BAGHDAD – Members of United States Forces – Iraq, Iraq Training and Advising Mission – Ministry of Defense are overseeing construction of the Iraq International Academy here.
The academy will provide a centralized location and state-of-the art facilities for conferences and executive seminars for the government of Iraq and its global partners.
The Iraqi Security Forces and the government of Iraq will benefit from the academy’s ability to educate military and civilian personnel in public administration, management logistics, strategic planning and analysis, rule of law and governance.
“It is very important to us because we put all of these schools here in one area,” said Iraqi Staff Maj. Gen. Jasim Saleem Hussein Al-Hammadi, National Defense University president.
The future academy is located adjacent to the International Zone in Baghdad. The site was chosen for its centralized location, close proximity to the Iraqi government command structure and potential for expansion.
Initially, the concept for the site was an English-language and cultural awareness academy. U.S., coalition and Iraqi leadership shifted the vision of the site in January 2010 to build a regional Center of Excellence.
The curriculum will include security studies, public administration, management and leadership, and executive-level English.
The courses will be geared for current and future military and civilian leaders, primarily lieutenant colonels and above and their equivalents.
A partnership with the country of Jordan is the first step to reaching the academy’s objective of starting a relationship with Iraq’s regional partners.
The $20 million project is funded through the Iraq Security Forces Fund for infrastructure, furnishing and equipping. The U.S. Congress funded the ISFF to enable the ISF to reach minimum essential capabilities.
The campus includes three classroom buildings, an administration building, a dining facility, living accommodations for 200 people and a student center featuring a large auditorium, coffee shop, library and research center.
“The hope is that in the future it will be used for regional security conferences, as well as in-country senior national security professional education training,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Christian Ortego, Iraq International Academy program manager.
The academy’s grand opening is scheduled for 2012.
| Date Taken: | 07.23.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.23.2011 02:18 |
| Story ID: | 74188 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 75 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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