Stryker Brigade News

This course is designed to train Iraqi NCOs and develop a strong NCO Corps for the Iraqi Army, modeled on the U.S. Army NCO Corps.

For soldiers like Ala, the course unearths their potential as leaders and gives them the necessary skills to lead their troops.

“The will and the desire to succeed (are) there in the Iraqi army,” said Sgt. Maj. Walter Murrell, NCO Academy commandant.

Murrell and his instructors are from various units within the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

The curriculum is based on training developed by the U.S Army Sergeants Major Academy, and uses the NCO schools program as its base document, said Murrell.

The NCO Academy is a small building tucked into a corner of the base near the 4th Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, tactical operations center. Inside, there are four classrooms, a storage room and a small covered area for formations.

Outside, the cadre constructed a combatives pit, a mock traffic control point and an obstacle course. A one-mile road march down Perimeter Street leads to the rifle range.

The U.S. Army NCO Corps has a proud tradition that traces its lineage back to the time of the Revolutionary War. The Iraqi NCO Corps, as the coalition forces are trying to develop it, is something new for these troops.

The training consists of practical ranges, as well as classroom training on professionalism, discipline and soldier skills.

In order to become an NCO, Ala first took an exam. He was then given the responsibility of leading missions to see if he could lead troops and treat them with respect.

When Ala arrived at the academy to attend the NCO course, his initiative once again came to the fore.

“After we began the cycle, the instructors asked, ‘Who can march the platoon?’ ” said Ala.

He raised his hand and, after demonstrating he could march the troops, was chosen as platoon guide.

The first few days of instruction took place inside one of the small classrooms.

On the third day of training, Ala marched his soldiers in and they stood at attention by their seats until he gave the command to sit down.

Sgt. Ben Huminski began teaching a class on the Law of War. After every couple of sentences, he paused to allow translation.

Huminski, who came to the school from the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, put forth a scenario: troops are patrolling outside Qayyarah, and suddenly they take fire from inside the village. What do they do?

Ala raised his hand. Standing, he said he would call his commander for further instructions before firing on the civilians.

Satisfied with the answer, Huminski explained further. An NCO is responsible for obeying his orders, but he is also responsible for the actions of his subordinates.

Throughout Huminski’s class and the class on the Geneva Convention, taught by Staff Sgt. Alvin J. Cates, some students took diligent notes while others focused their attention on the projection screen.

The slides for the class on the Geneva Convention were emblazoned with the winged lion seal of the Multi-National Security Transition Command–Iraq, the agency in charge of training Iraqi Security Forces.

Cates, who is a fire direction chief with the 4-11, began by teaching the history of codified laws of war. The first systematic code was one used by the Saracens, based on the Koran.

With a quick fast-forward to 2006, Cates elaborated on different lessons such as discriminatory firing practices and proper care and treatment of detainees.

During the next four days, the Iraqi cadre took charge of the course as they brought the soldiers through the rifle marksmanship section of training.

On the day the students went to the firing range, a platoon of Iraqi Army soldiers and their American counterparts pulled up to use the neighboring range.

One of the IA, a former platoon guide himself, went through the NCO course a month ago.

Sgt. Achmed said he has used the training he received at the school when he goes out on missions. He teaches other soldiers and tries to explain everything to them, he said.