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Iraqi Basic Combat Training Program Graduates Soldiers

Jan-21-2006 » Filed Under: 172nd SBCT

Link to Full Article with Photo
Story and photo by Sgt. Ashly Rice
101st Sustainment Brigade

Q-WEST BASE COMPLEX, Iraq — Fifty-four trainees graduated from the Iraqi Basic Combat Training program, taught by 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team Soldiers, at the NCO Academy here Dec. 16.

“The graduated class, 05-06, was the first class to end with all of its original soldiers who attended,” said Sgt. Maj. Walter Murrell of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment.

Murrell is the Noncommissioned Officer Academy commandant for the program.

Abdulaziz Ahmed Ali, the distinguished honor graduate, received a survival knife, a set of tactical gloves, a Spec Ops rigger belt, flashlight, knee pads and a gift from 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Iraqi Army.

“I have high spirits,” said Abdulaziz through an interpreter. “I am happy and proud of the good training from American instructors because the U.S. Army has the best instructors.”

The 30-day basic combat training program, taught by the 172nd SBCT and other units, covers 28 subject areas including physical fitness, personnel searches, first aid, marksmanship and enemy tactics.

These skills and others are developed to assist the Iraqi soldiers in peacetime and wartime situations.

“(The Iraqi soldiers’) attitude improves after days like today,” said Staff Sgt. Alvin Cates, 4th Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, during a combatives class Dec. 8.

A sandpit, which Cates implemented, serves as the arena for combatives and pugil training.

Techniques such as punches, kicks and the use of elbows are including in the training.

“It is a mixture of combatives, take downs and other hands-on fighting techniques, modified to help them understand and accomplish,” said Cates. “They learn fast.”


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