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Last update: 28-Jul-2006 10:28 NATO Update

25 July 2006

 

NATO-supported Iraqi Training Command opens

News
26/07/06-JFC Naples The Iraqi Training and Doctrine Command Officially Opens
Background
NATO’s assistance to Iraq
Links
NATO Training mission in Iraq website

The NATO-supported Iraqi Training and Doctrine Command officially opened in Baghdad on 25 July, a significant milestone in the development of the country’s security institutions.

The Command now has the ability and sufficient resources to oversee all Iraqi national defence-related education and military doctrine development. This is an important milestone for the Centre as it progresses toward its goal of full operational capability by July 2007.

A culture of security

At the ceremony General Babakir Badir Khan Zebari, Iraqi Joint Forces Commander, said the Command was an important factor in the development of the Iraqi Security Forces.

A modern and developed Doctrine coordinated with our national vision and interests helps create a culture for national security,” he said.

Subordinate organisations, also supported by NATO, such as the Iraqi Tactical Doctrine Centre and the Iraqi Lessons Learned Centre have already achieved full operational capability and an Iraqi Defence Language Institute recently graduated its first students and will achieve full operational capability by the end of 2006.

Assisting the Iraqi authorities in establishing the Iraqi Training and Doctrine Command has been one of the NATO’s most important projects since the Alliance began assisting in t he development of Iraq ’s security institutions in 2004.

Until now, NATO’s Training Mission in Iraq has led the development of the Training and Doctrine Command, but it will now gradually reduce its role to advising and mentoring.