7 Nov. 2004

Iraqi officers attend training at NATO School Issues NATO's assistance to Iraq News 01/11/2004 First NATO Course for Iraq Underway in Norway Key links NATO School in Oberammergau Four Iraqi officers have joined more than 70 other students from 14 NATO and Partnership for Peace countries on 7 November at the NATO School in Oberammergau, Germany, for a Combined Joint Operations Centre course. The course provides entry-level instruction on working in a combined joint operations centre within a NATO-led multinational headquarters. The instruction was in English, but for the Iraqi attendees, simultaneous interpretation services and translated presentation materials were provided throughout the course. The NATO School is one of the two Allied Command Transformation’s training facilities now engaged in training Iraqi security personnel in support of the NATO Training Mission in Iraq. Nineteen Iraqis recently completed a one-week course at the Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway. “We are pleased to have the opportunity to help train Iraqi security personnel. Given our vast experience working with many different nations, to include Russia and Afghanistan, we are well prepared to integrate these Iraqi officers into our training,” said Col Mark P. Sullivan, the Commandant of the NATO School. He also mentioned that: “Training these Iraqi officials is extremely relevant to the challenges and opportunities they face in rebuilding their nation’s security forces. Therefore, training Iraqi officials at the NATO School will directly contribute to Iraq’s ability to strengthen its internal security and prepare the way for a stable and peaceful future.” The Iraqi students were incorporated into all aspects of NATO School student life during their stay including the opportunity to take part in cultural tours. Unique Iraqi cultural and religious considerations had been incorporated into the students’ stay at the school. The participation of the Iraqis served as a pilot project for their participation in future courses at the NATO School. The NATO School runs 80 courses per year and more than 8000 students from over 50 nations pass through the facility every year. The senior Iraqi official from the delegation attending the course, said: “We are very pleased to have had the opportunity to attend this important, multi-disciplinary course with all the interesting lectures. We shall carry this experience with us, and share it with our people in Iraq in order to contribute to the establishment of the new Iraqi Security Force. We hope we will have an opportunity for greater participation in any future training provided by NATO.”