28 Aug 2007
Iraqi army soldiers with 2nd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division shoot M-16A2 rifles at the small arms range at Camp Al Asad, Iraq, Aug. 13, 2007. U.S. Marines from 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division are working with the Iraqi soldiers to teach them various war fighting techniques. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Shane S. Keller)
Iraqi poodles beware!
August 28th, 2007 at 9:30 am
That makes it the 9th, 7th and 8th IA Divisions so far. This is the numbers of weapons to be issued… http://www.dsca.osd.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2006/Iraq_06-69.pdf
August 28th, 2007 at 9:35 am
Interesting that all these Iragi army troops are left handed.
August 28th, 2007 at 9:43 am
For a second after reading Bill Frank’s comment I thought someone might have reversed the photo, but no, those first three soldiers are definately firing left-handed. It looks like the rest of the visible soldiers are right-handed, so I wonder if they just didn’t put all the lefties on the end of the firing line.
August 28th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
I had to look my self. They are definitely lefty as there is no ejection port for the brass to come out if it were a reversed negative.
August 28th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Doesnt seem very wise to give ‘fragile’ M16s to iraquian soldiers. They are used to the rough AK.
August 28th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Does the Iraqi soldier nearest the camera have his earplugs in backwards,or is it just me?
August 28th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Nope, hes using the ones that have the green end you stick in for outdoor shooting and the yellow end you stick in for indoor shooting. If you look close you can see its a kindof stepped design. Thats what gives it away.
August 28th, 2007 at 10:46 pm
Hunh. I wonder if one of the M16s that I carried are being used to re-arm the Iraqi Army. How cool.
August 29th, 2007 at 1:26 am
They look pretty professional. Then again I guess they wouldn’t have taken the photo if they were being sloppy.
August 29th, 2007 at 8:59 am
Nicholas, There may be something to that, that the pic wouldn’t exist if the troops in it were being grabastic. Then again, none of the guys pictured has a brainbucket on… Brian, Matter of fact, that’s *my* old M16A2 right up front there. I can tell by the color.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
At least it’s the Marines who’re training them (now don’t get your panties in a bunch if your not a former/Marine–I’m not. LOL!). I wonder why they’re bothering to train them on our rifle though? Are we going to mess up their logistics system more by adding another parts/ammo supply issue to deal with? Just gving them a fam fire op? Trying to create another reality show (who wants to be a US Military/Industrial Complex Billionaire) to assist our impoverished corporations with their bottom lines? Wassup? MURDOC RESPONDS: The Iraqi Army is beginning to transition to the M-16.
August 29th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Flanker See link on first comment. Iraqi MoD is buying US personnal weapons with GoI money…
August 30th, 2007 at 2:30 am
I wonder if the US Army is trying to get rid of its older M-16s. When I was in we were transitioning from the A1 to the A2 and many of the A1s were still in good shape. I assumed they just put them into storage. Now they have given almost everyone I have seen an M4. I am sure most A2s are still in decent condition in storage somewhere. So maybe they are unloading them to free up warehouse space. It’s not like they were planning on reissuing them.
August 30th, 2007 at 7:29 am
Actually, the US Army doesn’t even have a regulation that requires the wearing of helmets on rifle or pistol ranges. It’s just standard practice, the whole ‘train as you fight’ thing. Go watch SF guys, snipers, or AMU shooters sometime. They very rarely wear helmets. IIRC, the Marines also teach marksmanship with no helmets or other battle rattle. The Army does in in full battle kit, to include IBA.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:24 am
IIRC, the Marines also teach marksmanship with no helmets or other battle rattle. They didn’t a few years ago. The idea is that it’s important to get the basics without distraction. Later you can adapt to the deuce gear. For that matter I’ve never understood the Army’s fetish for wearing armor and other gee-gaws in garrison. Wearing a helmet for parade .. you do that why?
August 31st, 2007 at 12:26 am
Boy don’t I have egg on my face. That guy IS wearing his earplugs in backwards. According to Brigade Quartermaster the ‘White’ end goes in when you are outside and the ‘Green’ end goes in when you are inside…color me embarrassed.
August 31st, 2007 at 2:50 am
I am glad to see that our desert storm DBDUs have not gone to waste.
August 31st, 2007 at 3:10 am
Brian, IMHO if you are wearing the body armor and the helmet all the time you get used with it, so it becomes like a part of you. When you are on the battlefield, you do not feel unusual, as you are already used with this stuff. The same is happening when you carry the rifle everywhere.
August 31st, 2007 at 4:47 pm
The same is happening when you carry the rifle everywhere. That’s the justification - but I don’t think it’s happening that way for most guys. The times I’ve seen army wear helmets on parade .. they’re worn for the parade then doffed.