M4's and probably berettas
Posted on 12/04/2004 4:56:08 PM PST by Flavius
Seventy-two hand-picked Iraqi police officers completed the training as part of the Iraqi government commitment to field a highly trained counterrorism force. By U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Joe Kane Multinational Security Transition Command - Iraq AMMAN, Jordan, Dec. 3, 2004 — A class of 72 Iraqi Counterterrorism Force ‘special forces’ police completed a 13-week counterterrorism course at the Jordanian Counterterrorism Training Academy in Amman, Jordan Dec. 1.
The latest graduates - hand-picked Iraqi police - began the training process in late summer 2004, as part of the Iraqi government’s ongoing effort to stand up a highly trained counterterrorism force in the country - skilled in dealing with specific anti-Iraq force threats.
More than 250 police were initially selected for screening and 75 were sent to Jordan for the training. Three were dropped during the course and 72 made it through to graduation bringing the total of Iraq’s counterterrorism forces to 300.
“The training we have now from the Jordanian and the American instructors was very hard,” said one graduate (name withheld for security reasons).
“It was hard every day, but it made us stronger and we are ready to fight for a new Iraq,” he said. “We know that being strong will beat the terrorists and protect Iraq for the future. But it is not enough to only be strong or brave; we also needed [to learn] the new ways. And now we have the training we need.”
“The training we have now from the Jordanian and the American instructors was very hard. It was hard every day, but it made us stronger and we are ready to fight for a new Iraq,” Iraqi Counterterrorism Force training graduate
The basic training course, about six weeks long, consisted of general military customs and courtesies, uniforms, physical training, basic communications, first aid, maps and land navigation, basic survival, patrolling, leadership development, and chain-of-command instruction. The initial phase also included a human rights and laws of land warfare class taught by a United Nations representative.
The second phase of training included instruction in the origins of terrorism, advanced weapons handling, combat marksmanship, assault planning, physical training, pistol training, basic and advanced sniper training, advanced communications training, open air vehicle takedown, search techniques, building climbing, critical task evaluations, physical training, sniper range estimation, field craft, route planning, stalking, observation reporting and observation memorization drills, known distance shooting with telescopic and iron sites, target recon, shooter observer correction training, and cover and concealment training.
In the final training phase students negotiated integrated sniper and assaulter training, integrated team planning of assault and post assault operations, in addition to continued rigorous physical training.
The students also had to develop a database for lessons learned to ensure follow-on courses would be more efficient and productive to continue to improve future training.
U.S. Army Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, Multinational Security Transition Command - Iraq commander, said the partnership being built between the Jordanian special forces and the Iraqi special forces is a wonderful thing and the students and instructors had every reason to be proud of what they had accomplished.
The transition command is specifically tasked with assisting the Iraqi government in training, equipping and mentoring its security forces.
“The training tasks that you have learned have prepared you well for what lies ahead when you return to Iraq,” Petraeus said. “You will be part of Iraq’s premiere fighting force.
“While you have been in Jordan, that force has conducted dozens of successful operations,” Petraeus continued. “And like them, courage, competence and determination will be your hallmarks. You will be on the front lines; you will be walking point for your country in the fight against the insurgents, and you are fighting for your country during a decisive time. The next two months leading up to the elections will be crucial.”
Petraeus said that when the new graduates return to Iraq they will continue to fight alongside multinational force special forces, but increasingly lead the way.
“You will demonstrate the fighting qualities for which Iraq has been respected for in the past. And with each operation you will be adding to that history,” he said.
Petraeus remarked that the Jordanian leadership at the training academy is terrific and provided fantastic training - the best in the region, if not the world. He told the new graduates he was confident in their ability to assume their new role rooting out the remaining terrorists in Iraq.
“America’s ‘special operators’ think of themselves as quiet professionals,” Petraeus said. “They let their actions speak for them. I am confident that you will do the same and that your actions will speak loudly and strike fear into the hearts of the insurgents.
“The tasks will be difficult,” Petraeus said. “There may be some setbacks. But I know that you will remain determined. You will continue to work in some of the harsher environments and it won’t be easy - but few things worthwhile are. This is an endeavor in which failure is not an option.
“As I look at you today, I am reminded that Iraq’s greatest resource is not its oil, nor its water nor its farmland,” Petraeus said. “Iraq’s greatest resource is its people.”
M4's and probably berettas
they better get to work - fast.
More stuff for the Hate America crowd to hate. Yeah, we know it's only 76 guys in a country of 25 million. Tough odds.
Yeah, we know it's only 76 guys in a country of 25 million
Just as Rome wasn't built in a day, neither will Iraq be RE-built in a day. This is all good stuff!
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