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thedrifter
11-21-05, 07:10 PM
Iraqi Soldiers Use Insurgents' Weapons

U.S. soldiers refurbish the weapons, and the Iraqi troops, in turn, have taught the U.S. troops how to look for booby traps on the weapons and how to disassemble them faster.

By U.S. Army Pfc. Joshua R. Ford
Multinational Corps-Iraq

LOGISTICAL SUPPORT AREA ANACONDA, Iraq, Nov. 21, 2005 — From small arms to M-1 Abrams tank weapon systems, the 3rd Forward Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division armory can fix just about any U.S. Army ground weapon. When the order came down to refurbish 88 AK-47s, they were ready for the challenge.

"We used the Special Forces training and trained the Iraqis how to professionally clean, operate and maintain the weapon systems they use," Arthur added.

"Before our training, the Iraqis were cleaning their weapons with gasoline and kerosene, which helps the weapon acquire more dirt and deteriorates the metal the weapon is made out of," Arthur said.

"The Iraqis have taught us just as much as we taught them during training," Munoz said.

Some of the things the Iraqis taught the arms workers were how to look for booby traps on AK-47s and how to disassemble the weapons faster.

AK-47s are not the only foreign weapons the armorers have had to fix. They also work on the RPK, SKS and PKS weapon systems.

The first time the soldiers were tasked with this mission, an explosive ordnance disposal team brought 453 foreign weapon systems to the 3rd Forward Support Battalion armory. Of these, 420 were fixable.

"Cross-training everyone in the shop has helped out a lot," said U.S. Army Spc. Evan Lewis, battalion fire control repairman.

Lewis works on tank weapons systems, but since he was crosstrained he has been able to help with training the Iraqi Army.

"It feels good to take weapons out of insurgents' hands and put them into play against them," Lewis added.


"It feels good to take weapons out of insurgents' hands and put them into play against them."

U.S. Army Spc. Evan Lewis

Some might ask why the U.S. forces are refurbishing old enemy weapons, but the AKs are being used to arm the Iraqi Army, police and security forces, putting the insurgents' weapons to use against insurgents.

When the Iraqi police force was being assembed, they were short on weaponry, and this program is solving the shortage problem, said U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Pedro Munoz, battalion armament and repair technician.

This saves the Iraqis from having to buy new AK-47s, said U.S. Army Spc. Philip Arthur, battalion small arms repairman.

"In helping them, we are helping ourselves because the program is saving the U.S. and the [Iraqi Army] money and bringing the country one step closer to being self-sufficient," added Munoz.

"We were actually trained by a Special Forces unit at Forward Operating Base Danger. They gave us a base on how to approach the Iraqis and at what level we can train them," Munoz said.

Ellie