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98th takes challenge of training Iraqi Army

By Sgt. 1st Class Tammy M. Jarrett
October 22, 2004

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Oct. 22, 2004) -- The Army Reserve's 98th Division (Institutional Training) has a new mission -- training the new Iraqi Army.

The 98th's commanding general, Maj. Gen. Bruce Robinson, shared how the division plans to execute the new mission during a Pentagon media roundtable Oct. 21.

The 98th Division will operate under the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq, primarily training the trainer of the new Iraq army through individualized training at the basic combat training level and military skills.

The division will provide a unit-base solution for training to help the Iraq force be able to provide their own security and defense of Iraq.

The training is designed to be able to train, primarily the leadership, to take over their own military training.

"Our overall goal will be to take the and build the Iraqi noncommissioned officer corps and officer corps so that they will understand the responsibilities and roles of junior officers as well as the noncommissioned officers and they will then assume the of training the Iraqi forces," Robinson said.

To prepare for the upcoming training venture, 98th Soldiers must first complete some intense training of their own, ranging from one to six weeks, depending on the job they will be doing in their area of responsibility.

Robinson said Soldiers identified for the advisory support teams will go through five to six weeks of intense maneuver, convoy operations and train-the-trainer training at Camp Allberry, Ind. Soldiers assigned to support staff or logistics operations will go through one or two weeks of training at Fort Bliss.

All Soldiers will be certified prior to deployment and will receive an additional five to seven days of training once in country.

The mission at that time is to provide advisory assistance to the Iraqi armed forces, Robinson said. This will be in the form of leadership development and mentorship, and military occupational skills as the needs of the new Iraqi army dictates.

Some Soldiers are already in country with the remaining schedule to arrive in country in late November or early December.

Headed by the 98th's assistant division commander for operations, Brig. Gen. Richard Sherlock, the 700- plus Soldiers will set up a headquarters staff. AST officers and NCOs will then be augmented into the current Iraqi forces and began training the Iraqi army. Overtime units will be built, trained, equipped, and tested through different operational exercises.

The 98th Soldiers will provide training for one year and then if necessary, turn the mission over to the 80th Division (Institutional Training) headquartered in Richmond, Va.