the regulator vol.1

7/30/2019 The Regulator vol.1

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Iraqi Armys mechanized division covers down on pollsT A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

M E C H D I V C O V E R S

D O W N O N P O L L S1

C O M M A N D E R S

C O R N E R1 , 4

F E A R F A C T O R I R A -

Q I S T Y L E2

M A K E O V E R I N

I R A Q2

T H E B A T P H O N E 2

H E A L I N G O L D

W O U N D S3

T H E G O O D T I M E S 3

C O M M A N D E R S C O R N E R

Greetings family and friends of the U.S 9th Iraqi Army Advisory

Team (aka: Regulators). I am sorry we havent gotten our newslet-

ter out to you a little earlier but as you would expect we have hit

the ground running with our Iraqi counterparts. Standing up a divi-

sion from nothing has been a daunting task and remains our big-

gest challenge and priority. We are literally conducting operations

with them one day and ordering furniture for their new building the

next. I can tell you all Regulator advisors will come home very ver-

satile individuals with a whole lot of flexibility and patience added

to their personality.

V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1

T H E R E G U L A T O R

TAJI, Iraq As Iraqs citizens made their wayto polling sites across the country, Iraqi Securi-ty Forces were out in force, taking the lead inproviding security for the Oct. 15 referendum.Among the show of force were more than2,000 soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 9th Iraqi

Division (Mechanized). The brigade took re-sponsibility for 38 polling sites and two electionoffices where ballots are counted in the Tajiarea, just north of Baghdad, said U.S. Army Lt.Col. Brian Page, who heads the Military Transi-tion Team (MiTT) assigned to the brigade.

The brigade is comprised of two mechanizedbattalions, which use armored personnel carri-ers known as BMPs and MTLBs, one tank bat-talion, which currently utilizes Russian T-55tanks, and a support battalion. Everything isgoing well, as far as I can see. People arecoming out and voting. They seem excitedabout voting, said Iraqi Brig. Gen. Kassim, 1st

Brigade commander. The polling sites appearto be organized and secure. Kassim and IraqiGen. Bashar, 9th Division commander, wentout during the referendum to check on theirtroops. In addition to securing polling sites,division soldiers continued their normal dutiesof securing a water processing plant, two wateraccess points and three traffic control pointsaround Taji. Page and U.S. Army Col. JohnHort, who heads the divisions MiTT, along withother MiTT members, accompanied the gener-als.

The brigade lost eight soldiers at one of thewater access points about two months agowhen insurgents ambushed the site, saidPage. In the town of Tarmyah, notorious forinsurgent activity and anti-Coalition sentiment,the MiTTs kept their distance from the polling

site while the generals went in to assess thesituation. Prior to arriving at the town, Pagereceived a report that about 800 residents werelined up at the site and the mood was festive.As Kassim and Bashar visited the site, asteady stream of residents made their way inand out of the site along a main road.

By late afternoon, there were no reports ofviolence at the sites secured by the divisionsbrigade. The 1st Brigade was in its infancy forthe January election, but still had a role in as-sisting with security. The divisions 2nd Brigadeis now being formed, with one mechanizedbattalion recently beginning operations outside

the wire. A second battalion graduated frombasic training the day before the referendum; athird battalion begins basic training this month.The 2nd Brigade is expected to be operationalin time for the scheduled December election,said U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Jim Herbert, of thedivision MiTT.

By U.S. Army Sgt. Lorie Jewell

MNSTC-I Public Affairs

You have probably heard some the horror stories we ran through

on our way to Taji. I can say our first month and a was truly

tough. Through the work of some great Americans on our team

though, we have managed to pull together a little villa that we call

the Yellow Hooch. Guys like SSG Baker (Mr. Carpenter), SSG Pet-

tigrew , SGM Herbert, MSG Thomas(the whip crackers), and Cpt

Molina (the Scrounger) were all instrumental in standing up a

building that literally had nothing in the beginning. Yours truly,

LTC Turner, Maj Osbourn, Cpt Hartfield, and SSG Smith became

the blue collar workers in our Extreme Makeover Iraqi home.

Story continued on page 4.


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Picture yourself sitting at

home and getting a call to be

a contestant on Fear Factor.

Well, we got a taste of Fear

Factor, but there was no pos-

sibility of $50,000 if we com-

pleted the contest.

Three members of the team

were randomly selected (CPT

Molina, CPT Hartfield and

SSG Pettigrew) to help in our

relationship building by in-

dulging in one of Iraqs fa-

mous meals, Pachea

(pronounced Bacha).

What is Pahcea you ask? Ill

be glad to explain. Its goat -

everything edible from a

goats head. Yes, that is right

brain, tongue and more. The

week prior we had all

laughed at the fact that COL

Hort , SGM Herbert and MAJ

Osbourn had to eat this meal.

Now we too had to indulge.

