IRAQ - NATO Training Mission – Iraq returned buildings formerly used by the Military Advice and Liaison Team in the NTM-I forward base to the Iraqi Joint Staff and Command College Oct. 21.
Brig. Mark Pountain, NTM-I Training, Education and Doctrine Advisory Division chief, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Thamer Jawhar al-Bahadli, JSCC commandant, and Maj. Gen. Jasim Salim Hussein, National Defence University commander, participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the buildings, symbolizing the handover.
“It’s a great pleasure and privilege for me to hand back these facilities to you on behalf of NTM-I. This represents another mark of our mutual cooperation, and we remain committed to supporting the development of the JSCC,” said Brigadier Pountain.
The buildings will house the new Air Department and the Research and Study Department. The expansion of the college, along with the Naval Department, is the first step in the commandant’s vision to develop the JSCC into “the leading staff college in the Middle East.”
The new departments will allow the Iraqi military to develop robust and effective joint staff and command training and also conduct research into current areas of concern. The research will support course development as well as the evolution of Iraqi military doctrine.
