Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Maj. Walter Murrell, NCO Academy Commandant, shakes hands with a graduate of the...... read more read more
SGT RACHEL BRUNE
101ST SUSTAINMENT BDE
Q-WEST BASE COMPLEX, Iraq - The ranks of trained and ready Iraqi security forces swelled March 14, as 42 Iraqi soldiers graduated from basic combat training at the NCO Academy here.
"This new group of Iraqi heroes will be the future force to protect our Iraq " the Iraq of freedom, and the Iraq of brotherhood," said Command Sgt. Maj. Bourhan, of 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Iraqi Army.
Five students received recognition in honor of their achievements: Mahmoud Abdul-Razik Abdul-Aziz, distinguished honor graduate; Ahmed Mohammed, first platoon honor graduate; Mohamed Mahmood, second platoon honor graduate; Saeer Aied Asker, marksmanship awardee; Ali Saed Wasmi, physical fitness awardee.
Bourhan presented the graduates with their certificates. Gen. Ameen, commander, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Iraqi Army, presented the five honor graduates with additional gifts.
"It all comes together today," said Sgt. Maj. Walter Murrell, NCO Academy commandant, in his remarks to the graduates. "We recognize your achievements over the past couple of weeks."
During the class, the soldiers studied basic skills such as marksmanship and physical fitness training. The cadre also instructed them in relevant skills such as entering and clearing a building, manning a traffic control point and first aid.
"The graduates will be examples for their fellow soldiers by giving them instruction and good training," said Bourhan. "They will be the future force for Iraq."
After returning to their units, the soldiers will pass on the skills they learned at the Academy to their fellow soldiers.
Soldiers at the Academy are drawn from the three battalions of 3rd Brigade. 1st and 3rd Battalions, 3rd Brigade, took control of their battlespace in January and December, respectively.
Although the Iraqi army units have accomplished this much, there is still more to do.
"We have a lot to do in the future," said Command Sgt. Maj. Abdul Jabar Mohammed, of 3rd Brigade, in his impromptu closing remarks.
The graduates joined the Army in a "hard time," said Mohammed. The training at the Academy is hard, but good.
"We don't want to stop in the limit lines," said Mohammed. "We need to continue the training because this training will help the soldiers to fight."
At the end of his remarks, Mohammed apologized for his long speech, but said he wanted to express what was in his heart.
The newest Academy instructor, Sgt. 1st Class Ala, successfully completed his probationary instruction period and has now been accepted permanently at the Academy, according to Murrell.
After four days of rest and recovery, the cadre and interpreters began a new cycle at the Academy March 19. The current class, with 72 attendees, is a Primary Leadership Development Course for noncommissioned officers.
| Date Taken: | 03.14.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 04.03.2006 09:21 |
| Story ID: | 5927 |
| Location: | QAYYARAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 85 |
| Downloads: | 29 |
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