4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

Story by Pfc. Terence Ewings

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq – The 3rd Battalion, 39th Iraqi Army Brigade has reached the half way point of completing their commando training and their Romanian counterparts are confident the Iraqis will successfully complete the eight-week training course at Camp Ur near the operating base here in late May.

"Our duty here is to improve the tactical skills of our Iraqi partners," said Capt. Bumbac, the training team commander for the Romanian instructors. "They will use these tactics on real missions, so it's important that they receive this active training."

The 26th Romanian Infantry Battalion, 'Red Scorpions' mentored their IA counterparts through the first four weeks of tactical, physical and weapons training.

The future IA commandos received the same training the Romanian Special Forces units receive. The Red Scorpion Battalion also trained their partners on Shotokan, a unique style of martial arts used during hand-to-hand combat.

"We're impressed with what they have accomplished so far," said Bumbac. "It's a pleasure to be training together with these troops."

U.S. Soldiers, assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division provided advice and assistance to the Romanians during the planning stages of the event and throughout the training.

"The Romanians are actively engaging their Iraqi partners and pushing them in the right direction," said Maj. Troy Wayman, the Iraqi Security Forces Coordinator from Ainsworth, Neb., assigned to the 4th BCT, 1st Cav. Div.

The coalition forces have already begun the next phase of the commando training, which consists of complex exercises like scouting, reconnaissance, check point procedures and patrolling. Upon graduation, the IA troops will join their units to provide security in the tri-province region of Dhi Qar, Maysan and Muthanna in southern Iraq.

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