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Tuesday, January 24, 2006
British, Americans try to speak same language
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tracy J. Smith/48th BCT
British soldiers John Wilson (right) and Paul Keeble.
Tallil Air Base, Iraq — The Italians control Nasiriyah in southeastern Iraq and have a huge contingent stationed at this base, just outside the city.
Then there are the Americans — The Georgia Army National Guard’s 48th Brigade Combat Team among them — Australians, Japanese, Romanians and of course, the British.
The facilities here are a global smorgasbord. The tactics differ as well. Each nation’s military has its own way of doing things.
“When you approach convoys, everyone has their own SOP (standard operating procedure),” said John Wilson, 35, a warrant officer class 2 from Chelmsford, England. “There are different attitudes toward the local population.
“With the Americans,” said Wilson joking about perceived U.S. aggressiveness, “you gotta dig a hole and get in it.”
And then there are obvious language barriers, especially with the Japanese, Italians and the Romanians. And sometimes, with the Georgia soldiers, too, said the British, poking fun not just at Americanized English but that good ole Southern twang.
“I can’t understand a word they say,” said Colour Sergeant Paul Keeble, 37. “But they all seem friendly. It would be better if they could speak English.”
English humor or a bit of Olde Country snobbery? A Georgia soldier at the table took it all in good stride. You say tomato, I say …
Keeble, a member of the 1st Battalion of the King’s Own Royal Border Regiment, arrived at Tallil at roughly the same time the 48th Brigade moved here from Striker in October.
Before arriving in Iraq, Keeble said he went through a 10-week course in Arabic to help him work with Iraqis in the area. His unit has been helping train the Iraqi Army.
Added Keeble, a continuous clown: “I can speak a little bit of American as well.”
