Press Release 20100614-01
June 14, 2010

BAGHDAD – The first class of Iraqi Army field artillery officers graduated from a 152-day course at Forward Operating Base Constitution, Iraq, June 6.

The course, which started in January, gave 120 Iraqi Army lieutenants the fundamentals of field artillery doctrine, tactics, and and, skills and institutional knowledge needed to increase the capability of the Iraqi army.

According to Lt. Col. Patrick Martin, senior U.S. Army advisor at the Field Artillery School and Directorate, the Iraqi Army will be receiving seven battalions worth of U.S. artillery.  

“The addition of these officers into the fold of the field artillery is very significant,” Martin said.

For Martin, the graduation was significant not only because these were the first Iraqi field artillery officers to be trained since March 2003, but also because the course was run almost entirely by Iraqis. With U.S. Army advisors providing a minimum amount of assistance.  

“This shows the Iraqis are doing this on their own,” said Martin.  “We’re advising and observing and this is what we want to see – the Iraqis continue to take the lead and instruct on their own.”

Iraqi Staff Gen. Aboud Ganbar, the graduation keynote speaker, said he was thankful for the field artillery school.

“I feel that we have a fully capable teaching facility and school,” Ganbar said.  “To graduate the officers and fill the assigned staff for the Iraqi artillery branch, this first graduation means very much to us.”

Newly graduated Iraqi Army 2nd Lt. Omar Hamid Ajeel, agreed.  

“I will serve my country honorably,” Ajeel said.  “We will decrease the amount of terrorism with our new capabilities and build a great Iraq.”

-30-

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR INTERVIEWS CONCERNING THIS RELEASE, CONTACT THE USF-I J9 PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE FWD BY E-MAIL AT This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it OR BY PHONE AT DSN: (318) 239-5886 OR IRAQNA: 0780-997-5055.