Dominique
04-06-2006, 06:02 PM
Commando graduates look to future
By U.S. Navy Journalist 2nd Class John J. Pistone| MNSTC-I Public Affairs Office
BAGHDAD , Iraq — The Iraqi Army took another step forward in combating terrorism and insurgency March 22 when 139 elite soldiers graduated from the Iraqi Special Operations Forces Commando Course.
The soldiers, now called commandos, underwent an intensive three-week course designed to mold them into elite soldiers and commando unit members.
To be considered for the commando course, candidates must serve in the army, volunteer for the course and undergo an intensive medical, psychological and physical screening process.
According to the Coalition ISOF team sergeant, who requested that his identity be withheld due to security concerns, this course takes the Iraqi soldiers beyond what they have already been taught in the army.
“This course is patterned after the U.S. Army’s Ranger School,” he said.
“They learn close-quarter marksmanship, advanced room clearing and various other specialized techniques.”
According to the sergeant, this course is as intensive as any U.S. Special Operations course.
“It is not watered down training, there are no quotas to meet or ulterior motives in pushing soldiers through,” he said. “We make it as hard for them to pass as possible, at the same time we teach them all the skills they need to complete the course – the rest comes down to discipline and heart.”
He said the most important aspect of the course is training students how to be full-time soldiers.
“The soldiers were great fighters before they came to this course, but they needed to learn the other aspects of being a soldier,” he said. “Respect for rank, chain of command, basic standards of conduct and the understanding that you are a soldier 24 hours a day is what we have focused on.”
He said that in the past these soldiers would go into battle, complete the mission and then take time off. There was no structure or accountability for them until the next mission. He said that their fighting skills were very good, but they needed to take it to the next level to be balanced fighters.
Course instructors said in addition to teaching war fighting skills, this course was designed to be a Primary Leadership Development Course, similar to the junior noncommissioned officers course found in the U.S. military. They said they push the students to be proactive and to use their NCOs. Instructors also talk of the bond between U.S. Special Forces Soldiers when trying to convey the importance of teamwork to the commandos in training.
One newly graduated commando said that from day one, they were encouraged and expected to take the lead in various situations.
“We were pushed to make decisions on our own, which is much different than what we were taught before,” he said through an interpreter.
According to Iraqi Army Col. Al Sheik Fadhle-Jamel-Al-Barwarie, ISOF commander, this course teaches Iraqi soldiers the importance of putting aside their personal beliefs for a common cause.
“I tell all of those that go through this course that first and foremost you are Iraqi,” Al-Barwarie said. “It doesn’t matter how much money you have, where your family comes from or what your religious background is, you are an Iraqi soldier, and you have to put the country above all else.”
He said it’s important for the soldiers to stop differentiating between Coalition and Iraqi troops.
“The Americans, British and the rest of the Coalition are our brothers, they are our family we are in this fight together and we will back each other up as needed … there is only one Iraq, one country and we need to realize we are one army,” he said.
He also commented that Iraq belongs to the Iraqi people, not the insurgents and this elite unit is going to make sure that the insurgents realize that their time is up. He believes the soldiers and the Iraqi people need to work together to disband the militias.
“We, (the commandos), go out on missions every night and we are determined to stop the criminal activity. If you are a terrorist, extremist, insurgent or helping those that are, we will find you and take you down. We will not stop or rest until we do,” Al-Barwarie said.
According to ISOF advisors, the commandos are making a significant difference in the war on terrorism, evidenced by the amount of material insurgents leave behind.
Large caches of supplies used to be the norm but since the commandos have been making strikes, they are finding that the supply chain has been disrupted, they said.
According to Al Barwarie, the insurgents have a cycle in which they operate.
“Normally they observe, plan, gather resources, attack and then try to observe how the Iraqi and Coalition forces react. By striking every night we are interrupting that cycle and throwing them off course,” he said.
According to the ISOF team sergeant this unit is extremely good at accomplishing their mission. He warned that the insurgents should be very afraid of them, but that the general public has nothing to fear.
“They are extremely precise,” he said. “There has not been one instance of collateral damage caused by the commandos. They have great intelligence gathering skills, know who they are targeting and when they strike, they only take that target down.”
He also noted that the commandos are national in scope, which means they can be used in any part of the country. He said they are large enough that they can be on missions in Fallujah and Ramadi and still have the resources necessary to strike in Baghdad as well.
He added that they are on-call 24 hours a day and are ready to roll at a moment’s notice.
“When I was young, I dreamed of becoming Special Forces,” said Ali, one of the graduating commandos through an interpreter. “I had seen movies of the U.S. Special Forces and wanted to be like them.”
He said under the old regime that option was not available.
He said the course was extremely difficult, but he expected it to be. He added that he believes there is no easy road to being considered elite and that is what the graduates have accomplished by completing this course.
“The Iraqi people are tired of the terrorists, extremists and instability and this unit fights that … I am very proud that I am part of this special unit that will help stabilize this country,” he said. “The terrorists have had their time. This is our time now.”
