Posted on 11/06/2008 3:23:20 PM PST by SandRat
COP OLD MOD — For weeks Iraqi Soldiers from the 11th Iraqi Army Division were put through their paces in order to successfully graduate a newly established training academy.
The 11th IA Div. non-commissioned officers trained to become instructors of various classes including reading and writing literacy, computer literacy and the warrior leadership.
The training ended Oct. 30 with a formal graduation ceremony at the training academy at Combat Outpost Old Mod, but started with the hard work and dedication by many individuals and the leadership of the 11th IA Division almost eight months ago.
The course is designed to impact the entire division from the battalions to the brigades. In his commencement address to the graduates, Iraqi Brig. Gen. Dhayf Khleif Abd Ayub, chief of staff, 11th IA Div., said, “take what you have learned and spread it throughout your units.”
The 11th IA Division was very interested in forming a training academy and paired with the division Military Transition Team to help shape the future of the Iraqi Soldiers and the NCO Corps. The division began selecting material and training instructors for several months preparing for the culminating event.
Each class was taught by a fellow Iraqi Army non-commissioned officer placing an Iraqi face on their own course. Each instructor was carefully selected and proficient in their assigned course.
Every day, training began with one hour of physical fitness followed by breakfast. The classroom training began each day at 9 a.m. and continued until noon.
The literacy course contained basic reading, writing and mathematical instruction with several exams to measure performance. Many Iraqi Soldiers struggle with literacy and this course is designed to help make them successful Soldiers and help them individually overcome some disadvantages.
The computer literacy course is designed to teach Soldiers the basic functions of the computer and Microsoft Office familiarization. The course is enhanced by the use of several laptops and projector screens acquired for use at the school full time. Each Soldier has hands on instruction and can work through problems shown on the overhead projector.
The Warrior Leaders Course consisted of map reading, basic leadership skills, guard duties and responsibilities, patrolling, room clearing procedures and basic first aid. The students received instruction via PowerPoint slides then were taken out to perform what they had learned in a practical exercise.
N.C.O.’s that can read! Oh the horror!
This is a primary non-commissioned officer course and is designed to build the Iraqi Army leadership skills at the lowest unit levels - fire team, squad and platoon levels. The process of building an effective, professional NCO corps takes many years. The Iraqi Army is trying to build several levels of leadership at once, which is a very difficult task. But if you have experienced mentors alongside, it can be done in (maybe) ten years.
It should be noted that the skills being taught at this junior NCO level are usually only taught at a higher rank in many other Arab countries as they tend to follow the Soviet model of more centralized command. That means that these young leaders can be more flexible and resourceful on the battlefield.
Obama will want to get us out quickly and leave the training only half finished. Disgusting.
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