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> Special Sections > Letters From Iraq > Letters > Marines and Azerbaijani work together
Marines and Azerbaijani work together |  | | |
Marines and Azerbaijani soldiers work on the mess line together to feed the entire dam. Photo by Lcpl Marc Fencil
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LCpl Marc G. Fencil
3d Battalion, 25th Marines
Marines and Azerbaijani soldiers work on the mess line together to feed the entire dam. Photo by Lcpl Marc Fencil
Where did all these guys with AK-47s come from? Story by: Lcpl Marc Fencil
HADITHA, IRAQ (March 28, 2005)--Nearly a month has passed since the Marines and Sailors of 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines arrived in Haditha, Iraq. However, America's warriors are not the only ones calling the dam "home sweet home" for the next six months.
They often wear green camouflage in the middle of the desert and their quasi-goosestep, heel-driving march leads some junior Marines to perform imitations for their friends while waiting in the chow line.
Some battle-eager Marines pine to adopt their comparatively less restrictive rules of engagement. Ever the adaptive due to a scant defense budget, it is facetiously rumored among Marines that they clean their well-worn AK47s with Old English furniture polish, sandpaper, and WD40.
Since most cannot pronounce "Azerbaijani", the Marines simply call these new neighbors the "AZ's."
Much to the disappointment of the Marines, the letters "AZ" are not the Greek letters of a new sorority on deck. Rather, it is the nickname of the Azerbaijani Army.
Their sole responsibility is to keep the walls and waters of Haditha Dam secure around the clock.
Approximately 150 troops from Azerbaijan are deployed exclusively to provide security for Haditha Dam. This allows a greater number of Marines to conduct security and stability operations in the Hit-Haditha corridor without worrying about providing overwatch for the dam.
Azerbaijan is a small oil-rich former Soviet satellite state about the size of Maine. It gained its independence in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Republic and has been an ally in the global War on Terrorism since the March 2003 outbreak of the war.
The Azerbaijani soldiers are serving a six-month tour at the dam. They completed six months of basic training in their native country prior to deploying to Haditha in January 2005.
Most Marines are perplexed by their rank structure, which gives the impression of there being "too many Indians and not enough chiefs." Marines are used to actively working with noncommissioned officers and not solely being under their fist. Junior enlisted soldiers, who make up the bulk of the Azerbaijani Army, do not wear rank on their utilities.
Unlike the Marines, these soldiers are not here by choice. Males in their late teens serve two years of compulsory military service.
Relations between the troops are generally amicable, however, a very sharp language barrier exists between the communities. Private First Class Jason T. Woodliff, 22, of Massillon, Ohio comments "It seems that the ones (AZ's) who speak the most English get along better with their comrades as well as with the Marines."
Hand gestures replace spoken instructions when verbal communication is not feasible. There are times when Marines and Azerbaijanis must work side by side on a common task, such as serving meals in the chow hall.
All but three percent of Azerbaijanis speak Azuri, the official state language. The remainder speaks an Azuri-Iranian dialect, with an even smaller number speaking Russian. The majority is Muslim with a significant, but minority population of Eastern Orthodox Christians.
Most know at least a few simple, everyday English greetings to use with the Marines.
The Marines live in a separate area of the dam as a reminder of their separate mission. The west wing of the dam is Azerbaijani territory while the Marines occupy the east end. Both camps received ample warnings upon arrival at the dam to stay out of the other side's living quarters.
Most Marines are curious about the AZ's and are eager to inquire about their weaponry, customs, and home country. "I'm surprised by how willing they are to help us (Marines) since they probably just regard us as strangers", remarks Corporal Daniel K. Smith, 23, of Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
While the two are here to accomplish very different missions, both long for the day when they will return to the awaiting arms of girlfriends, wives, and family members.
There are some things that are enjoyed by everyone no matter what uniform a soldier puts on in the morning.
Both Marines and AZ's alleviate boredom by working out in the dam's sparsely equipped gym and using Instant Messenger to talk with friends back home in the Segovia internet caf.
The cooperation demonstrated between the Marines and the Azerbaijanis serves as evidence that these two allies are working effectively together despite sharp cultural and political differences.
Young Americans and Azerbaijanis have come together in Haditha long enough to realize that they are really not as different as they think; from the common desire for a free and stable Iraq down to the same taste of magazines that are clandestinely hidden under mattresses on opposite sides of the dam.
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