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By 1st Lt. Olivia Cobiskey
TAJI - Military structure and discipline are not new to Raheem Mahmmed.
Hahmmed was a warrant officer in the former Army of Saddam Hussein but when Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki asked former soldiers to return and serve Iraq again as it reformed itself, he didn't hesitate.
"All former Iraq army soldiers are glad to be back in the Army," said Hahmmed, from Diwaniyah. "This is our duty."
"We are excited to be a part of the rebuilding of the Iraq army and the country," said Mahmmed, who was selected by his fellow soldiers to be in charge of the platoon based on his experience and knowledge.
Nearly 1,000 soldiers graduated from various refresher training courses throughout Iraq this weekend. Training at seven training centers, nine proponent schools, and the Military Academy of Nasiriyah began in April and finished the last week of May.
In February, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki initiated a recall of 1,590 officers and 7,896 enlisted soldiers from the former Iraqi Army back to active duty. The "rejoiners" are predominately Sunni with experience ranging between six and twenty years of service in the former Army; and range in rank between jundi, private, to muqaddum or lieutenant colonel.
Upon graduation, the majority of soldiers will be assigned to Iraqi army units, training centers, logistic organizations, and Ministry of Defense activities. The rejoiners will retain the rank they held up to lieutenant colonel if they can produce the appropriate documents.
Thus far approximately 6, 000 of the 10,000 officers and enlisted soldiers, sailors and airmen recalled have agreed to come back into service.
Motives for answering the call to duty vary.
"I rejoined for the security of my family to assist in rebuilding the great Iraqi nation free of sectarianism and division," said Lt. Col. Khalaf Ali Saleh Muhammad Al Jobouri, who also served in the Sons of Iraq and whose daughter was injured by a terrorist bomb.
"The rejoiners attending training are from across the country and consider themselves fortunate to return to a job they enjoy," said Maj. David Hayes, senior advisor, Iraqi Army Signal School in Taji. The school graduated 169 soldiers - 24 officers and 145 enlisted - from the Basic Communications Course May 31. "They want to serve their country ... graduates will combine their newfound knowledge with their previous experience. This is a recipe for success."
The "rejoiner" program is a positive step towards filling critical manpower shortages; providing jobs to former military personnel; utilizing the experience of the former officers and soldiers, said Hayes.
The Signal School trained 96 former Military Intelligence soldiers as communicators and gained six new instructors from the graduate pool, Hayes said.
Warrant Officer Mohammed Amar Ibrehim felt fortunate to be able to attend training on the Harris 5800 High Frequency radios.
"I am happy to be able to come back into the Army and serve my country," Ibrehim said. "I was worried about the new radios since I have never used them. Now that I have completed the training I am ready to go to my new unit and get to work."
The Chemical Defense School in Taji also graduated 12 officers and 13 enlisted soldiers with training in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense, decontamination, camouflage concealment and deception, May 31.
Lt. Col. J. Hussain agreed the training at the schools was excellent.
"I am pleased to support my country," he added.
| Date Taken: | 07.22.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 07.22.2010 06:13 |
| Story ID: | 53209 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 170 |
| Downloads: | 157 |
This work, Rejoining the Fight, by CPT Olivia Cobiskey-Haftmann, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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