‘Red Devils’ open training range with Iraqi army

by 1st Lt. Joshua Stuart-Shor
1st Bn., 504th PIR, 1st BCT., 82nd Abn. Div. USD-C

photo courtesy of U.S. Army Staff Col. Ismail Abed Muhammed Al-Hayana, executive officer of 28th Brigade, 7th Iraqi Division, fires the ceremonial first round downrange at the opening of Freedom Range, Jan. 21, at Camp Hamza, Iraq. The range was built by paratroopers of 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment and 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, both of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, and coordination with the 28th Military Transition Team.

— Sharp gunfire cracked the mid-morning silence at Camp Hamza Jan. 21, as U.S. paratroopers from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, tested their skills at a new firing range.

Next to them, Iraqi officers from 28th Brigade, 7th Division of the Iraqi army, shouted instructions to their soldiers as they too tested their skills, signifying the official opening of Freedom Range.

The range was a gift from the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment “Red Devils” to 28th Bde.
Officials broke ground on the range in early January but had to postpone its completion on several occasions because of bad weather, mechanical issues with heavy equipment and a high operational tempo, before finally completing the project Jan. 20 — three weeks later.

“It seemed like this range was destined to never be finished, but we got it done through broken equipment, sand storms and missions,” said Spc. Marquis Ross, senior radio telephone operator for the scouts. “We all worked together to complete it.”

The Red Devil paratroopers received assistance from the scout and mortar platoons and 28th Military Transition Team, as well as contributions of heavy equipment and operators from 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion.

Col. Ismail Abed Muhammed Al-Hayana, his staff, and the brigade commando company moved to the firing line alongside Capt. Christopher Duprey, of 28th MTT, to try his hand at the range.
“We are very thankful for this range and the opportunities it provides,” said Ismail. “In God’s will, this will help our soldiers to shoot true when their country needs them.”

After the ceremonial first rounds were fired downrange, it was handed over to the noncommissioned officers of Iraqi Commando Company and Red Devil Scout Platoon, who arranged to shoot at the close quarters “marksmanship table” together.

“It is really great to be able to conduct live fire rehearsals and training with our Iraqi counterparts, allowing us both to build confidence in each other’s abilities for future partnered operations,” said Staff Sgt. Seanessey O’Dowd, the scout platoon sergeant from Fort Bragg.
Standing by O’Dowd, Staff Sgt. Akmed, the command platoon sergeant, smiled and said, “This range helps us build a partnership based on mutual respect, and building trust in each other’s war fighting skills.”