The art of looking good on patrol in Iraq

Elbow or knee pads strapped deliberately to ankles and goggles worn back to front over helmets, some Iraqi soldiers have a unique sense of style.
Efforts to mimic their American mentors or simply spruce up and re-enforce their regular army gear result in a variety of different outfits whenever the troops are on patrol.
Sejad Mehdi, 21, said that he habitually fixes a pair of goggles to the back of his American helmet – bought at a Baghdad market for 50,000 Iraqi dinar (21 pounds) – because he saw US troops wearing them that way rather than because he uses the mask in his job.
“It makes the helmet look better,” he said, speaking while on a joint patrol escorting a visiting American general to a market in Yousifiyah, a town south of Baghdad, last week.
Asked why he also had knee pads around his ankles, Mr Mehdi said: “It looks more trendy and they tend to slip down when you have them around your knees.”
Pads sometimes worn by US troops (officers told me that their new uniform has internally fitted padding for the knees already, which makes the attachable versions redundant) have been known to slip down on operations, but certain Iraqis think it looks good that way to begin with so put them around their ankles on purpose.
There is trouble, however, if a commanding officer spots the fashion statement.

[Picture 1: Sejad Mehdi wears knee pads around his ankles while on patrol;
Picture 2: I love the fact that this soldier posed for a picture with the little girl with a fag in one hand and a meat cleaver in the other.]

“I have punished two soldiers before because they did not have their pads in the right position,” said Captain Ali Mansour, a Special Forces officer aged 31. “They said that it was more comfortable to wear around their ankles because otherwise it limits their movement.”
Knee pads and goggles are among a range of extra products that Iraqi soldiers who can afford to buy to improve their image and for better protection – Iraq’s security forces are a prime target for the insurgency that has plagued the country since 2003. Other favourite items include secondhand American military boots and helmets, magazine holders, gun holsters and even handcuffs.
Markets in Baghdad do a roaring trade in old US military equipment for the new Iraqi Army.
Even combat trousers and shirts (including American cast-offs) are on offer for anyone who would rather not wear the regular uniform issued by Iraq’s Ministry of Defence.
“I did not like the uniform given to me by the Iraqi Army so I bought my own one,” said Mohaned Sa’ad, aged 22, showing off a dark green top and pair of trousers that are typically warn by Iraqi Special Forces rather than ordinary soldiers like him.
American troops also on occasion give an old helmet, a pair of protective glasses or even a flak jacket to their poorly equipped Iraqi partners who they train or work alongside.
Standing to attention with a pair of protective shades wrapped around his face and pistol strapped to one thigh, Bassam Abas is kitted out in presents from American army friends and gear that he has bought.
“Many soldiers look good. We take care of our image, but to do this we have to buy extra gadgets because the equipment we get from the Iraqi Army is not good.” said the 25-year-old soldier.
“The Americans teach us many things such as how to hold a rifle, how to stand to attention and to keep our uniform clean.”

[Picture 3: A soldier with elbow pads fixed to his ankles;
Picture 4: Soldiers pose for the camera.]

Comments

[Colin]

Out of curiosity, what was the guy in pic 2 doing with the cleaver in the first place?

[Jörgen]

Shouldn't this article be in the Sunday fashion section? :-)

[Chris Gallagher]

Have to say - not very "Ally". Full marks for trying though.

[Dent]

Fascinating to hear how soldiers personalise their kit - just as civilian workers do. I'd probably have expected it to all be standard regulation issue uniform, and its interesting that they emulate the US soldiers - shows camaradery I guess.
Nice blog!

[Morgan]

Now if only they could sort their berets out...

[Damian]

It amazes me that these guys spend so much time worrying about how trendy they look instead of learning how to keep themselves and their comrades alive. Talk about getting your priorities messed up.

[shaun chandler]

Please, someone get the American's out of there. The last thing we need is another country trying to be 'American' especially their armed forces. Their American mentors are at least showing them how to look good when they take a 5.56mm round.

[Jess]

Chris Gallagher, this is rather a side issue, but can I ask you where the term 'ally' comes from? My fiancé, an RAF pilot uses it, but can't tell me where it orignates.

[Chris]

It amazes me that the Iraqi commanders seem to sanction this 'illicit' kitting out from their American comrades and begs some serious questions. Are the Yank soldiers selling their gear for gain and/or profit? I would like to know if this in itself is not against military rules. Are the Iraqi commanders turning a blind eye to this activity because it suits them to have their aquaddies poorly kitted out as it could mean greater expenditure which has the potential for imbezelling? Does this not show that infact the Iraqi military are still so naive as to think that 'dressing up' to go to kill another human being is cool? Above all, what is actually going to be done to stop this vanity amongst their soldiers, and promote instead a moral and responsible approach to the duty they have undertaken to do on behalf of the citizens of their country.

[Tony]

I wonder how many corpses with drill marks were within half a mile of this fashion shoot? Talk about fiddling while Rome burns. This is a disgraceful excuse for journalism.

[tweake]

That Chris is certainly the man to handle the "serious questions". Very deep.

[Karen]

If Iraq is 'Americanized', it will be because that's what the people of Iraq want. They could sure do a lot worse.

[Colin]

Chris,

I think you might be missing the point here. The iraqis obviously look up to their american counterparts and are trying to imitate an image/ quirk that they have caught on to.

Soldiers across the world do this sort of thing. It is not a major issue. The kit that is being given to the iraquies by the soldiers would only get dumped anyway or find it's way to army surpless stores.

I think it is a good sign as it shows they are playing close attention to the Americans they are patrolling with and no doubt adopting many of their ways.

[kennyb]

You limeys are just jealous because the Iraqis choose to emulate the Americans they perceive to be winners, and not your brave, under equipped troops that you wingeing cowards left huddling in Basra.

[Paul]

Seems some sniveling commenters are projecting they're hatred of all things American onto the Iraqis, who having witnessed the Americans prowess and panache first hand, obviously have a much better as well as better informed assessment of them. The world needs more people like the brave and noble American soldiers and a whole lot less like the weak caustic nihilists that make up the international left.