By U.S. Navy Journalist 2nd Class John J. Pistone| MNSTC-I Public Affairs Office
BAGHDAD , Iraq — The Iraqi Army took another step forward in combating terrorism and insurgency March 22 when 139 elite soldiers graduated from the Iraqi Special Operations Forces Commando Course.
The soldiers, now called commandos, underwent an intensive three-week course designed to mold them into elite soldiers and commando unit members.
To be considered for the commando course, candidates must serve in the army, volunteer for the course and undergo an intensive medical, psychological and physical screening process.
According to the Coalition ISOF team sergeant, who requested that his identity be withheld due to security concerns, this course takes the Iraqi soldiers beyond what they have already been taught in the army.
“This course is patterned after the U.S. Army’s Ranger School,” he said.
“They learn close-quarter marksmanship, advanced room clearing and various other specialized techniques.”
According to the sergeant, this course is as intensive as any U.S. Special Operations course.
“It is not watered down training, there are no quotas to meet or ulterior motives in pushing soldiers through,” he said. “We make it as hard for them to pass as possible, at the same time we teach them all the skills they need to complete the course – the rest comes down to discipline and heart.”
He said the most important aspect of the course is training students how to be full-time soldiers.
“The soldiers were great fighters before they came to this course, but they needed to learn the other aspects of being a soldier,” he said. “Respect for rank, chain of command, basic standards of conduct and the understanding that you are a soldier 24 hours a day is what we have focused on.”
He said that in the past these soldiers would go into battle, complete the mission and then take time off. There was no structure or accountability for them until the next mission. He said that their fighting skills were very good, but they needed to take it to the next level to be balanced fighters.
Course instructors said in addition to teaching war fighting skills, this course was designed to be a Primary Leadership Development Course, similar to the junior noncommissioned officers course found in the U.S. military. They said they push the students to be proactive and to use their NCOs. Instructors also talk of the bond between U.S. Special Forces Soldiers when trying to convey the importance of teamwork to the commandos in training.
One newly graduated commando said that from day one, they were encouraged and expected to take the lead in various situations.
“We were pushed to make decisions on our own, which is much different than what we were taught before,” he said through an interpreter.
According to Iraqi Army Col. Al Sheik Fadhle-Jamel-Al-Barwarie, ISOF commander, this course teaches Iraqi soldiers the importance of putting aside their personal beliefs for a common cause.
“I tell all of those that go through this course that first and foremost you are Iraqi,” Al-Barwarie said. “It doesn’t matter how much money you have, where your family comes from or what your religious background is, you are an Iraqi soldier, and you have to put the country above all else.”
He said it’s important for the soldiers to stop differentiating between Coalition and Iraqi troops.
“The Americans, British and the rest of the Coalition are our brothers, they are our family we are in this fight together and we will back each other up as needed … there is only one Iraq, one country and we need to realize we are one army,” he said.
He also commented that Iraq belongs to the Iraqi people, not the insurgents and this elite unit is going to make sure that the insurgents realize that their time is up. He believes the soldiers and the Iraqi people need to work together to disband the militias.
“We, (the commandos), go out on missions every night and we are determined to stop the criminal activity. If you are a terrorist, extremist, insurgent or helping those that are, we will find you and take you down. We will not stop or rest until we do,” Al-Barwarie said.
According to ISOF advisors, the commandos are making a significant difference in the war on terrorism, evidenced by the amount of material insurgents leave behind.
Large caches of supplies used to be the norm but since the commandos have been making strikes, they are finding that the supply chain has been disrupted, they said.
According to Al Barwarie, the insurgents have a cycle in which they operate.
“Normally they observe, plan, gather resources, attack and then try to observe how the Iraqi and Coalition forces react. By striking every night we are interrupting that cycle and throwing them off course,” he said.
According to the ISOF team sergeant this unit is extremely good at accomplishing their mission. He warned that the insurgents should be very afraid of them, but that the general public has nothing to fear.
“They are extremely precise,” he said. “There has not been one instance of collateral damage caused by the commandos. They have great intelligence gathering skills, know who they are targeting and when they strike, they only take that target down.”
He also noted that the commandos are national in scope, which means they can be used in any part of the country. He said they are large enough that they can be on missions in Fallujah and Ramadi and still have the resources necessary to strike in Baghdad as well.
He added that they are on-call 24 hours a day and are ready to roll at a moment’s notice.
“When I was young, I dreamed of becoming Special Forces,” said Ali, one of the graduating commandos through an interpreter. “I had seen movies of the U.S. Special Forces and wanted to be like them.”
He said under the old regime that option was not available.
He said the course was extremely difficult, but he expected it to be. He added that he believes there is no easy road to being considered elite and that is what the graduates have accomplished by completing this course.
“The Iraqi people are tired of the terrorists, extremists and instability and this unit fights that … I am very proud that I am part of this special unit that will help stabilize this country,” he said. “The terrorists have had their time. This is our time now.”