Cavalry Soldiers start Iraqi NCO academy

Multi-National Forces-Iraq ^ | Sgt. Antonieta Rico

[SandRat]

Soldiers with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, out of Fort Bliss Texas, practice reflexive fire drills at the Spears Academy range in Mosul, Jan. 26. The Soldiers are brushing up on their weapons skills in preparation for the inaugural class of Iraqi Army soldiers at the troop-run noncommissioned officers academy. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Antonieta Rico, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

MOSUL -- Soldiers with 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, launched a noncommissioned officers academy for Iraqi Army soldiers at Forward Operating Base Marez Feb. 3.

The Spear Academy grounds include a firing range, obstacle course, barracks, and even a mosque for the Iraqi soldiers to pray, said Staff Sgt. Gregory Stephens, one of the NCOs in charge at the academy.

Soldiers of Troop A, 1-9 Cav. Regt., embedded with the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division Military Transition Team, will provide the 5-day course for the 2IA Soldiers.

Course objectives include training on vehicle maintenance and driving procedures, first aid, map reading and reflexive fire.

NCOs at the academy are particularly proud of the range where they will teach range procedures and reflexive fire techniques.

“That’s where the best hands-on training will be,” said Staff Sgt. Jared Heisler, another NCOIC with Troop A at the academy. He said the reflexive fire training at the range will provide the Iraqi soldiers knowledge relevant to their environment.

“It’s a lot more practical in the type of terrain we find ourselves in,” said Heisler, referring to urban fighting.

NCOs of Troop A will instruct the Iraqi soldiers, while the troop’s junior enlisted Soldiers will act as demonstrators and assistant instructors.

The MiTT and the Troop A Soldiers are attempting to strengthen the Iraqi army’s NCO Corps through the training at the academy.

“The main focus is to develop future leaders of the Iraqi army,” said Heisler, “We are training them so they can handle the fight without us.”

Establishing the academy is in line with the transformation of 1-9 Cav. Regt. into a ‘super-MiTT.’ The super-MiTT concept augments the transition teams across Nineveh province with 1-9 Cav. Regt. platoons, embedding the Soldiers with the transition teams to help ‘teach, coach and mentor’ Iraqi security forces.

“For the big picture, for us to finally leave Iraq, this is a big stepping stone,” Heisler said referring to training the Iraqi soldiers.

Heisler said he hopes that once coalition forces are gone, the Iraqi army will continue running the academy. He said he wants the course to become an integral part of the Iraqi Army, like the Warrior Leaders Course is to the U.S. Army.

[SandRat]

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[SandRat]

FR WAR NEWS!

WAR News at Home and Abroad You'll Hear Nowhere Else!

All the News the MSM refuses to use!

[Uriah_lost]

I have been telling anyone that would listen that the key to Iraq having an effective force was the development of a professional NCO corps. Strong NCO's are not something you can recruit off the street or train up in a classroom. They are being tempered in combat operations now and will rise to the top. This all takes time and that's what the liberals don't want to give them.

[SandRat]

As usual Liberal Cowardly Thinking (if you can even remotely call it thinking) Goes.

[Feckless]

1/9 Cav
Apocolypse Now boys......
Spent a few years (85-88)with them in Ft Lewis, 9ID