BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Iraqi General Counter Explosives Directorate conducted a grand opening Dec. 5 of a new $23 million facility in Al-Muthana.
Approximately 150 new explosive ordnance disposal teams are expected to train at the school in coming months.
Iraqi Maj. Gen. Jehad, GCED director, hosted the ceremony and grand opening. He addressed the visiting dignitaries. "When a citizen finds a bomb, they call on us," Jehad said. "It is our job to defuse the bombs and to keep the public safe. This school will allow us to teach more EOD officers how to do their job correctly."
The school facility includes classrooms for instruction, an IED display area, training areas and living quarters. The living quarters, complete with a dining area and morale welfare and recreation area, provide stress relief for the EOD police officers.
U.S. Army Gen. Maj. Gen. Richard Rowe, director, Iraq Training Advisory Mission, spoke to the crowd at the graduation ceremony and said, "I thank the U.S. Congress for allowing these funds to be spent to help build this world class facility. The capability that this school brings to the GCED will ensure that Iraq can reverse the trend of the enemy success with IED's."
The buildings are located on the federal police compound in the al-Muthana District of Baghdad. Once the current contract for training the Iraqi EOD teams is complete, the federal police will have full use of the facility. The sharing of the facility is an example of how different Iraqi directorates and forces can work together toward the common safety and security of Iraq.
| Date Taken: | 12.12.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 12.12.2009 05:35 |
| Story ID: | 42661 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 1,110 |
| Downloads: | 1,001 |
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