Multi-National Security Transition Command Iraq Public Affairs

Story by Capt. Keli Chevalier

Date: 12.17.2009

TAJI, Iraq- 1st Iraqi Army Division graduated 29 soldiers from the second in a series of Iraqi Army Tactical Communications Center courses Dec. 9 here.

Training for the soldiers began Nov 8, with a two day block of basic communication skills, followed by a 10 day portion comprised of theory and practical classroom instruction on the Harris and SINCGARS radios.

After students learned the role of the tactical communications center, how it supports the division command they completed the course with a full scale demanding field exercise.

“The Iraqi Signal School has come a long way to improving their quality of instruction,” said Master Sgt. Scott Parks, Iraq Training and Advising Mission- Army advisor to the school.

Instead of a formal graduation ceremony, the students demonstrated their newly acquired skills to members of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, Iraqi Ground Forces Command, and key leaders from the 1st, 11th, and 14th Divisions. Iraqi Signal School Commander, Col. Ismael Ayad told his students he was proud of their hard work and was pleased to see the progress they had made during the training.

“These soldiers return from training ready and able to provide reliable tactical communications to their unit's operations centers,” said Maj. Bob Thompson, Senior U.S. Advisor to the Iraqi signal school.

The Iraqi signal school has produced 58 soldiers who are fully qualified on tactical control center set up and operations.

via Digital Video & Imagery Distribution System.