Operation Allies Welcome

Assisted by an Iraqi interpreter and his cursory knowledge of Arabic, Lance Cpl. Ryan Baker of Company E, 2/25 uses tactical questioning techniques to obtain information from an Iraqi couple whose house his team searched and found explosives and bomb-making materials during the final day of a training exercise here June 27, 2008. All civilian role players in the scenarios are native-born Iraqis and speak Arabic throughout the exercise. Baker, a York, Pa. native, took a hiaitus from the Baltimore County Police Academy when his company was mobilized in May. He plans to return to the academy next year when he gets back from Iraq.