3rd Bn., 7th Marines visit ISF on border

By Cpl. Sean P. Cummins, RCT-5   

081218-M-2700C-172

UBAYDI, Iraq ­– Now that Iraqi Security Forces have minimized insurgent activity within Iraq’s borders, they are working to keep it that way with the help of the Marine Corps.

M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks and humvees with Task Force 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 drove out to the border Dec. 18 to meet with Iraqi border guards so the Marines could see how they operate and observe some of their training.

“We got to meet with the battalion’s (executive officer) for the border guards.  We learned what their needs are and what kind of classes they have there,” said Sgt. Julian Bejarano, 28, a section leader with Combined Anti-Armor Team Red, Weapons Company, Task Force 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines. “We went there with the intent of introducing ourselves and paying our respects.  Our mission while we’re here is mainly to give classes and training.”

“This area has been very good,” said Lt.Col. Hamid Kniyaf, executive officer for the border guards, through an interpreter.  “We used to have some problems, but the Marines have helped us take care of them.”

The two M1A1 Abrams tanks from 2nd Tank Bn., RCT-5, in support of TF 3rd Bn., 7th Marines, who have been making runs to the border for more than a month, escorted the Marines across the open desert to the posts.

“We were taking the (Marines) out to the border forts to interact and get to know the people out there and get a feel for what they’ve got.  We’ve been on the border pretty much the whole time just patrolling,” said Lance Cpl. Andy A. Goldsmith, a 21-year-old gunner from Fort Myer, Fla., with 2nd Tank Bn.

With the information the Marines gathered, they have a better idea of how they can assist the local guards with border security training to keep their borders secure.  The guards, many who live as far out as Baghdad and Fallujah, are deployed for months at a time to posts scattered along the border.

“(The Iraqi Army) is always out there.  Literally, every time we get past a certain point we can count on them being there.  They’re all over the place,” said Goldsmith.

“In the future, we’d like to do some training with them, maybe doing some patrols,” said Bejarano, who is from Goshen, Calif.