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Iraqi skills cultivated

Volume 11, No. 60, February 22, 2007
 
Security training: Sgt Marcus Hovington checks that all weapons have been cleared of blank ammunition at the end of an exercise at the Iraqi Army Barracks near Al Gharraf.
Photo by Sgt John Carroll
AUSTRALIAN troops serving in southern Iraq delivered a week-long training program for 750 Iraqi soldiers who have since become part of the Baghdad Security Plan.

The Iraqi soldiers, from the Iraqi 3 Bde based in the Dhi Qar province, have been sent to Baghdad to support counter-insurgency operations.

The training was conducted from January 20-25 at an Iraqi Army Barracks on the outskirts of Al Gharraf.

It focused on refining the light infantry skills of the Iraqi soldiers.

The joint Australian and British training included the conduct of contact drills, vehicle patrols, vehicle checkpoints, house clearing tactics and first aid.

About 100 soldiers from Overwatch Battle Group (West) 2 were involved in the training.

Maj Richard Bushby, OC of the Australian element, said many of the Iraqi soldiers were already well skilled, but the additional training helped refine their skills ahead of the Baghdad operations.

“One of the roles that the Overwatch Battle Group performs is the mentoring and training of the Iraqi security forces, which is designed to increase their capacity and their ability to be able to confront the insurgency in Iraq and what we have been doing is a key part of that,” Maj Bushby said.

Maj James Kennedy, OC of the British element from 19th UK Bde (Forward), added that the training was critical.

“They want to learn and they recognise that in the British and Australian structures, we’ve got a lot to offer,” he said. “They have taken things on and they are certainly a better prepared unit.”

The specific role the Iraqi soldiers are playing in Baghdad has not been confirmed.

But one of the soldiers involved in the training said his team had become well prepared for operations.

“We are ready and well trained,” said Sgt Murtadah Adnan, who is now the leader of the commander’s body guards.

The CO of 3 Bde, Brig Sa’ad Ali Aaty Al-Harby, said the training showed the co-operation between the Iraqi Army and the coalition forces.

The battle group has been conducting other training activities with the Iraqis in Dhi Qar and Al Muthanna.

The local authorities continue to strengthen their capabilities maintaining the security situation in the two provinces.

More than 500 soldiers drawn mostly from Darwin’s Robertson Barracks are serving with the Overwatch Battle Group.