Another step toward success: Iraqi Army takes control of GWTC

Photo By Master Sgt. Brandon Bednarek | Iraqi Army soldiers practice moving across open terrain in a wedge formation, Aug. 8, 2011 at the Ghuzlani Warrior Training Center located on Contingency Operating Site Marez, Iraq. During the training rotation, soldiers train on various aspects of conventional warfare, including ubran operations and tactics to combat near and far ambushes during the four-week training program.  

MOSUL, IRAQ

10.11.2011

Story by Spc. Brandon Bednarek 

4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq – Less than one year after U.S. forces began training Iraqi soldiers in Ninewa province, a major training complex was turned over to Iraqi military officials Oct. 11 during a handover of Contingency Operating Site Marez in Mosul, Iraq.

The transition of Ghuzlani Warrior Training Center came during a time when U.S. forces continue to focus on reposturing their elements in accordance with the 2008 Security Agreement signed by both nations.

Ghuzlani was re-established as a training complex Jan. 3, 2011 as part of the advise, train, and assist mission set forth in the early stages of Operation New Dawn.

"The significance of the Ghuzlani Warrior Training Center, and other training centers like that, is that the Iraqis are doing collective training versus individual training," said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Merenkov, commander of 2nd Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Armored Division.

In order to effectively and efficiently train Iraqi soldiers, GWTC had to be located in an area that would be conducive for large maneuvers and training, said Merenkov.

"The physical terrain and location supports them doing that type of collective training," he said. "Which is really the kind of training they need to secure their country.

The initial training of nearly 600 Iraqi Army soldiers was instructed by the 1st Sdn, 9th Cav. Regt., 4th AAB, 1st Cav. Div., during a year-long deployment to Marez.

Since January, nine other Iraqi units have rotated through Ghuzlani to conduct advanced collective training.

The four-week training regiment began with fundamental basics and increased in complexity as soldiers performed squad, platoon, company, and battalion level exercises.

The squadron troopers instructed Iraqi soldiers on conventional warfare tactics including ambushes, urban operations and intelligence collection. As a final stage, training culminated with a battalion live-fire exercise where soldiers utilized the comprehensive knowledge gained at Ghuzlani.

"A battalion level live-fire exercise is a difficult endeavor to do and they sincerely did a good job," said Merenkov, whose squadron took over in August.

In September, after only eight months of U.S-led training, the Iraqi Army took control and began providing its own instructors.

"In the last year, we've gone from the U.S. training the Iraqis, to the U.S. assisting Iraqis training themselves," said Merenkov. "That's really what we’re trying to sustain."

September's training not only proved that Iraqis are capable of providing their soldiers with exceptional training, but also revealed their ability to become a more confident and cohesive organization that is better prepared to defeat the enemy, said Merenkov.

"That has been a significant change in the culture of the Iraqi Army," he said. "They've progressed enough through several years of a training relationship that they're now ready to take on more challenging tasks."

"We're proud of that transition."

• Date Taken: 10.11.2011
• Date Posted: 10.15.2011 10:33
• Story ID: 78543
• Location: MOSUL, IQ