Photo By Spc. Allison Churchill | Non-commissioned officers from units on Forward Operating Base Delta, share a...... read more read more
By Spc. Allison Churchill
41st Fires Brigade
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq – Senior enlisted leaders gathered in the Iraqi army Academy Conference Room, Aug. 1, 2008, to share thoughts on the success of the academy's training and Forward Operating Base Delta security.
Iraq Command Sgt. Maj. Haider Falih-Hamzah, the academy's senior enlisted advisor, began the discussion by sharing some of the school's success rates.
Between the academy's opening in January 2007 and closing in March, it graduated 3,730 Soldiers from 13 rotations of basic combat training; 2,785 Soldiers from 15 non-commissioned officer courses; and 72 graduates of two Special Forces classes.
The IA is currently finishing a new academy in Basra, said Falih-Hamzah, which will be able to accommodate Brigade Combat Team classes of approximately 3,000 students instead of the nearly 300 that would graduate from a course on FOB Delta.
"Our Iraqi counterparts are stepping up to the plate to train their own people so they can protect and secure their country," said Command Sgt. Maj. Kelvin Hughes, 41st Fires Brigade.
After Falih-Hamzah's presentation, the NCOs discussed updates to the base protection and safety plans. FOB Delta's constantly growing population is also constantly more secure, said Sgt. 1st Class Gerald Houghtaling, Force Protection NCOIC. Among the improvements are more observation points, new equipment for the Triple Canopy guards and more patrols.
"They're taking charge of areas they didn't have charge of before," said Sgt. 1st Class James Cervantes, 128th Military Training Team non-commissioned officer-in-charge. He said his team coaches and stands behind the IA, as the Iraqis plan and execute their own missions.
The meetings are a great chance to gain information, said Staff Sgt. Royce Repka, 525th Battlefield Surveillance Bde.
"It's good to crosstalk," said Repka, a newcomer to the monthly meetings.
The round table forums, which bring together all the coalition forces on post, started while 214th Fires Brigade had authority over the FOB. Hughes said he hopes units will take turns hosting the meetings over the next year.
| Date Taken: | 08.01.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 08.05.2008 16:00 |
| Story ID: | 22155 |
| Location: | AL KUT, IQ |
| Web Views: | 236 |
| Downloads: | 49 |
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