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Show HILLTOP TIMES TIMES April 16, 2009 Hill senior master sergeant finds deployment training 7 Iraqis 'different, but fulfilling BY MAJ. BE&NADETTE DOZIER AND CATHERINE CORNETT 388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Hilltop Times correspondent W hen the 388th Maintenance Operations Squadron superintendant deployed last year, little did he know just how much he was going to impact the lives of others — and that he would actually be part of history. "My tour was different," said Senior Master Sgt. Reginald Murrell, who holds a unit training manager Air Force Specialty Code. Typically when unit training managers deploy they provide U.S. military members with opportunities to take CollegeLevel Examination Programs and Excelsior exams, he explained. However on this deployment, Murrell found himself in a unique role as a training advisor to the Iraqi Army from April to October 2008. During the first four months, Murrell, along with two other unit training managers, 11 U.S. Army Reservists, 10 contractors and 14 Iraqi interpreters, formed an advisory team that worked for the Coalition Army Advisory Training Team, which is a branch of the Multi-National Security Transition Command — Iraq (MNSTC-I). He was at the Taji Regional Training Center where his team advised 324 Iraqi Army Training Cadre and helped them develop, organize, train, equip and sustain the Iraqi Security Forces. Together they helped train more than 8,400 Iraqi trainees — also called Jundi — in four months. At first the current training methods posed a challenge for the team, according to Murrell. For example, Iraqi soldiers received their training via lectures versus hands-on. "Prior to our arrival, we had heard horror stories that involved basic combat training graduates being sent to the fight and dying because of a lecture-based first aid/self-aid buddy care program," he said. As a solution, Murrell and his team advised the Iraqis to incorporate certain graduation requirements such as SABC, AK-47 training, drill and ceremony and customs and courtesies into their training program. "This simple task significantly reduced the loss of life and ensured the soldiers were well versed in life-saving techniques." Other changes were also made, such as troops being allowed to rest in the shade and have access to water. He and the other advisors worked to develop several tests as well as a confidence course that would ensure Iraqi troops were ready to fight and defend once they graduated. The training advisors also established a formal graduation for the soldiers. Murrell and the other team members helped establish a training/operations room that was benchmarked Iraqi-wide, built the fiscal 2009 training Courtesy photo Senior Master Sgt Reginald Murrell (left), 388th Maintenance Operations Squadron superintendent and Staff Brig. Gen. Ihssan, of the Iraqi Tactical Training Directorate, are shown looking over the Iraqi training schedule in this file photo. They were deciding which Regional Training Center presented the best feasibility of taking 1,200 basic training graduates and sending them to a brand new Engineering Battalion which was to be stood up. Murrell is assigned to Hill Air Force Base. of his tour as exciting. He was able to use the experience he had gained in the field to advise the Ministry of National Defense which is over the Ministry of Iraq and the Ministry of Interior which oversees the Iraqi Army and SENIOR MASTER SGT. REGINALD MURRELL, 388th Iraqi Police. He described his six Maintenance Operations Squadron superintendent months in Iraq as "unique, gratifying and history in the ship training center" in Iraq. schedule for ten training cenmaking." ters, and worked the training For the last two months capacity vs. capability proj"It wasn't until the end that of his deployment, Murrell I realized the significance ect that proved the need to worked at the Multi-National of the training advice I had increase the Iraqi Army with Security Transition Comprovided our senior leaders another 87,000 soldiers. mand-Iraq Headquarters as an advisor to the commanding — both coalition and Iraqi Thanks to the hard work general there. — with its impact on the Iraqi and efforts by his team, the Army." Taji RTC was named the "flagMurrell described this part "It wasn't until the end that I realized the significance of the training advice I had provided our senior leaders — both coalition and Iraqi — with its impact on the Iraqi Army." v" ill' V^vtW Rod and Gun Club Try Outdoor Rec for good vacation buys on target for summer SKIING ONE MORE BY MARYXOU GORNY Hilltop Times editor BY MARY LOU GORNY Hilltop Times editor J s eff Nath, 524th Electronic Maintenance Squadron electronic technician, found his way into becoming involved with the Hill Rod and Gun Club through a roundabout way. "I was elk hunting, sitting in the (Hill Air Force) base cabins and I met a wonderful guy who happened to be the president of the club. I started hunting and fishing with the guy. I liked what I saw, and I had a good time whenever I went up to the target range," Nath said So much so that he has stepped into the reins as publicity director. 