Photo By Sgt. Maj. Jason Stadel | Squad and team-leading tactics are taught at the Task Force Marne Non-commissioned...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Jason Stadel
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – For two weeks, Iraqi security force soldiers and policemen participated in foot patrols, Humvee combat patrols, rifle ranges and classroom lectures to increase their skills and ability to lead in combat.
More than 80 non-commissioned undertook the Task Force Marne Non-commissioned Officer Academy training at Forward Operating Base Kalsu that concluded with graduation, Feb. 25.
"You must now 'leave and lead'," said Command Sgt. Maj. Gabriel Berhane, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division command sergeant major, echoing a motto of the 3rd Inf. Div. NCO Academy at Fort Stewart, Ga. "As you return to your units you must constantly remind yourself what being a leader is about," he said, addressing the course graduates.
Building a sense of leadership and a strong NCO corps in the ISF is a main goal of the academy.
"They want to learn the leadership skills," said Staff Sgt. Mark Hooks, a 10th Mountain Division military policeman assigned as an instructor at the academy. "The NCO part of them is starting to come out."
The challenging curriculum of the academy, welcomed by the eager Iraqi troops, is modeled after the Army's Warrior Leaders Course.
"There are times when we have to beef up the training," Hooks said. "A lot of times they don't want to take breaks, they just keep asking for more."
Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Fowler, a senior NCO academy instructor, said the NCOs realize the benefits of the course and try to learn as much as they can while they have the opportunity.
"They're very receptive in the classes," said Fowler, from Romeo, Mich. "If they don't understand something they never hesitate to ask."
The students said the team-building environment taught at the academy is important against their country's enemies. "It's good to work as one team," said national policeman Fadhel Hakum. "One group means more power and we can work against our enemy."
"The class is good because it helps me when I serve my country and my people," said national policeman Saed Atyaa. "We can help to pick up our country if we are down."
Berhane encouraged the students to keep working hard and to train the Soldiers in their units the skills they learned. He stressed to always be ready to take the fight to the enemy. "The enemy is still out there ready to strike," he said.
| Date Taken: | 02.28.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 02.28.2008 10:23 |
| Story ID: | 16780 |
| Location: | ISKANDARIYAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 364 |
| Downloads: | 290 |
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