Posted on 05/06/2009 5:37:19 PM PDT by SandRat
Baqubah Special Missions Unit members simulate room-clearing procedures during a training scenario, April 16, at Forward Operating Base Gabe, Baqubah, Iraq. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Emmanuel Rios, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Arabian Peninsula.
TIKRIT — As Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) take on more responsibility, Coalition advisors are encouraging the use of non-commissioned officers (NCO) to fill in the gap between the senior leader and the "boots on the ground."
Thirteen Iraqi Special Missions Unit (SMU) junior NCOs recently concluded two weeks of training with U.S. Special Forces (USSF) at Forward Operating Base Gabe in Baqubah, to increase leadership abilities within the SMU.
"Our goal was to implement a chain of command ... with their own leaders taking charge and watching over their men," said a USSF staff sergeant and lead instructor for the course. "We molded the company and worked to establish junior leaders who could handle situations and think like leaders, like decision-makers."
Some of the training scenarios in which the NCOs were evaluated included medically treating casualties, leading combat patrols, room-clearing procedures with limited visibility, mission planning and leading assault teams during direct-action operations. Furthermore, the NCOs were expected to grasp the instruction, as well as demonstrate their ability to pass the information on to their squad.
The instructors had the battalion choose 15 new Iraqi Police (IP) who never received USSF training. The NCOs were then tasked to instruct the trainees on dismounted patrolling techniques and react to contact drills and room-clearing procedures, said a USSF instructor.
"Overall, the NCOs gave excellent blocks of instruction and conducted the training with minimal assistance from the USSF," said the USSF commander, who observed the teaching sessions. The SMU sergeant major and an SMU senior NCO were both very satisfied with the level of performance by the NCOs, he continued.
Taking instruction from the flat range to the streets, USSF instructors led the NCOs on three dismounted patrols through sections of Baqubah. Instructors assigned NCOs to fill leadership roles and rotated multiple IP into the positions to provide sufficient leadership opportunities.
"We wanted to take them out to the streets and show the public that we really are working [together] to protect their safety," said the lead instructor. "The IP performed well, were completely professional and proved they were motivated to apply their instruction."
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