KIRKUK, Iraq - More than 30 Soldiers of the Kurdish Regional Guard Brigade graduated from the “Ready First” Tactical Maintenance Program, at the KRGB headquarters in Qara Anjir, near Kirkuk, Iraq, Aug. 23.
The month-long course was facilitated and developed by “Ready First” mechanics with Bravo Company, 501st Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division out of Fort Bliss, Texas
During the course KRGB soldiers learned basic operator Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services, from “Ready First” mechanics, then progresses into advanced engine maintenance and recovery operations.
At the graduation ceremony Col. Fatah, training officer for the KRGB said he is very proud of his soldiers.
“This training has been very helpful for our soldiers, they have learned a lot and I am very proud of them,” said Fatah.
Fatah also expressed his gratitude to the Bravo Company mechanics for all of their hard work.
“I feel like this training taught our mechanics a lot of the basics they did not know,” he said. “Thank you for training them.”
The KRGB training officer also said how he hopes the mechanics take what they learned back to their battalions to teach other mechanics.
The officer in charge of the training, Capt. Justin Herbe, also spoke to the soldiers.
It was great to have the opportunity to work with the KRGB mechanics; they are a very smart group and willing to learn, said Herbe, the commander of Bravo Company.
Herbe said he and the Bravo Company mechanics plan to continue training the mechanics.
“We will be visiting the mechanics at their battalions regularly so we can continue to train them as they need help,” he said.