FIRE BASE MANILA, Iraq " “Golden Dragons” Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division, concluded their assignment at the Manila Training Center at Fire Base Manila, Iraq, following a graduation ceremony for Iraqi students, June 2.
The Golden Dragons turned over the advise, train and assist mission with Kurdish Regional Guard brigades in Kirkuk province to 1st Bn., 5th Field Artillery Regiment, “Hamilton’s Own,” 1st AATF.
Lieutenant Colonel Keith Casey, commander, 1st Bn., 5th FA Regt., joined Lt. Col. Andrew Ulrich, commander, 1st Bn., 14th Inf. Regt., as the two units assessed the progress of the Iraqi soldiers graduating the course.
Casey, a native of Manhattan, Kan., said he is grateful for the Golden Dragons efforts in making the training center a success.
“The Golden Dragons have established a world-class facility that trains not only Soldiers, but leaders,” he said. “The training their Soldiers have conducted with the Iraqi Security Forces has afforded the Soldiers of Hamilton’s Own the opportunity to build an enduring partnership and enhance the capabilities of our partner units.”
Casey said he looks forward to the opportunity he and his Soldiers now have to continue improving the Manila Training Center and the capabilities of Kurdish Regional Guard brigades.
Colonel Michael Pappal, commander, 1st AATF, complimented the work of the units in building up Iraqi capabilities in Kirkuk province.
“You may not realize it, but you are the ground floor of the important structure we’ve built here,” said Pappal, a native of Creekside, Pa. “You’re instrumental in building the capability of the Kurdish Regional Guard brigades to conduct future operations. You can have all the equipment and facilities and things of war, but it’s the individual person and training that has the biggest effect on how everything turns out.”
As Golden Dragons Soldiers marked the end of their time at the training center, the instructors watched as their last class of Iraqi students successfully graduated the month-long course.
One by one, Iraqi soldiers stepped before Brig. Gen. Sardar, director of training at Manila Training Center, to accept certificates for successfully completing basic skills training.
“Today we’re recognizing 16 lieutenants, 3 captains and 75 soldiers for their successful completion of four weeks of training,” said Capt. Cory Faison, commander, Company B, 1st Bn., 14th Inf. Regt. “The training consisted of individual tasks, team tasks, squad tasks, and finally platoon level tasks.”
Faison, a native of Lacey, Wash., said the course helped Kurdish Regional Guard soldiers understand the training and knowledge necessary in further developing the Manila Training Center as their own instructional facility for future soldiers.
“It will help them lead soldiers and guide them in the direction they need to go,” said Faison.
Sardar said the course not only provided a high level of skill and knowledge to the Regional Guard Brigade soldiers, but served as a model for the soldiers to pass on to others in the future.
“Now we can begin taking steps to assume full responsibility for the Manila Training Center,” said Sardar. “Having a training course and schools inside (the area), the skills and knowledge you’ve learned will transfer to other people and protect all.”
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