Jordan Times
Friday, April 2, 2004
Second batch of Iraqi army officers graduate
AMMAN (JT) — More than 150 Iraqi army officers
graduated on Thursday after receiving training at the hands of the Jordan Armed
Forces (JAF), in a ceremony held at the Military College, the Jordan News
Agency, Petra, reported.
Member of the Iraqi Interim Governing Council Iyad Allawi and senior Jordan army
officers were present at the event.
The graduates received a seven-week training programme that included an advanced
military curriculum in addition to field trips made to various institutes and
schools run by JAF.
The training programme was designed to prepare the Iraqi officers to assume high
posts as battalion and brigade commanders in the new Iraqi army.
Iraqi General Hermez Kodkis, a representative of the Iraqi ministry of defence,
praised Jordan's stand manifested in its support for the Iraqis to rebuild their
country. He expressed “gratitude” to the JAF on behalf of the Iraqi army.
The training programme involved 15 trainees in the special command course and
139 in the special staff training programme. According to a Jordan Armed Forces
official, 700 members of the Iraqi army have received training in Jordan so far.
A new batch of Iraqi army cadets arrived on Wednesday to receive training in
camps in Jordan.
Following the ceremony, Allawi announced that a new Iraqi defence ministry would
be inaugurated within a few days.
On March 18, the first group of Iraqi army officers graduated as part of US-led
plan to create an army by Sept. 30.
In addition to army personnel, the Kingdom agreed last year to train 32,000
Iraqi police over the next two years to help rebuild its war-torn eastern
neighbour. So far, about 1,000 Iraqi policemen have been here.
Jordan also trains Iraqi civil service, judicial and aviation staff.