BAGHDAD - The Administrative Affairs School conducted a combined graduation ceremony for 140 Iraqi Army Soldiers from four separate courses Sept. 30 in Taji.

Soldiers representing 13 different Iraqi Army divisions graduated from the Supply and Warehouse Imperative, Pay and Personnel Imperative, Cook and Bakery Imperative, and Barber Basic courses.

The imperative courses included management and supervisory training and advanced instruction on topics specific to career job skills. These courses are important building blocks in developing a professionalized NCO corps within the Iraqi Army.

"The most beneficial part of the course was learning how to use the computer to fill out documents electronically," said Jaber Al Hoor, a Pay and Personnel Imperative Course graduate.

The Basic Barber Course included sanitation and hygiene, barber history, familiarization with tools and equipment and shaving techniques during practical exercises.

"I am a barber at my home unit, and this course was very useful to me because I learned new techniques for cutting hair, and new hairstyles," said Ali Mhammed, a Barber Basic Course graduate.

With the knowledge and skills obtained in these courses, these Soldiers are better equipped to be enlisted leaders within their units.