Stryker Brigade News

When students (or jundhis as they are called in Arabic) first enter the coalition academy located on Forward Operating Base Gabe, near Baqouba, Iraq, they are given roster numbers and assigned bunks to sleep on. They are then taught classes on warrior ethos, leadership duties and basic responsibilities.

Classes continue with proper ways to hold weapons and how to obtain a proper sight picture when firing.

As the course continues, classes become less frequent, and the jundhis conduct practical exercises that train them on different tasks they will need to conduct counterinsurgency operations in Diyala. These exercises include reacting to indirect fire, squad movement, detainee operations, first aid, building entry, room clearing and weapons marksmanship.

“We teach them skills like reflexive fire, battle drills, ways to react to IEDs and snipers and moving through open areas,” said Staff Sgt. Ronald Meader, an infantryman in Company A, 4th Battalion, 9 Infantry Regiment and trainer at the coalition academy. “Since the course is only 10 days, we really have to cram everything into that time period.”

Near the end of the course, all the training is put together in a final practical exercise. This final test determines if the students will graduate the program or not.

“It is good training for the Iraqi army and the Iraqi police,” said 1st Lt. Hassan Flayah Hassan, a member of the Iraqi police emergency squad and an assistant trainer at the Coalition Academy. “The coalition forces train them on techniques to protect their country.”

The Iraqi soldiers and policemen are chosen from units in the Baqouba area who possess the leadership potential to teach what they have learned to other members of their units.

“I hope I can pass what I learned here to other people in my unit and my team,” said Hassan Hameed Salwan, the coalition academy’s honor graduate.

The students attending the course are typically new to the Iraqi security forces and have not received a lot of formal training prior to the course.

“Some IA and IP are very young and don’t have good training,” Hassan said. “When they come here it helps them, and it is very important for them.”

Throughout the course, instructors are watching each jundhi carefully to ensure the tasks are completed correctly and safely. The instructors also look at each student’s leadership ability and willingness to participate in events, encouraging them along the way.

The course was held at Camp Taji until the 4-2 SBCT moved to Diyala in November, and the training center was relocated to FOB Gabe.

“At Taji we had better facilities and nice ranges,” Meader said. “At FOB Gabe we had to build our own stuff … you have to utilize what is around you to give them the best training you can.”

No matter where the class is held, both students and instructors get something from the class – students learn valuable skills to help them defend their country, and the instructors get the knowledge that something positive was accomplished.

“You are dealing with a big barrier with a different language and culture, but you learn a lot about their culture, and they learn something about us,” Meader said. “They realize we want to show them how to defend themselves and standup their country.”