'The price is right, and the people are wonderful," he said as he described his own experiences with the Hill Rod and Gun Club before assuming the new role. The Rod and Gun Club committee met recently and has established the new summer hours to begin Saturday, April 18. They will be 9 am to 4 p.m., on Saturdays and Sundays and 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays. Next weekend, April 25, the Hill Rod and Gun Club Wobble Trap Tburnament, will be open to all shooters. Sign up is 10 a.m. The event begins at noon and will use up the last 100 of the International trap targets. Cost is the four rounds plus $10 for the winner's pot, or $27.50. v ; Dues for the club are as follows: : ' ,v'^ r, New members, $35 per year v* "••'" • :M^%s Renewals (Nov. 1-March 31), $30 per year Trap and skeet range fees - members, $3.50, nonmembers $4 : Five-stand, $5 a round, 25 targets per round ' •/•': : Punch cards are available: 11 rounds, $35.75; 25 " rounds, $68.75; five-stand 10 rounds, $46; extra birds, 25 cents apiece Shotgun rentals are also available, with members paying $2, nonmembers $3 and those with military ID receiving free rentaL All-day rentals of a shotgun are $12.50 a day. Shells are available at a cost ranging from $6.11 to $9.44. ;':';.;v- :• •..•.;:=-, .. / .. .V; ;* ^"K", The range will be closed Nov. 25 and Dec. 25. "V. '< A 16-yard league has already started. A handicap* * league is starting May 13 for any shooter interested. For those interested in joining a league, the yards indicated in the league designation indicate the dis- v;, tance from the shooter to the trap house. Those dis-^' .5 tances can range from 16 yards up to 35 yards. s • Call 777-6767 for more information or to sign up for leagues. v.; i W ith the American family's budget under pressure and summer approaching, many might be tempted to forgo a vacation altogether, but the staff at Outdoor Recreation suggests dropping by their office and checking out what's available. For example, an outdoor white water excursion reserved elsewhere could run from $600 to $800 a person while a river trip run by Outdoor Recreation to Desolation Canyon on May 12-17 will cost $265 per person and includes 14 meals, a guide and transportation. For those who like their fun to involve more time on terra firma, the Outdoor Recreation staff are organizing a trip to the West Yellowston area at the Parade Rest Ranch which includes all the horseback riding one could pack in, a guided tour to Yellowstone National Park and Virginia City, the opportunity to fly fish with a purchased fishing license, meals in a ranchhouse setting and lodging in cabins with woodburning fireplaces or heated with propane. This trip will be May 22-25. • For the women who would like to cut loose and learn how to handle an ATV on their own there is a trip April 25 west of Utah lake which will include the vehicle, gas, helmet, lunch and a guide. "It gives the ladies a chance to relax and enjoy themselves. That way they don't have their hus- --^ bands right there saying, *Here's the right way to do that,1" said Chris Breck, Outdoor Adventure director and vice-director of Outdoor Recreation, z* :<&^; v;^# 'We've got everything," said Cprdell Ferry, Outdoor Recre- The Grand Canyon and southern Utah are scheduled destinations for prospective trips. Lake WEEKEND Havasu, at the bottom of the canyon, is the camping spot at the Spring skiing lasts one end of the trail for one trip with a more weekend. Rent your skis at Outdoor Recreation. helicopter ride out of the canyon There is a drawing held afterwards — April 30- May 4. annually awarding 150 ski Another trip to the Grand Canyon passes to past customers. will depart June 10-13 with anThese passes are normally other destination in the canyon. $63. What if someone isn't sure Browse the retail store as what they want to do? well for Rossignol high-per"Come in Tuesday through formance demo skis. The Thursday, when it isn't as busy, facility normally sells this and we'll help you plan an excuryear's models in order to sion," say both Breck and Ferry. stock up for next year. In the past the office has orgaGoggles and sunglasses nized trips for groups who would are also available. like to ATV together or take recreational trips elsewhere. Steve Penhorwood, Outdoor . Recreation specialist, points ation director in summing up out the amount of information the services available through available on hunting and fishing Outdoor Recreation. "We don't contract anything out. We do it all requirements. "We love to help people. We'll give them answers ourselves." to people's hunting, fishing and Conceivably a family could recreation questions." rent a 14- or 16-foot fishing boat te from the facility, reserve time at We have a lot of fun," Ferry Carter Creek, twenty miles outsays of his staff and the office. side Mirror Lake in northeastern When asked what their favorUtah, in a nice 30-foot trailer and ite trips are it's hard to pin down. enjoy hiking, fishing, backpackFerry likes the pheasant hunting ing and even hunting when the trip to South Dakota in the fall. season sets in. Penhorwood loves to talk about the skiing (Hill Air Force Base is "It's an inexpensive way to the closest of all bases to skiing) have a good vacation trip (going and Breck, who gets to lead most through Hill Air Force Base's faof the excursions, likes them all. cility)," said Ferry. Reservations for Carter Creek Families, and others, needing are made through the office for to find a way to stretch their vathe campsite which includes cation dollar can't go wrong with seven cabins, three of the large checking out Outdoor Recreation. trailers and a campground host. Even if all they want to do is stay There are still openings availhome and care for their yard, -j able on a first-come, first-served Lawnmowers, aerators, tillers, basis. The season runs from July edgers and line trimmers are all 1 through the end of October. available for rental For more information, call ': It's possible to rent tents, ^; •;;; Outdoor Recreation at 777-9666 ~ sleeping bags and even super- • and 777-2225. cookers. ••:-,.' i.: V; |