| The group is the first class to complete the basic officer training course under the new Iraqi army. |
| By U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Mark Woodbury Multinational Security Transition Command-Iraq |
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| BAGHDAD, Iraq, Dec. 12, 2005 — The Iraqi army will mark another first this week with the expected graduation of 77 cadets at the Iraqi Military Academy at Ar Rustamiyah. The group is the first class to complete the basic officer training course under the new Iraqi army. The 42-week course focuses on developing leaders of soldiers from all backgrounds and who possess the courage and willpower to take decisive action in achieving the mission.
The cadets were selected from seven recruiting stations throughout Iraq based on their leadership skills and ability to handle the physical demands of the Army. Throughout the training, cadets received 710 classroom lessons focusing on leadership, marksmanship, communication and drill and ceremony. They also participated in 14 field training exercises aimed at developing skills in military doctrine, tactics and map reading. Riot control training was a hit with many of the cadets. "I liked learning about riot control techniques," said Iraqi Cadet Raed. "I liked that the training made the cadets work as a single team to accomplish a team task." |
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At nearly one year in length, the course proved both mentally and physically challenging for some. Not all who started the course made it through to the end. For Raed, the thought of protecting Iraq from terrorism and being a part of a free Iraq kept him on track. Other cadets said their desire to provide a safer environment for their families helped them through the difficult times. The majority of the instructors are Iraqi, although some coalition advisers assist with training. They've been impressed with the first company of cadets and their eagerness to learn. "It is amazing how many 'why' questions get asked in the classroom by the cadets," said U.S. Army Maj. Joseph Brunetti, assistant chief instructor of cadet training. "While sitting in class on my first day, I was amazed at how many cadets raised their hands to participate and how they all seemed to be soaking up all the information." The learning has gone both ways, Brunetti said. "The idea of leading by example has been reinforced to me once again through this process," Brunetti said. "If I come to class with a boot lace unbloused, the next day I'll see half a dozen cadets' boot laces unbloused. The cadets really want to prove they can learn to be like the coalition forces and they are looking to the instructors as a model to build upon." |
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