A Soldier with the 2nd Division Iraqi Army busts down a door during a house-clearing exercise at the Iraqi Warrior Leader's Course on Forward Operating Base Q-West, Aug. 18, 2008. The Soldiers learn more than 30 different subjects throughout the 23-day course to help develop their leadership skills. Photo by Pfc. Adam Blazak.

Developed in 2005, the IWLC has seen more than 1,000 IA Soldiers graduate from the 23-day course. With a small cadre to Soldier ratio, the trainees are able to grasp the variety of course material through many different learning styles. From classroom instruction to a hands-on approach, participants tackle the given tasks.

“The training is going on as we like, and the Soldiers are doing exactly what we tell them to do,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Hamdan Fadhil Sulayman, the IWLC commandant with 3rd Battalion, 6th Brigade, 2nd Division, Iraqi Army.

The IWLC cadets conduct physical training in the early morning and participate in training activities throughout the day finishing in the late evening. Leadership skills, discipline, map reading, IA values, the Iraqi non-commissioned officer creed, first-aid, weapons qualifications, and combatives are just a few of more than 30 subject areas covered throughout the course’s duration.

“The training is tough, but we want to give them that good, solid base,” said IWLC cadre Sgt. James A. Vos, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment.