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Airman brings advice, friendship to Iraqi sergeant major

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Trish Freeland
  • United States Air Forces Central-Baghdad
TAJI, Iraq --  The last time Iraqi Army Sgt. Maj. Hannoon Saskbor Arian Al Taai fired a rifle was during the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s. The 40-year military veteran was battle-tested, seasoned and ready to head to the more relaxing pastures of retirement. But then he was paired with a new senior enlisted advisor from the Coalition Army Advisory Training Team, a division of Multi-National Security Transition Command -Iraq and suddenly the sergeant major was rejuvenated. His excitement for military life was back full force.

His new advisor, Air Force Master Sgt. Shawn McMillian, deployed from the 49th Force Support Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M., was just a young boy when Iraq invaded Iran. But the difference in age and experience hasn't stopped him from building a strong mentor-like relationship with an unlikely protégé.

"Sergeant McMillian is a real academic...a military man...a good friend, said Sgt. Maj. Hannoon, command sergeant major for Taji Location Command. "He gives me all of his heart and he pushes me to be better and better."

Being a good advisor, especially to people from a drastically different culture, requires a certain personality. It takes patience and genuineness. Sergeant McMillian, a natural people person, seems to have been created for such a moment as this. After just three months on the job, Sergeant McMillian has managed to infuse his Iraqi counterpart with a new enthusiasm for taking care of the troops.

"You go at their pace. You may have three or four things you want to get done in a meeting. You'll be lucky to get one of those things done," said Sergeant McMillian.

"When I go to Sgt. Maj. Hannoon or any Iraqi counterpart...I know I'm going to sit down and have chai (Iraqi tea) and get to know them, get to know their family and develop that bond and that relationship before they start trusting me," said the South Point, Ohio native.

Since relationship building is such a large part of an advisor's job, Sergeant McMillian is serving a one-year tour in Iraq, giving him the time it takes to really see progress. One of his dream projects is the formation of an Iraqi sergeants major council, similar to the Air Force's enlisted Top 3 council. To do so he's had to sell Sgt. Maj. Hannoon on the idea.

"A big part of getting things done is networking and some of the (Iraqi) sergeants major on this base don't even know each other," Sergeant McMillian said. I've brought this up to him many times and after a month and numerous meetings, he's finally warmed up to the idea.

The council is just one of many new ideas Sergeant McMillian is introducing to Sgt. Maj Hannoon. Another is the importance of professional military education. Taji Military Base was recently the host for the first ever Iraqi senior noncommissioned officers academy designed specifically for sergeants major. Sgt. Maj. Hannoon was invited to attend.

"I was excited for him because he was thirsty for knowledge and power and he wanted to be doing more," Sergeant McMillian said. "He has 40 years experience and this is a step in the right direction to help him get the respect and knowledge he needs to fulfill his duties."

It took some time for Sgt. Maj. Hannoon to become comfortable with the idea of attending such an unfamiliar course. He and his fellow sergeants major were not sure what they were getting into.

"They were still thinking back to the dark days of Saddam Hussein where they would be told to report somewhere and they didn't know what was going to happen," said Sergeant McMillian.

But after the course icebreaker and some time to discuss it with his advisor, Sgt. Maj. Hannoon not only embraced the course but jumped in with a great deal of passion.

"Before when we came to the Iraqi Army, we just learned very basic things and did whatever Saddam said to do," said Sgt. Maj. Hannoon. "Now I feel something good in me when I see all the attention that is being given to us. That has never happened before to me. This gives me more power to help build the Iraqi army of the future," he added.

For Sergeant McMillian, seeing the change in his advisee is both refreshing and rewarding.

"It's been great seeing Sgt. Maj. Hannoon grow from what was done in the past to what they should be doing," he said. "It all ties into what they taught at the Sergeants Major Academy and what I've been preaching to him on a daily basis before the Academy."

There are still many months left to this advising relationship. If Sgt. Maj. Hannoon gets his way, this advisory partnership could extend well beyond the master sergeant's year-long tour.

"I learned how to be honest, strong, a real man, and a good soldier. He comes during his free time to teach me more," said Sgt. Maj. Hannoon. "I ask to keep Sergeant McMillian here with us for more than one year."