Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Patricia Ruth | Col. Peggy Combs starts off the session by introducing herself and the panel of...... read more read more
The first ever Iraqi army basic combat training course for enlisted Iraqi women held a cultural awareness training conference, Oct. 5. As part of the six- week course, 36 Iraqi trainees were introduced to American women who serve in the military to get a sense of American military training and lifestyle.
The American military women represented the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq, and were from the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force.
"One of the worst things you can die with is potential. It is something to be realized, not guarded or protected." U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Tricia Smith-Leavy told the Iraqi women. "So grasp your dreams and take appropriate risk and the rewards will be greater than you can imagine."
The youngest Iraqi trainee, Randa Mahmood, is 21-years-old said she feels fortunate to be a part of the basic combat training. "I am thankful for all the experiences and I am learning all things about life," said Mahmood.
The training lasted for about an hour and the Iraqi women were able to ask questions of the American military women.
U.S. Air Force Capt. Kay Sipe, deputy chief of MNSTC-I's ITAM Intel TT, served on the panel and gave the Iraqis her sense of American culture.
In turn, the Iraqi women asked back about American culture. "What's your favorite television show?" asked one. Another asked, "Were you sad when Michael Jackson died?" Sipe said that she loved how enthusiastic and curious the trainees were about American culture.
"It was an honor to participate in today's training with the female Iraqi soldiers," U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christina Simpson said. "Hopefully, they learned just as much from me as I did from them. Their eagerness to excel in the military is amazing and I am very proud to have shared my thoughts with them. They, too, should be very proud to be such pioneers in the Iraqi army.
The trainees are scheduled to graduate from the Basic Combat Training Course, Nov. 1.
| Date Taken: | 10.08.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 10.08.2009 03:12 |
| Story ID: | 39810 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 1,076 |
| Downloads: | 502 |
This work, American Culture Served to Female Basic Combat Trainees, by SFC Patricia Ruth, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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