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Al Anbar Soldiers to train at Kirkush

KIRKUSH, Iraq - Approximately 700 former Iraqi National Guard Soldiers from Al Anbar Province will commence basic combat training here at the Kirkush Military Training Base on April 12. These Soldiers are being escorted by the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force and by security elements attached to the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team. Originally recruited into the 500/501 Battalions of the 60th Brigade ING based in Ramadi, these Soldiers will now be trained and integrated into the Iraqi Army. Approximately 40,000 ING Soldiers will become part of the Iraqi Army as a result of actions initiated at the Ministry of Defense earlier this year. The integration of ING units will reinforce Iraqi Army assets and capabilities nationwide.

Upon graduation from basic combat training, the Soldiers will augment units in the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Divisions, as well as independent brigades and regiments of the Iraqi Army. These predominantly Sunni Soldiers will add capable leadership, experience and diversity to the expanding Iraqi Army.

As other Sunnis respond to the recent statement by Sunni clerics encouraging enlistment in the Iraqi Security Forces, they will join their Sunni brothers already integrated into the multi-ethnic Iraqi Armed Forces.

For more information please visit www.mnstci.iraq.centcom.mil.

Release #050406f<