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Friday, July 20, 2007

Post-Saddam Iraq Army gets first advanced training

BAGHDAD — The Iraq Army has begun advanced training in cooperation with the U.S. military.

The Iraq Army's 6th Division, 4th Brigade conducted a live fire exercise as part of a commando course held by the U.S. Army, according to Middle East Newsline. The course began on July 8 at the Iraq Army compound in Mahmudiyah and was scheduled to continue until Aug. 7.

This was the first advanced course by the post-Saddam Hussein Iraq Army. The course was designed by officers from the U.S. Army's 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

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"We thought it would be a great idea to offer something a little more advanced to the [Iraqi troops]," U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Tony Grinston said. "So we developed the commando course, which offered advanced training in areas such as marksmanship, physical fitness, map reading, land navigation and troop-leading procedures."

Officers said the three-phased course, based on the U.S. Army Ranger course, began with 100 Iraqi soldiers. Within the first day, nearly half of the soldiers dropped out.

"This is not an easy course," Grinston said.

Officers said the Iraqi soldiers have been learning to conduct missions without help from their officers. They said the course consisted of weapons-use, troop-leading procedures and land navigation, advanced combat lifesaving, and air assault operations.

"This course is just as challenging, if not more challenging, than U.S. Army courses that I have been through," said U.S. Army Sgt. Jason Carvel, a 2nd BCT squad leader. "The Iraqi soldiers are dealing with hotter temperatures and rougher terrain than traditional U.S. military students deal with. This is not an easy course, but it is the right kind of course."

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