Free Republic

TEN Royal Australian Navy personnel were welcomed home by family and friends today after eight months in Iraq training and rebuilding the country's maritime forces. Based in the port of Umm Qasr, the Iraqi Coastal Defence Force Training Team played a key role in rehabilitating the Iraqi navy. Working with other coalition partners including the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy and the Netherlands, the team trained the new Iraqi Coastal Defence Force (ICDF) to take over responsibility for policing its coastline and waterways in the Northern Arabian Gulf. The ICDF will protect the ports of Umm Qasr and Az...

The Australian Navy completed basic training of the new Iraqi Coastal Defence Force (ICDF) which will now take over responsibility for policing its coastline, waterways and oil terminals in the Northern Arabian Gulf. The formal handover was conducted during the official graduation ceremony at Umm Qasr, southern Iraq, marking the end of a six-month training program for the ICDF. That training was conducted by 10 Australian Navy personnel and one soldier. Commander of the ADF contingent in the Middle East, Brigadier Peter Hutchinson said the handover marked a major step on the road to Iraq's successful rehabilitation and reconstruction. "The...