NASIRIYAH – As the Iraqi Army phases out the AK-47 rifle and begins to carry the venerable M-16, U.S. Soldiers here are preparing IA instructors to train their troops on this weapon.

Soldiers of Company A, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, presented a six-day M-16 training event here in June at Camp Ur, passing this critical knowledge to the 40th Iraqi Army Brigade’s instructor corps.

In March, ‘Attack’ Company was asked by the 40th Bde. 10th IA Division to train their troops on the M-16 rifle. The company’s command group took on the task, but took a different approach in assisting the IA.

“Since 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division is an advise and assist brigade, we are trying to separate ourselves from training the Iraqis to making the Iraqis use their own systems and to develop continuity within their organization,” said 1st Lt. Mario Ponsell, headquarters platoon leader and 40th IA advisor from Warner Robins, Ga., serving with the 1st Bn., 68th Armor Reg.

Company A coordinated through the 10th IA Div. to set up Iraqi training with the IA Regional Training Center on Camp Ur. The brigade sent 36 Soldiers to participate in a week-long marksmanship course.

After the initial training, the most advanced IA Soldiers were selected to go through the instructor course.

“The train-the-trainer course is a six-day block of instruction on marksmanship, technical details and range procedures,” said Sgt. 1st Class Chad Buggey, a platoon sergeant from Philadelphia.

The first four days were spent in the classroom reiterating fundamentals, group and zeroing techniques and how to run a range. The last two days were on the range itself, where the U.S. Soldiers were pleasantly surprised by the motivation of the IA troops.

“The first day on the range, the IA Soldiers jumped up and took charge,” said Cpl. David Ruhl, company intelligence non-commissioned officer-in-charge from Pittsburgh. “They set up targets, managed the ammunition point and conducted ready line preparation and rehearsals of what happens the moment they hit the ready line.”

According to Spc. Mark Sepulveda, a team leader from Los Angeles, the Iraqi Soldiers picked up on the new weapons techniques and range procedures very quickly.

“The IA Soldiers were completely running the range by the second range day,” he said. “We were acting only as safeties on the range.”

‘Attack’ Company, attached to the 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., will continue to partner with the 40th IA Brigade for train-the-trainer courses that will be key in preparing the IA to teach its own.

“The IA’s willingness to learn and take charge of the training is a great credit on how far they have developed over the years,” Buggey concluded.