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IA Soldiers get “badgered” in the field
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Lieutenant Colonel Aqeel, 8th Eng. Regt. commander, sits in the driver’s seat of the newly-issued Badger. (Courtesy photo)
FORWARD OPERATING BASE ECHO, Iraq - The Iraqi Army has taken several steps forward in the counterinsurgency fight with the fielding of route clearance specific equipment.
The new Iraqi Light Armored Vehicle, also known as the Badger, is the first vehicle procured for the IA with the threat of Improvised Explosive Devices placed foremost in its design. It blends the lessons learned of several years of field experience into a chassis and vehicle system that should provide utility and improved survivability. The inclusion of a mechanical arm, known as the Ferret Arm, allows IA Engineers and Explosive Ordnance Disposal to investigate possible IEDs from a safe distance while engaged in the Counter-IED fight. The first examples of these vehicles are destined for these types of units.
The 8th IA Division received its first two Badger vehicles in August and will soon receive two more.
Lieutenant Colonel Aqeel, the 8th Engineer Regiment commander, said, “This vehicle represents a substantial improvement in the protection and capabilities available to the Iraqi Army.”
Already the IA Soldiers have conducted training to familiarize themselves with the two vehicles they have while waiting for their next two.
The 8th Eng. Regt. participated in a small class at Camp Taji aimed at operator training and maintenance of the new equipment. Their classroom knowledge, combined with electronic manuals provided by their U.S. partnership unit, the 54th Engineer Battalion, is the seed from which they are growing their Train-the-Trainer program. It serves as their institutional knowledge of the Badger and its capabilities.
Throughout the past several weeks, the Engineers have engaged in driver’s training, conducted maintenance and started down the long road toward proficiency with the Ferret Arm. This industrious approach has led to techniques, tactics and procedures development and has allowed them to incorporate the new equipment into their missions.
“This vehicle is unique. Training and new TTPs will be the key to using it effectively and we look forward to developing those TTPs in conjunction with Task Force Dagger,” said Lt. Col. Shafeeq, a company commander in the 8th Eng. Regt.
The Badger’s potential, in the hands of IA Engineers, has attracted the attention of not only the 8th IA Division headquarters, but also of Iraqi Ground Forces Command. In September, the IGFC Assistant Chief of Staff and a bevy of officers in tow, attended a demonstration of the Badger’s capabilities.
The 8th IA Division proved with its demonstration they are not only making equipment fielding a priority, but willing to master the equipment at hand.
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