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ZAHKO
MILITARY ACADEMY, IRAQ – As many dignitaries and
family members looked on, the Military Academy at
Zahko conducted a graduation ceremony for 73 new
second lieutenants destined to join the Iraqi Army.
The ceremony, attended by an estimated 700 guests,
was hosted by Maj. Gen. Shahib, the commandant of
the Military Academy (full name not provided for
security reasons).
The Academy at Zahko, founded in 1996, conducts two
courses to produce officers for the Iraqi Army. The
“long course” of 18 months is predominantly made up
of students who have previous college or technical
school experience. The students go through three six
month periods of instruction beginning with a
concentration on basic military skills and ending
with upper level classes on history, land warfare
studies, and tactical warfare planning. The course
work emphasizes bravery, drill and ceremonies, and
the art of command.
The other course being conducted at Zahko is a three
month “short course.” This course is attended by
students who already underwent military academy
training prior to Saddam’s fall. In March, 2003, the
war interrupted the training being conducted at the
Iraqi Military Academy at Ar Rustimayah. This three
year course had an enrollment of more than 500
students.
In an effort led by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense,
the students enrolled at Ar Rustimayah at the start
of the war have been contacted and welcomed back
into the Iraqi Army. After a screening period,
groups of 100 students have been selected to attend
a new ninety-day course to be offered at Zahko over
the next year. The initial course begins on March
28.
Efforts to establish Zahko as a primary developer of
new officers have been organized by the
Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq
under the lead of the Coalition Military Assistance
Training Team. Additional capacity to house the
“short course” students is under construction at
Zahko and two CMATT liaison officers are permanently
assisting the staff at Zahko to set and maintain
training standards.
Guests at the event included the President of
Kurdistan, the Iraqi Minister of Defense, the
Commanding General of CMATT, and representatives
from the Turkish military.
For more information,
please
visit
www.mnstci.iraq.centcom.mil
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