I need to pass along some advice:
When I went it was right after the initial push (April of 03). When we first pulled into Baghdad I was walking down a street with my platoon and some of the locals were warning me that Fedayeen were approaching. I went to chamber my weapon and couldn't.
The magazine springs were weak and wouldn't push the first round in. I finally got one to go by the 5th magazine.
When we got back to the rear I took the platoon outside and told them each to chamber a round. 6 of them couldn't. So we took each magazine down to 27 rounds and everything was fine.
Also, you may want to load your magazines with the first three rounds being tracers so they are the last ones out. Just lets you know when you are out.
Good luck bud, and stay safe. Don't trust any of them and come home safe. They know the soldiers have a soft spot for the kids, and they use them as bait.
