Female Iraqi Soldiers tackle basic training

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Benoit | CAMP JUSTICE, Iraq -- A newly-inducted female Iraqi Army Soldier with the 1st Iraqi Army Brigade, 6th Division shows her qualifying score to her fellow Soldiers at the firing range located on Camp Justice. (U.S. photo by Sgt. Thomas Benoit, 256th BCT Public Affairs)  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

07.26.2005

Courtesy Story

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Sgt. Thomas Benoit
256th Brigade Combat Team PAO

CAMP JUSTICE, Iraq -- Breathing, squeezing the trigger and keeping the enemy in sight are just a few of the technical shooting techniques taught by 1st. Sgt. Amir Jabar Taleb of the 1st Iraqi Army Brigade, 6th Division, to some of the first female Soldiers inducted into the Iraqi Army.

For the first time in Iraq's history, Iraqi leadership at an Iraqi base conducted an all-female IA basic training course. Over the past two weeks, 27 female recruits have had intensive training to learn the necessary skills to become a Soldier.

"They learned how to use weapons, map reading and battle tactics to engage the enemy during combat," said Brig. Gen. Jaleel Khalaf Shawail, commanding general of the 1st Iraqi Army Bde., 6th Div.

"And with the help of my American friends, this course has become successful. The Americans did not participate physically in the training, but observed," he added.

Amir instructed the Soldiers on riot control and how to calm an angry crowd without losing control of the situation. Amir said the cadets performed almost flawlessly. He was honored to be one of the first instructors to teach such an important class.

"An obstacle like inducting female Soldiers into their security force is a very difficult task. Jaleel is trying to accommodate both the cultural sensibilities and the practicality of training these females," said Lt. Col. Mark Kerry, commander of Task Force Bengal of the 256th Combat Team.

The basic training academy is located on Camp Taji, where Iraqi males are also indoctrinated into the security forces. Though the facilities are not structured to accommodated females,

Camp Justice provided the necessary flexibility that Camp Taji could not.

"The cadre at Camp Justice did not minimize or downplay the academic or physical training mandated by the curriculum," said Command Sgt. Maj. Hassan Abid Khadim, the senior enlisted non-commissioned officer of the 1st IA Bde.

The women received the equivalent training as the males from the academy.Instructors Amir and Sgt. 1st Class Mohamad Mohsen Shheib both described the female Soldiers as some of the bravest women in Iraq, because there are men in this country who are afraid to wear the military uniform.

"Every time I look at the Iraqis, I say to myself, "Let them do it, let them figure it out." We should not put an American template on top of them," Kerry said.

The brigade's success will be the template for the rest of the Iraqi Army and inevitably it will help out the entire country.

The Iraqi women are fighting and defying cultural trends that are stacked up against them Kerry added.

Many of the female Soldiers have lost their husbands in previous wars, Jaleel noted. "Even under these circumstances with such a strain on raising a family, they are still brave and worry about their country. They still perform almost the same duties as men.

• Date Taken: 07.26.2005
• Date Posted: 07.26.2005 13:43
• Story ID: 2509
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