MORE THAN 100 IRAQI NCOs GRADUATE FROM FIRST BAGHDAD PRIMARY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COURSE
V Corps Release
Release Date: 03/15/2004
By Sgt. Susan German 122nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The Iraqi Civil Defense Corps strengthened its "NCO backbone" March 11 when it graduated 116 noncommissioned officers from the first Primary Leadership Development Course conducted at Camp Muleskinner here.
"You are the history-makers of this great country," guest speaker Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Bush of V Corps' 1st Armored Division told the graduates.
The graduation followed the U.S. Army's traditional ceremonial sequence of events. Following the playing of the American and Iraqi national anthems, the graduates recited the Army's NCO Creed and charge in their native language
Bush and Master Sgt. Johnny McKenzie, commandant of the NCO academy here, presented diplomas to the Soldiers. Following an NCO tradition, the graduates' chevrons were "wetted down" with water as they passed through the receiving line.
Fifteen U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command drill sergeants from Fort Sill, Okla. led the trainees through a 113-hour program of instruction that focused on leadership, communication skills, maintenance, professional skills, military training and military studies.
Following a strict training schedule, the Iraqi soldiers also practiced drill and ceremony and conducted physical training during the two-week course. The drill sergeants learned basic commands in Arabic, but every classroom had an interpreter and instructional slides were presented in both English and Arabic.
Drill sergeant Staff Sgt. Richard George said the cadre ensured commands were understood correctly through repetition of every task. Students received periodic counseling and completed a written examination to evaluate their progress.
The initial course was open to soldiers who serve in senior leadership positions such as platoon sergeant or sergeant major. Attendees were recommended for the course by their U.S. Army partners. Most served in leadership positions to prepare them for attendance in the class, and all went through medical screening and background checks before reporting for class.
"The general theme of the course was 'Be, Know, Do;' three simple words that the (Iraqi) Soldiers could speak (and) are easy to remember. And when you apply the concept to the NCO corps, that's what we expect," said Sgt. Maj. David Davenport, the 1st Armored Division operations sergeant major.
The drill sergeants said they were pleased with the progress made by their students, and the respect the ICDC soldiers had for their instructors became evident when the graduates hoisted their mentors onto their shoulders during post-graduation celebrations, chanting traditional Iraqi cheers and songs as they carried them around the hall.
Davenport said the ceremony marks a new beginning for the Iraqi NCOs and their country as they assume leadership positions in their nation's defense.
"I'm very excited about it," Davenport said. "They're very eager to assume their new role."
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