MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION – BAGHDAD
Media Release
HQ-MND Baghdad
Camp Liberty
Baghdad, Iraq
APO AE 09344
Commercial: (914) 822-8174
IRAQNA 011-964-790-192-4675
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20060204-09 February 4, 2006
Iraqi warriors ready to train their own
By Pfc. Michael Molinaro
2nd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
AL HILLAH, Iraq -- In the previous Iraqi regime, only army officers received military training while noncommissioned
officers and their soldiers received no formal training.
Under the tutelage of Coalition Forces, Iraqi army soldiers are learning advanced warrior skills equivalent to the U.
S. Army’s primary leadership development course.
More than 20 Iraqi soldiers graduated from the program Monday in Al Hillah.
The program equips NCOs with tools to further train their soldiers, said Sgt 1st Class Charles Carrasco, head
trainer, Troop C, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. “It’s
basically a train-the-trainer program.”
The four-week program educated Iraqi soldiers on individual and small-unit tactics. Blocks of instruction and
training focused on improvised explosive devices, tactical control points, building clearing and land navigation.
After three weeks of intense “Sabers and Scimitars” training, the soldiers were challenged with practical exercises
to test their new-found knowledge. The week culminated with a live-fire exercise involving room clearing and close-
quarters combat.
The graduation symbolizes what hard work will accomplish and shines as an example to other soldiers, said Iraqi
Col. Hatem, commander, 2nd Bde., 8th Div.
The Iraqi soldiers proved to be highly skilled in many areas before the training began, said Carrasco. These
soldiers have combat experience. The program was implemented to train the trainer in order to train the other
soldiers in the battalion.
“These guys are highly proficient, and I would go anywhere in Iraq with them,” said Capt. Mark Kovalcik,
commander, Troop C, 1st Sqdn., 10th Cav. Rgmt. “I would conduct any operation with the full confidence that they
would excel.”
Iraqi soldiers, in partnership with Coalition Forces, have conducted numerous cordon and searches and raids
together. The more capable they are at training their own, the quicker they achieve self-reliance and become a
more cohesive and potent force against the enemy.
“A leader must have the ability to lead from the front,” said Maj. Earnest Boyd, team chief, military transition team.
“Iraqis training Iraqis will make them much better at fighting terrorism.”
The graduateds will immediately put their new-found skills to the test when they begin training soldiers from 1st
Company.
“It is our ambition to be the ones who defended our country and got rid of terrorism in Iraq,” said Iraqi 2nd Lt.
Mowafak Hussain, infantryman. “We are eager to apply this training to the rest of our battalion so that we all can
fight the enemy as one great unit.”
AL HILLAH, Iraq -- Iraqi army soldiers perform a close-quarters live-fire exercise Monday at 1st Battalion, 2nd
Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division range complex. The soldiers, under the watchful eye of Soldiers from Troop C, 1st
Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., graduated from the advanced warrior
skills training program after four weeks of training.
(U. S. Army photo by Pfc. Michael Molinaro, 2nd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.)
Media Release
HQ-MND Baghdad
Camp Liberty
Baghdad, Iraq
APO AE 09344
Commercial: (914) 822-8174
IRAQNA 011-964-790-192-4675
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20060204-09 February 4, 2006
Iraqi warriors ready to train their own
By Pfc. Michael Molinaro
2nd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
AL HILLAH, Iraq -- In the previous Iraqi regime, only army officers received military training while noncommissioned
officers and their soldiers received no formal training.
Under the tutelage of Coalition Forces, Iraqi army soldiers are learning advanced warrior skills equivalent to the U.
S. Army’s primary leadership development course.
More than 20 Iraqi soldiers graduated from the program Monday in Al Hillah.
The program equips NCOs with tools to further train their soldiers, said Sgt 1st Class Charles Carrasco, head
trainer, Troop C, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. “It’s
basically a train-the-trainer program.”
The four-week program educated Iraqi soldiers on individual and small-unit tactics. Blocks of instruction and
training focused on improvised explosive devices, tactical control points, building clearing and land navigation.
After three weeks of intense “Sabers and Scimitars” training, the soldiers were challenged with practical exercises
to test their new-found knowledge. The week culminated with a live-fire exercise involving room clearing and close-
quarters combat.
The graduation symbolizes what hard work will accomplish and shines as an example to other soldiers, said Iraqi
Col. Hatem, commander, 2nd Bde., 8th Div.
The Iraqi soldiers proved to be highly skilled in many areas before the training began, said Carrasco. These
soldiers have combat experience. The program was implemented to train the trainer in order to train the other
soldiers in the battalion.
“These guys are highly proficient, and I would go anywhere in Iraq with them,” said Capt. Mark Kovalcik,
commander, Troop C, 1st Sqdn., 10th Cav. Rgmt. “I would conduct any operation with the full confidence that they
would excel.”
Iraqi soldiers, in partnership with Coalition Forces, have conducted numerous cordon and searches and raids
together. The more capable they are at training their own, the quicker they achieve self-reliance and become a
more cohesive and potent force against the enemy.
“A leader must have the ability to lead from the front,” said Maj. Earnest Boyd, team chief, military transition team.
“Iraqis training Iraqis will make them much better at fighting terrorism.”
The graduateds will immediately put their new-found skills to the test when they begin training soldiers from 1st
Company.
“It is our ambition to be the ones who defended our country and got rid of terrorism in Iraq,” said Iraqi 2nd Lt.
Mowafak Hussain, infantryman. “We are eager to apply this training to the rest of our battalion so that we all can
fight the enemy as one great unit.”
AL HILLAH, Iraq -- Iraqi army soldiers perform a close-quarters live-fire exercise Monday at 1st Battalion, 2nd
Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division range complex. The soldiers, under the watchful eye of Soldiers from Troop C, 1st
Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., graduated from the advanced warrior
skills training program after four weeks of training.
(U. S. Army photo by Pfc. Michael Molinaro, 2nd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.)
