Blacksmiths coordinate logistics throughout Ninewah province

By Pfc. Sharla Perrin, 3 BCT, 1st Cavalry Division Public AffairsMay 12, 2009

The 2nd Iraqi Army Division, 3rd Iraqi Army Division and the 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, held a conference April 20 to coordinate logistic efforts in Ninewah province. Here, Lt. Col. Loren Sch...
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The 2nd Iraqi Army Division, 3rd Iraqi Army Division and the 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, held a conference April 20 to coordinate logistic efforts in Ninewah province. Here, Lt. Col. Loren Sch... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Representatives of the 2nd Iraqi Army Division discuss logistic efforts in western Ninewah province. The 3rd Iraqi Army Division and the 215th Brigade Support Battalion were also present for the conference, which was held at the Forward Operating Bas...
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Representatives of the 2nd Iraqi Army Division discuss logistic efforts in western Ninewah province. The 3rd Iraqi Army Division and the 215th Brigade Support Battalion were also present for the conference, which was held at the Forward Operating Bas... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, MOSUL, Iraq - The 2nd Iraqi Army Division, 3rd Iraqi Army Division and the 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division held a conference April 20 on Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul to coordinate logistic efforts throughout Ninewah province.

215th BSB organized the conference to address logistic concerns between the two IA divisions and the Coalition Forces in the Mosul area.

"The conference was held to discuss concerns across Ninewah province and to develop relationships between and enable solutions amongst the Iraqi logisticians," said Lt. Col. Loren Schriner, the commanding officer of the support battalion.

An April 26 audit by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction showed that in the past, the IA struggled in aptitude and equipment maintenance.

However, on-site and technically proficient subject matter experts from the U.S. Army Materiel Command have been assigned to counter those weaknesses, providing a quality assurance and control element that was unavailable in the early stages of the war, the audit said.

Staff Sgt. Robert Harner is a maintenance team chief with 215th BSB's Forward Support Company who is attached to a combined arms battalion under 3rd HBCT.

"My mission is to support (D Co.) as maintenance assets," he said in February. "Just as (D Co.) supports their Iraqi counterparts, I help with the maintenance of the IA vehicles."

The 2nd and 3rd IA Div. were responsive to the topics that were discussed at the conference ranging from food and housing to vehicle repair and ammunition.

"It was extremely well-received by our Iraqi counterparts and we are anticipating that the next conference will be held and hosted by the location command," said Schriner.

Because these units work and live on different sides of the city, attending meetings such as this one is imperative to the harmony throughout Mosul and the Ninewah province.

Working closely with the Iraqi Security Forces is essential in developing reconstruction projects and programs that can and will be accepted and maintained.

"I was pleased that we had senior Iraqi logisticians from the Ninewah Operations Center supply section, location command, division supply sections and commanders from each division at the meeting," Schriner said.