PATROL BASE HUSAYNIYAH, Iraq – Soldiers of the 563rd Military Police Company finished training members of the Iraqi Police and Army on a session of the Iraqi Security Forces Train the Trainer program on Patrol Base Husayniyah Aug. 20.
The Train the Trainer program helps teach Iraqi Security Forces the skills they to instruct necessary tasks required of an effective police officer or Soldier.
Providing security is an essential part of conducting operations in Iraq. The skills they are learning can be passed on to the lowest level and enhance the readiness of the Iraqi forces.
“We’re teaching them things like unarmed self defense, personnel searches and vehicle searches to help better protect themselves and the Iraqi citizens,” said Sgt. Maj. Richard E. Worthy, operations noncommissioned officer, 33rd Iraqi Army Brigade Military Transition Team, 172nd infantry brigade and native of Yakima, Wash.
A MiTT is a group of Soldiers brought together to provide the necessary training for national security forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This Train the Trainer program is in its fourth installment since the transfer of authority with the previous 33rd Iraqi Army Brigade Military Transition Team seven months ago.
"We're teaching them so that they will be able to pass along their new found knowledge in non-tactical and tactical skills to their Soldiers,” said Maj. John K. Thiessten, Combat Advisor, 33rd I.A. Bde. MiTT, 172nd Inf. Bde.
The primary focus of the Train the Trainer program is to train the noncommissioned officer corps of the Iraqi Army and Police.
“The Iraqi Army is officer driven right now and we want to change that,” said Worthy, a native of Brownwood, Texas. “By strengthening and professionalizing their NCO corps, they are able to teach their Soldiers and continue to grow as an army without us.”
The MiTT team will continue to train the Iraqi Security Forces with more sessions of the Train the Trainer program.
