FORT BENNING, Ga. - The Iraqi Army's Deputy Chief of Staff for Training visited Fort Benning to observe American troops training for future deployments, April 24.
Staff Lieutenant General Hussain Jasim Dohi visited the Selby Hill Combined Arms Collective Training Center and watched as Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, practiced techniques designed to defeat insurgent tactics used in an urban setting.
The general complimented Col. Pete Jones, 3rd HBCT commander, on the intensity and realism of his troop's training. He said he was impressed that the brigade employed actual Iraqi role-players to ensure that its Soldiers were accustomed to Iraqi culture and speech.
"The harder you work here, the easier it will be when you go to Iraq," he said. "This is good."
Colonel Jones was happy that Staff Lt. Gen. Dohi made time during his tour of the U.S. to visit Fort Benning.
"I think the visit went well," he said. "It is good to show the Iraqi people that we take our deployments to Iraq seriously. I'm glad that he got the chance to see our noncommissioned officers, Soldiers and officers and the facilities they use to train."
The general was able to view a simulated town engagement and an improvised explosive device lane during his visit.
Brigadier General Steven L. Salazar, the commanding general of the Coalition Army Advisory Training Team, was Dohi's escort during the trip. Salazar, the commander of the 3rd HBCT during its second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, was pleased to see his old unit again.
"I always love coming back to Fort Benning," he said. "I told Col. Jones he had the best job in the Army. I enjoyed my time here with the brigade."
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