The legend continues
Volume 11, No. 49, August 10, 2006
By Maj Dave Munro

Aim: Sgt Marc Meers (above) watches an Iraqi Army officer firing a Steyr at the rifle range in Tallil. The Team organises dissimilar weapon shoots with the Iraqis as a rapport-building exercise.

Feedback: LCpl John Schembri (right) discusses an Iraqi officer’s fall of shot following a zeroing practice. Photos by Maj Dave Munro.

THE legend of the Australian Army Training Teams continues to grow thanks to the efforts of AATT Iraq 6 (AATTI6).

Following in the footsteps of their Vietnam predecessors, the various deployments of training teams to Iraq have made a significant contribution to the professionalism of the New Iraqi Army (NIA).

The current team is the sixth to be deployed, and is comprised of three teams that cover a diverse range of military training. At the Basic Training Centre (BTC, similar to ARTC at Kapooka) in Tallil the Australians train the Iraqi Army’s trainers.

Further north in Kirkuk is an Iraqi infantry training battalion, where Australian WO1 chief instructors oversee the training of infantrymen by US military personnel.

The third team works at the Counter-Insurgency Academy, where the Iraqis receive vital training to deal with the insurgency within Iraq.

At all three training establishments AATTI6 provides high-quality, relevant and responsive training support to the NIA. The team takes an Australian approach to the situation, developing training support methods that recognize the unique NIA requirements and are in accordance with the coalition strategic objectives for stability and development within Iraq.

CO AATTI6 Lt-Col Robert Hamilton said his team of instructors was developing and delivering training at each of the centres with great success.

“The unique Australian style of training results in the development of a strong student/instructor rapport being built quickly,” he said.

“The challenge here at BTC is putting our Australian approach to training. The training is based on personal relationships and trust, and has been adapted to Arabic methodology so that BTC will run well and at a steady level.

“We want to avoid an end of commitment mentality. If we achieve this then when we inevitably draw down there will be no decline in training status; the Iraqis will carry on at a steady state and our departure will not impact their training.”