts, Iraq’s marines split minutes is all they have to get into
their time between sea and shore. their positions and be ready to
Unlike their British counterparts, repel the inbound contact.
Iraqi marines are not commandos; They manage it and show a
they are naval infantry. sound understanding of their
But their duties mirror many procedures.
of those performed by the Three runs later and it’s all over,
Royals: point defence (of the oil each target has been destroyed
platforms), base security (of the, successfully and the oil platform
er, base) and board, search and defended. The debrief takes place
seize operations (of vessels using and all concerned are pleased by
territorial waters). the performance.
We’ll begin on the oil As they go for tea with the Iraqi
platforms. Platoon Commander to discuss
Several platoons of Iraqi
It’s 50˚C and the sun is beating the exercise, Ed and ‘Fruity’ give
Marines are charged with security
down on the Khawr Al Amaya Oil a sigh of relief; all the training that
of the base; they man the main
Terminal (KAAOT). has taken place is paying off and
gate and search every vehicle and ‘One heck of a job’
Capt Ed ‘Sprog’ Argles RM, it’s a very satisfying feeling.
person entering the base.
the NaTT military training offi cer “Working with the Iraqis has
They also man the Sanger
WE SHOULD not, of course, forget the American commercially important – and piracy does occur.
and WO1 ‘Fruity’ Paskins (Paskins been a thoroughly enjoyable
bunkers around the base,
contribution to the training of the Iraqis. The board and search team complete their
sounds like ‘pastille’, apparently, experience,” says Capt Argles.
protecting the entire perimeter,
Among the key tasks for our American cousins training ashore before moving to Sir Bedivere for
hence the nickname) from the “Since arriving in March I have
and provide a rapid response
is the expansion of the Iraqi Navy to almost more practical instruction: hand-cuffi ng, close
staff of the coalition task force in found them to be keen, willing
force to deal with any potential
double its current size, ensuring that the correct quarters combat, defensive techniques and
the northern Gulf, make their way to learn and full of enthusiasm.
incidents.
people are recruited at the right time and put tactics.
from barge Ocean Six to the Iraqi They take great pride in the fact
“The Iraqi marines provide
through proper training. “The work is not easy given the language barrier
Tactical Operations Centre for that they are being trained by
the fi rst line of protection against
None of these changes can happen if the and the hot, demanding working environment,”
another ‘smoking barrel’ exercise. organisations that have a world-
the militias and insurgents so
barracks, offi ces, stores and workshops are not said Lt Jamin Stortz USCG, Offi cer in Charge of
Will the Iraqi Marines pull it wide reputation for being the best.
mentoring them and monitoring
ready on time, so Capt Tim Zakriski USN, a the law enforcement detachment.
out of the bag today? Will they I’m enjoying it.”
the standard of their performance
Seabee (engineer), has his hands full making sure “Boarding operations in Iraqi territorial waters
pass and be able to move on to the Back in Umm Qasr, a typical
not only gives us a training role,
that the buildings are going up quickly enough. are a shining example of success where Iraqi and
next challenge the coalition has working day in the life of a marine
but also helps protect the NaTT,”
“It’s one heck of a job but we’re getting there,” coalition forces work side-by-side to achieve a
lined up for them, the ‘beast’ that in the Royal Marines Force
explains Capt Jon Schleyer RM,
he says as he surveys the building site. “One day common mission.
is Exercise Total Guardian – a 24- Protection Troop runs as follows:
Offi cer Commanding the Force
all this is going to be a new naval base that the “Now the Iraqi marines are beginning to board
hour test of procedures and their A few hours are spent on duty
Protection Troop.
Iraqis can be proud of.” tankers bound for the oil terminals independent of
consistency. in the operations room; there
Good-natured banter is
More Americans are attached to the Iraqi Marine coalition teams with just a couple LEDET
Total Guardian begins with the will be some time in overseeing
commonplace as marines humour
board, search and seize platoons, in the shape of members on hand to mentor the platoon
two Brits greeting the Iraqis with a civilian contractor working
reaches across the cultural and
the US Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment through the boarding.”
the usual shaking of hands and within the NaTT compound; then
language divide.
(LEDET) who are embedded within the platoons
cries of enthusiasm. there’s a trip to the main gate of
“A tour down here gives the
during both training and operational boardings in
The instant Arabic chatter the Iraqi Naval Base to verify the
RMs the opportunity to conduct
territorial waters.
on the net puts a smile on their Iraqi marines are in proper kit and
operations alongside other
Whilst these waters are relatively small,
faces as it signifi es that the Iraqis, conducting sound procedures; a
Services from the USA and UK
they are strategically important: the
like any good sailors or marines stint at the landing site providing
as well as train the Iraqis,” Capt
vast majority of Iraq’s revenue
around the world, have already security for helicopter movement
Schleyer adds.
fl ows through the two oil
informed their commander what ensues; and there might be a trip
“There’s plenty of physical
terminals and the
is happening – the two Britons off base to meet a re-supply
activity as well….we organize a lot
port of Umm
are making their way over to train convoy or out on the water
of sport activities and have a well
Qasr is
and test them. They know what’s providing protection for
equipped gym. Life is good.”
coming and they know what they the Navy personnel in their
have to do. training duties and, if time
As the fi rst contact is sighted allows, a portion of the day
on the radar by the Iraqi platoon dedicated to training.
commander, he immediately Duty on the main gate
informs his men (drenched thanks is an important part of
to the humidity) who are in the Royals’ work and
position, tracking the target. provides opportunity
At the appropriate time, the for mentoring
platoon runner picks up the air the Iraqi
horn and – with a cheeky smile, as Marines in
he knows they are not expecting their security
it – runs out in front of Ed and duties.
‘Fruity’ and gives it three
good blasts to wake up his
fellow comrades who
have to make their way
to their positions on
the oil platform.
The Iraqis in
body armour and
helmets start
● NaTT Marine Engineer Offi cer
Lt Cdr Graham West and an
Iraqi offi cer inspect work done
to patrol boat 103 and (above)
Iraqi marines take aim on the
range
Pictures: LA(Phot) Jannine Hartmann,
FRPU Whale Island
014-015_NN_Oct.indd 2 18/9/07 16:51:32
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