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FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq (January 4, 2008) - "No one
is more professional than I," states the U.S. Army's NCO Creed, and
noncommissioned officers here are gearing up to instill the same
pride and professionalism in their Iraq counterparts.
The Task Force Marne NCO Academy at FOB Kalsu will welcome its
first class of Iraqi soldiers Jan. 14.
"We're going to be teaching them everything - combat orders,
combat medical, map-reading, mounted patrols, dismounted patrols,
weapons, rules of engagement, duties and responsibilities," said
Master Sgt. Michael Howle, the new training facility's commandant.
"The instructors who were selected are supposed to be some of the
best NCOs we have here."
Preparations for the academy have been under way for about five
weeks, and the NCOs have built the academy from the ground up.
"We started this from scratch, nada, zero," Howle said. "A month
ago, we had eight empty tents. Now we have four sleep tents, three
classrooms and an office tent. We've also set up a (squad training
exercise) lane on a one-and-a-half-mile stretch of our perimeter
road, and we're having a shoot house built."
The classes will be small at first, with 20 soldiers in each of
three platoons, Howle said. Subsequent classes will be larger, with
the largest number of attendees projected at 180. Six instructors
will be assigned to each platoon.
"We're building this place up for the Iraqis to take it over,"
said Master Sgt. Kenneth Romine, the academy's chief of operations.
"Out of every class, we'll take three outstanding students to stay
here and teach."
Training Iraqis to take over is a driving force for the NCOs
running and teaching at the academy.
"Since this project kicked off, everyone's picked up a whole
lot," said Staff Sgt. Mark Hooks, one of the program's instructors.
"They all know that if we pull this off, we can hand it over and
get out of here quicker."
He and the other instructors realize that this goal may not come
to fruition right away, but they are remaining optimistic.
"It's going to take time to get their NCOs to the level we're
at," said medical instructor Sgt. 1st Class James Phillips, who
volunteered to teach at the NCO Academy for that very reason. "The
sooner we can get them trained to teach their own people, the
sooner we can get out of here."
During their last week of preparation before the first Iraqi
soldiers arrive, the academy staff has been conducting full-dress
rehearsals, covering everything from physical training to classroom
material. Multinational Division Center Command Sgt. Maj. Jesse L.
Andrews Jr. paid a New Year's Day visit to the NCOs there to check
on their progress.
"You're doing a great job; I couldn't be more pleased," Andrews
told the soldiers. "I really appreciate the hard work and
dedication you're putting in here."
The academy's cadre has been training hard to be able to
effectively impart the knowledge and experience they've gained over
their years as NCOs, and are looking forward to pointing their new
students in the right direction.
"This is a good step for the Iraqi army," said instructor Sgt.
1st Class Gerald Newton. "Once they get their NCO corps
established, they'll be much better off."
Andrews shared a similar sentiment. "Over the years, it has been
acknowledged that the NCO corps is the backbone of our Army,"
Andrews said. "Once the Iraqi NCOs get that, they'll get a better
grip on their worth. They've got the combat experience. Now they
need the institutional knowledge. You've got to have both."
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