By 1st Lt. Olivia Cobiskey
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The slide stood in stark contrast to the drab wall of the classroom, amethyst, burgundy, cobalt - like a Byzantine mosaic the assemblage of small patches of color represented the various sects, tribes, ethnic and religious groups that live inside the borders of Iraq.
A common national bond as the foundation for a state structure seems in contradiction to Islam, Dr. Adel Hansen, an advisor with the Iraq Training and Assistance Mission, told the nearly 50 people assembled for the Advisor Training course Saturday. Tribal, ethnic, and religious affiliations have a stronger pull for people than nationalism.
This manifests itself in the unique way that Iraqis do business - wherein the importance of family and friends is pervasive throughout the culture.
Hansen said to understand this, advisors must appreciate the history of Iraq.
"Historically, there are events in Iraq that have affected their way of life," Hansen said. "Democracy is not deep rooted in Iraqi history. That's why we [teach this course] to help them understand why democracy is taking baby-steps, not immediately implanted in Iraq."
History is only one aspect students explore in the two-day course to provide advisors for ITAM and Iraq Security and Advising Mission some tools for their new roles as mentors in Iraq.
"We want to give them a flavor for the language culture and customs, they are going to encounter," said Donald Pinchin, deputy chief for the School of the Advisor. "Hopefully, they get enough information so they can maintain their credibility with their counterparts."
It's a goal appreciated by not only the U.S. contractors and service members but by the linguists as well. Leedoosh Nersesian, a U.S. Army translator for ITAM Intelligence, moved to the U.S. as a young girl, now 35 years later, she's learning about how to do business in Iraq as an adult.
Nersesian said she wants to help her Iraqi counterparts be independent and to help them understand that the time has come for them to become self sufficient.
For U.S. Air Force Capt. David Thompson, an ITAM Intel advisor for MoD and MoI, the language training was the most helpful.
Thompson said learning the language, even just basic pleasantries, is a big step forward, trying to build a little more confidence in the advisors abilities.
"At least that's my hope," Thompson said.
Deployed in 2007, Thompson said this deployment is very different from his last when he provided air support for ground troops.
"Before everyone was working towards a show of force, this deployment is more about the transition, everyone is working towards sustainment," Thompson said.
One of the key lessons, Pinchin said "We may give advice and they may not accept it."
It's a hard lesson to learn, said Pinchin, a U.S. Army veteran; however, once their Iraqi counterparts make a decision the advisors should support it and help their counterparts be as successful as possible.
"The Iraqis decide, we advise, if the advisors grasp that one concept they will be much more successful," Pinchin said.