# CJTF-OIR continues ISF training through multi-national efforts

/ Published April 12, 2019

**BAGHDAD, Iraq —**

Following the elimination of Daesh’s self-proclaimed territorial caliphate on March 23, 2019, in the Middle Euphrates River Valley, the Coalition’s emphasis on supporting the Iraqi Security Forces increased through military professional development training needed to defeat Daesh networks in Iraq.

Currently, the Coalition is training ISF soldiers at five main locations in Iraq; Al Asad, which training efforts are led by Denmark, Besmaya which is led by Spain, Dublin and the Kurdistan Training Coordination Center which is led by Italy, and Taji which is led by Australia. Since January 2015, the Coalition has trained approximately 190,272 members of the ISF. 

“Daesh has been defeat in the MERV, however they still maintain an underground network of cells,” said U.S. Army Maj. Hakan Ostling, Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve Training Directorate planner. “Our continued ISF train-the-trainer efforts have been prosperous and will continue to flourish through the ISF’s professional military courses, ultimately increasing the ISF’s ability to secure and enable the safety of the civilians they protect.”

**Police Task Force – Iraq**

Train-the-trainer

Police Task Force – Iraq, led by the Italian Carabinieri, conducted four train-the-trainer courses, ranging from basic police procedures to police advanced training. Train-the-trainer courses train new trainers to develop their capabilities to become future instructors of the Iraqi Police Forces, to achieve self-sufficiency to meet the future training goals of the Government of Iraq.

Since 2016, 421 ISF Police officers have graduated as instructors.

Female Police Officer course

Recently, Italian Carabinieri started the 6th Female Police course with 29 policewomen students from various Police Units of Baghdad, Iraq. The three week course is taught by three Italian female officers and two Canadian officers; teaching basic police duties, how to perform body and vehicle searches, self-defense techniques, and an emphasis on human rights and law enforcement, Code of Ethics, and the Law of Armed Conflict.

Since 2017, four courses have been held in Baghdad, and Erbil, Iraq, and thus far has graduated 168 female police officers.

Police Middle Level Management course

Police Middle Level Managements course is directed to increase organizational efficiency as well as standard professionalism to perform police duties which falls in line with the Code of Conduct and international standards. PTF-I forms and qualifies the Iraqi Police Officers to improve commanding skills and motivate personnel during law enforcement duties.

**Task Force Besmaya**

10-Week training course

The 1st Federal Police Brigade, trained by Task Force Besmaya instructors, graduated from a 10-week training course on March 28, 2019, at the Besmaya Range Complex, Iraq. As required to graduate, the brigade took part in a final exercise in which students applied knowledge gained during training, such as; body searching, urban combat, shooting techniques and offensive movements. Additionally, the graduation ceremony was presided over by the Training Directorate Iraqi Commander and Brig. Gen. Carlos Prada Lareea, TF Besmayah commander.

Advanced combat lifesaver course

Twenty members from an Iraqi Army Brigade underwent an advanced combat lifesaver course on March 28, 2019. The members completed the three-week advance combat lifesaver course with a practical evaluation test. Prior to this course, they participated in two other combat first aid courses. These courses give the Iraqi Army soldiers the training and knowledge to aid injured team mates during operations.

Since February 2015, more than 41,000 Iraqis have received training from TF Besmaya instructors, equating to thousands of police, border guards and soldiers protecting the country of Iraq.

**Operation Chammal**

Increasing ISF Medical Readiness

Operation Chammal Chief Medical Officer, of Task Force Monsabert, developed a training plan for 6th Iraqi Army Division soldiers which spanned from March 17 – 19, 2019. In addition to upgrading Iraqi ambulances with equipment adapted for first aid and combat, the ISF soldiers learned skills which enable them to react to, and treat, medical casualties in multiple medical situations, including; respiratory distress, hemorrhagic shock, and head trauma.

Overall, the ISF soldiers were tested through an exercise in which they performed on-site management and transportation of patients to a medical treatment center.

Since their involvement in training efforts, TF Monsabert has trained more than 600 ISF soldiers in combat rescue.

Training ISF soldiers is a multi-national effort and thus far Coalition nations have provided the GoI and ISF approximately $3.5 billion in equipment and material.

The Coalition’s support and mentor efforts are adaptive and fully coordinated with the ISF and the GoI. The Coalition will continue to operate in close coordination with the GoI as we work together to ensure the enduring defeat Daesh in designated areas of Iraq and set conditions for follow-on operations to increase regional stability.

#DefeatDaesh