Meals in Iraq are the founda-

tion of relationships. Their

culture is focused on gather-

ing together and enjoying

each others company. Even

though, it was hard to swal-

low, the end result and the

respect we gained will pay off

in dealing with the Division

Officers and Soldiers.

alternate plan. We were

able to acquire a very useful

phone called a Thuraya. It

has the capability to call a

variety of different types

communications lines. This

will allow families to call

their soldier in cases of an

emergency.

The phone number is

011+8821666605240

Even with all the militarys

advanced and spectacular

equipment the crowded

streets of Baghdad could still

use a hero like the Dark

Knight. With the mass de-

ployment of U.S personnel to

Iraq, families back home

could use a Bat phone in

times of need. Sorry no bat

phone, but we do have an

F E A R F A C T O R I R A Q I S T Y L E

T H E B A T P H O N E

M A K E O V E R W E L L D E S E R V E D

they immediately grabbed

their chemical gloves,

bleach, and scrubbing pow-

der to disaffect this future

home.

With the expertise of SSG

Baker and SSG Pettigrew

with scraped lumber they

were able to build walls, ta-

bles, and an a entertainment

center with virtually stone

age equipment.

With the team efforts we

have transformed what

once was a rundown medi-

cal clinic into the most ri-

valed living facility in this

area. This is the first time in

months that a dark cloud

had a silver lining.

Scholars say that Rome was-

nt built in a day and certainly

neither was the living quar-

ters for the 9th Division MiTT

team. After having to fit a ten

man team in a one man room

apartment space for the ma-

jority of their first month in

Taji, things are finally looking

up.

At first sight of damaged

doors, dirt covered floors,

and gas station restrooms;

To catch the reader's attention, place an

interesting sentence or quote from the

story here.

Page 2T H E R E G U L A T O R


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Along the streets and oldbuildings of Camp Taji you

can see the effects of the warand the dictatorship of Sad-dam Hussein everywhere.Even though he has beencaptured his memory stillremains fresh in the minds ofIraqi soldiers and the localpopulous. Blinded with Iraqscultural differences and theirharsh historical background;it is difficult for the newlyarriving soldiers on the base.Soldiers like the 9th Div Mittteam who were sent to Taji toaid in the birth of the first

Mechanized unit of the Iraqi

Army and its rebuilding stage.Their mission is to not only

mentor and teach their coun-ter-parts but to strengthenthe bond between the U.Sand Iraq. Your U.S soldiershave worked hard and end-less hours trying to breakdown the walls of corruptionand build the walls of confi-dence. Iraqi Military schoolsare now in the process ofbeing standardized and willsurely develop and strength-en this new fighting force. 9thDivision Mitt soldiers havealso aided in this process by

preparing and giving out care

packs containing personalhygiene products for the

basic training soldiers. This isjust one example of the kind-ness that has been shown tothe Iraqi soldiers but therehas been many more unmen-tioned and more will surelyfollow. We the 9th DivisionTeam Thank you for yoursupport and ask that youcontinue as they walk theserigid steps in the right direc-

tion, and once again Thanks.

H E A L I N G O L D W O U N D S

T H E G O O D T I M E S

T H E G O O D T I M E S

Page 3V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1

Stay back this is a contami-

nated area

New terminators sent back in

time to Iraq.

Hell no, we wont go!!!I told you not to let JoJo drive

Your serious were really in Iraq JoJo (Iraqs Jeff Gordon) hit

the wallIts all fun and games until

someone brakes an antenna


4/4

In the end, we have a little yellow and white Iraqi building that we

are proud of with enough creature comforts to give us just a littletaste of home.

Our main focus as you would hope is to get the Iraqi Army back on

its feet so it can handle its own security and protection of its citi-

zens. The 9th Iraqi Mech Division is one tenth of this puzzle with

nine other Iraqi Army divisions located elsewhere in Iraq. We are

the last division to form because of the complexity, cost, and sup-

ply issues in standing up a mechanized (tank/track vehicles) divi-

sion. Currently we are 1/3 of the way there with one of their bri-

gades already out in the field working with a US brigade. The next

brigade we are close to completing, and one more to go after that.

God Bless all of you for your thoughts and prayers and the great

care packages - true morale boosters! Have a great Thanksgiving

with thanks from all of us here in Iraq on your continued support to

the troops.

C O M M A N D E R S C O R N E R C O N T .

Page 4T H E R E G U L A T O R

From fielding their equipment, training, to walking side by side with

them on missions the Regulator Advisory Team is with this unitevery step of the way. Individuals like Cpt Matt Hartfield who per-

sonally solved 2,000 Iraqi soldiers pay problem to SGM Herbert

who provides over watch for the Colonel when he is checking an

Iraqi checkpoint they are all doing heroic work on this team. I am

proud of all of them and know when we finish this deployment we

will have made a difference in turning this country around

God Bless all of you for your thoughts and prayers and the great

care packages - true morale boosters! Have a great Thanksgiving

with thanks from all of us here in Iraq on your continued support to

the troops.

Col John Hort

Regulator Six

9th Advisory Team

the regulator vol.1

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