WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Jan. 3, 2011) -- Pvt. Salah Kahdumm, a 25-year-old soldier assigned to the 11th Iraqi Army Division, recently finished a nearly three-week-long commando school. He's ready for the challenge it will bring.
The school was taught by American Soldiers from 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, and culminated in a graduation ceremony Dec. 24.
Like many Iraqi Army soldiers, Kahdum has made a lot of personal sacrifices to reach this point in his training. Kahdum left his home in Najaf more than three years ago to enlist in the Iraqi Army and help the people of Iraq. During his time in the army, he has worked in three different companies throughout the Baghdad area.
Kahdum said when given the chance to attend commando training, he jumped at the opportunity because he believed the additional training would be beneficial for him and the other soldiers on his team.
"The more training we receive, the less blood we will shed in combat," Kahdum said.
The Iraqi soldiers began the commando course by learning the fundamentals of rifle marksmanship, reflexive fire and how to operate within a team and squad. Once they had a firm grasp of the training, the noncommissioned officers and officers of Company B, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, gave them additional instruction on how to clear rooms and stairwells. They concluded the training with a live-fire exercise in a shoot house at Camp Taji, which tied all the training together.
"After the training at the shoot house, my initial expectations were far exceeded," said 1st Lt. Luke McDonald, the platoon leader in charge of the commando training. "If the end state of our deployment is a drawdown of forces, the Iraqi Army Soldiers are well on their way to self-sustainment, both at the officer and enlisted level."
"We benefited from the joint training with the American Soldiers," Kahdum said. "Whenever we have an opportunity to train with Americans and work side-by-side, it will only make us better. The training was very difficult for us, but we will see the fruit from our labor."
In addition to the development of the enlisted Soldiers, the Iraqi lieutenants were able to develop their leadership abilities. They often assisted in the instruction and took an active role in leading their Soldiers through the training.
"The lieutenants I worked with during the training raised the bar," McDonald said. "They displayed a concerted interest in their Soldiers' development."
Kahdum said his officers were keen and eager throughout all of the training and that they provided great critiques and showed the Soldiers ways to improve. He said the officers he worked with acted like elder brothers to all of the Soldiers.
After the graduation ceremony, Kahdum said he looked forward to spending time with his family.
"My family is naturally worried for my safety, but know that I am here helping to keep my family and my country safe," he said.
(Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan S. DeLong writes for 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C)
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