Name changed, same aims
AATT-I reflects Vietnam honour

Capt Piero Bertocchi, Australian Army Training Team Iraq (AATT-I), takes Iraqi soldiers for physical training in the early hours of the morning at a training camp in northern Iraq. Photo by Cpl Neil Ruskin, 1JPAU

AUSTRALIAN troops assisting with the training of the Iraqi armed forces will now be known as the Australian Army Training Team Iraq (AATT-I) in honour of their Vietnam war predecessors, CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy said.

“The Australian Army is built on a long and proud history and its soldiers are inspired by the deeds of those who have served before us,” Lt-Gen Leahy said.

“Therefore it is fitting that we acknowledged the soldiers of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATT-V) by renaming their modern day counterparts the AATT-I.”

Since May, the training team, originally known as the Iraqi Army Training Team, has been helping to develop a complete Iraqi Army brigade, from the development of its officers and soldiers to mentoring the brigade as it trains the new members. The team first deployed in July 2003 and consists of 50 officers and soldiers.

As Army went to print, the team was handing over to a second AATT-I, which will train another Iraqi Army brigade.

Lt-Gen Leahy said the original AATT-V was a small and elite team of professionals, that was one of the most highly decorated units in the Army.