Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Phoenix Base
APO AE 09348

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release No. 081204-01
December 04, 2008
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DSN:  318-852-1333
IRAQNA:  0790-194-0636

Iraqi Army 12th Infantry Division completes generation of counterinsurgency force

KIRKUK, Iraq – The graduation ceremony of the Iraqi Army’s 47th and 48th Infantry Brigades from Unit Set Fielding here on Nov. 30 marked the end of counterinsurgency force generation for the 12th Infantry Division.

The two brigades and the 12th Inf. Div. Headquarters Support Company completed 21 days of Unit Set Fielding, providing them with the skills and equipment they need to perform their missions.

This training also served as a test for the Regional Training Center, not normally staffed to handle training two classes of Soldiers concurrently.  “They handled the challenge professionally and never sacrificed standards for time,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Louis Long III, Senior Advisor to the Kirkuk RTC, from the Coalition Army Advisory Training Team of the Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq.

Unit Set Fielding is a process that builds an entire army unit and gives Soldiers the equipment and training they need to fight. Iraqi Soldiers from Basic Combat Training, as well as NCOs and officers, are drawn from their respective training programs to form a new Army command.

The Headquarters Support Company also learned the skills necessary to support the division headquarters staff, such as truck driving, weapons qualification, weapons repair, medical testing and military police functions.

“As you Soldiers return to your units, you must raise their readiness and proficiency levels in your areas of specialty,” said Iraqi Army Staff Col. Abdullah, Kirkuk Regional Training Center commander.

“I encourage each of you to continue training and improving. The Iraqi people and the rest of the world are counting on you,” added Long.

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