BAGHDAD -Thirty-seven Regional Guard Brigade Soldiers successfully completed the Iraqi Army Intelligence School at Camp Taji Nov. 15.

The 37 RGB Soldiers accompanied 268 additional Iraqi Army Soldiers in graduation ceremonies capping off the first-ever class to jointly integrate RGB Soldiers jointly into intelligence training in the school's specialty courses.

"The purpose of the joint Regional Guard Brigade and Iraqi Army Intelligence training is to ensure that Regional Guard Brigade intelligence capabilities are interoperable with Iraqi Army Division Intelligence capabilities," said Peter Fischer, director, Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Intelligence, who oversees the school's training under the United States Forces-Iraq's joint partnership with the Iraqi Military.

Upon graduation, these students take with them the ability to exploit captured media; assemble analysis reports based on multiple sources; and an understanding of the fundamentals of terrain analysis and map reading. These skills are critical in fulfilling their mission of better informing operational commanders to assist them in making informed decisions.

Furthermore these graduates are expected to serve as role models for future students, with several more integrated training cycles set for January and February 2011 that are projected to produce an additional 100 noncommissioned officers and 30 officers. Of those courses, 16 percent of NCO class seats are reserved for RGB students and six percent for RGB officers.