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

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release No. 090202-01
February 02, 2009
Contact:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
DSN:  318-852-1332
IRAQNA:  0790-194-0270

Basic Trainees moving out of tents and into barracks

TAJI, Iraq – Iraqi Army basic trainees at the Taji Regional Training Center will be moving into barracks for the first time this spring.  After living in tents, the quality-of-life for new recruits will drastically improve.     

The Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq is constructing not only new barracks, but also new dining, administration, latrine and laundry facilities to support as many as 2,300 trainees. 

U.S. Army Maj. Tom Heinold, assigned to MNSTC-I’s J7 (Engineer), is leading the TRTC’s $10.5 million effort to construct the new basic training facilities.  “The dining facility is state-of-the-art, designed to feed three sittings of 800 Soldiers at each meal.  With additional sittings, its capacity is expandable based on the future of the basic training mission.” 

All the facilities are designed with future expansion in mind.  The Coalition-funded project will give the Iraqis the facilities they need to maintain sufficient throughput of basic trainees and keep the new Soldiers healthy and safe.  The new barracks are laid out and the utilities are sized in a manner that allows the Iraqi Ministry of Defense to add-on to the facilities and double the school’s capacity in the future.  There are also plans to add to the existing electrical power generation to support new facilities. 

As the Iraqi Army continues to train and equip its Soldiers, the popularity of military service is expected to increase to a point where Iraq’s standing Army is able to sustain itself without any assistance from its Coalition partners. 

“Part of attracting new recruits to serve their country and establish peace and security in Iraq is having a high quality-of-life at the basic training facilities.  Word of mouth travels fast here, and when basic training graduates go home and tell their families that they are living in hard barracks rather than run-down tents, their brothers and friends will be more likely to sign up,” said Heinold.  “We’re giving our Iraqi friends every chance at success by putting the infrastructure on the ground that they need to generate forces and take on the security mission.”

The TRTC also encompasses a Noncommissioned Officer school and a Sergeant Major training academy, both of which benefited from renovations and new facilities funded by MNSTC-I. 

MNSTC-I’s efforts at the TRTC highlight the commitment between the governments of the United States and Iraq in improving the infrastructure and capabilities of the Iraqi Security Forces during the critical transition from Coalition to Iraqi-led operations in support of a secure and stable Iraq.

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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS RELEASE, CONTACT THE MULTI-NATIONAL SECURITY TRANSITION COMMAND – IRAQ PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE BY E-MAIL AT This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it OR BY PHONE AT DSN: (318) 852-1332 OR IRAQNA: 0790-194-0270.  FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION VISIT:  WWW.IRAQ.CENTCOM.MIL .