US train Iraqis

 

US SOLDIERS are training Iraqi exiles and expatriates at a Hungarian air base to aid US forces when invasion of Iraq become necessary.

About 700 US soldiers are working at Taszar Air Base, Hungary, to train up to 3000 Free Iraqi Forces, said Maj Robert Stern, a spokesman for Task Force Warrior in Taszar.

The Iraqi volunteers, many of whom were tortured by Saddam Hussein, will help US and coalition units in dealing with civil-military affairs.

“The training of the first group has gone very well,” Stern said.

“These are motivated individuals who are looking forward to beginning their job in support of coalition forces.”

He said the first difficulty was having training conducted both in English and Arabic.”

“Second, the drill sergeants had to change their styles from teaching US basic trainees to training civilians.”

The instructors changed their style, interaction and dynamics and said they would apply lessons learned to the next group.

The Iraqis’ training is divided into two phases. The first focuses on basic soldiering skills — marching, map and compass reading, radio operations, physical training, self-defense — military structure, and basic US military terminology.

– US Armed Forces news services