Test class graduates NCO Academy

ISKANDARIYAH, IRAQ

01.30.2008

Story by Sgt. Kevin Stabinsky 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

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By Sgt. Kevin Stabinsky
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – For 56 Iraqi non-commissioned officers, their graduation from the Task Force Marne NCO Academy on Forward Operating Base Kalsu Jan. 28 is just the starting point.

The class of NCOs included 55 Iraqi army NCOs and one Iraqi police NCO – they are the first class to graduate from the course, which began Jan. 14. The hope is that these leaders will take lessons learned and pass them on to troops they lead. Additionally, lessons learned from the class will be used in future training after the academy's grand opening, Feb. 12.

"What do you do now? You go back to your units and make a difference," said Task Force Marne NCO Academy Chief Commandant and Multi-National Division - Center command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Jesse Andrews, Jr. "Use your newly acquired skills to train your units."

The newly acquired skills consist mainly of tasks aimed at making the NCOs more effective leaders and fighters. During the 14-day course, the students were taught a variety of battle drills, including reacting to small arms fire, reacting to improvised explosive devices, vehicle and detainee searching and performing building clearing, all under the guidance of skilled American NCOs.

To make the training, which was based on Fort Stewart's warrior leaders course, more realistic, the cadre used a variety of props and simulators.

"We wanted to make it as realistic as possible," said Staff Sgt. Robert Duke, Academy 3rd Platoon small group leader. "We used dead rounds (artillery shells), smoke and simulators."

Duke, originally with Company A, 3rd Battalion, 7th Inf. Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Inf. Div., was in charge of training the students what to look for when searching vehicles. He hid inert IED components in a vehicle and had students try and locate the mechanisms.

The Ardmore, Okla., native said the students performed well and successfully completed their mission.

Duke said as days were spent living, working and learning together, the students molded into a team. "By the end of the course, they wouldn't do anything individually. They understand how to work as a team."

Their success gives U.S. Army leader's confidence in the development of Iraqi security forces.

"This is the beginning of a new era," Andrews said, noting all graduates were better leaders than when they first entered the class. "All Soldiers deserve outstanding leadership. You will provide it."

Although a junior leader, Cpl. Muhamed Ahmed Jasim, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division, said he is eager to share what he learned and provide that leadership.

As an infantryman, he feels his own Soldiers will benefit from the lessons he learned at the academy. By teaching them skills such as dismounted battle drills, first aid and clearing buildings, he said they will be more effective at taking the fight to insurgents. "We gained good instructions on how to do things right," he said.

Seeing the motivation displayed by the graduates helped academy cadre realize they are accomplishing something worthwhile for future Iraqi security forces. "This is just a start, building a foundation," said Andrews, from Lincolnton, Ga.

Instruction will continue throughout the year and the goal is to have a new class graduate monthly, with each class gradually increasing in size until classes hold 180 students, Andrews said.

"In the end this will enable us to tie into two lines of operation: security and (transition), transferring over patrol bases," Andrews said. "(If we) work together as a team, we will get the mission accomplished."