as                        16 Dec. 2004

Fact Sheet on the NATO Training Impementation Mission • The NTI Mission (terminated on 16 December 2004) arrived in Iraq on 14 August, as a result of a request from the Iraqi Interim Government made on 22 June, following the NATO decision to support Iraq during the Istanbul Conference, and a decision made end of July to establish a training implementation mission to Iraq. • The tasks of the initial Training Implementation Mission were: - Identify training opportunities for the Iraqi Security Forces - Start training selected groups of HQ personnel - Establish liaison arrangements with Iraqi Interim Government and the Coalition Forces • The NATO training mission initially focused on the following areas: - Provision of training and advice to selected groups of HQ personnel, predominantly military. - Standing up a military academy; a Training, Education and Doctrine Centre ( TEDC) - Coordinating national contributions on military equipment and training (TECC) - Assisting in the establishment of an Iraqi Training Command All efforts were executed in close cooperation with the Iraqi Authorities and in cooperation with the Coalition Forces. The guiding principle for the mission was that the Iraqis make the decisions; NATO is there to advice and assist. • The training mission involved both Allied Command Transformation and Allied Command Operations. This mission demonstrated the Alliance’s new capabilities as a 21st century global security tool, assisting in building and developing security structures in Iraq. • Maj Gen Carel Hilderink (Royal NL Air Force) was the Commander of the mission until 8 October. Following the NAC (North Atlantic Council) 8 October, Lt General David Petraeus was appointed Commander of the NTIM-I, in pursuit of a permanent command and control arrangement. Lt Gen Petraeus was already in Iraq as the Commander of the Multi National Security Transition Command Iraq (MNSTCI; under the Multi National Force), training both Military and Police units. Lt Gen Petraeus was “double-hatted”, Commanding both MNSTCI and NTIM-I. The NATO training mission remained a distinct mission, under the political control of the NATO North Atlantic Council. Since 8 October, Maj Gen Carel Hilderink was the Deputy Commander of NTIM-I. • Previously Major General James Short (British Army) was the Deputy Commander of the mission from its beginning until 17 September when Maj Gen Bjoern Kristiansen (Royal Norwegian Air Force) took over until the new C2 arrangement came into force after the NAC decision of 8 October. Maj Gen Kristiansen stayed on until 1 November to arrange the first out-of-country training, and to organize the NTECG/TECC/TESC mechanism. • The NATO mission had its HQ located in the International Zone, Baghdad. Approximately 20 personnel were directly involved in training, that comprised the development of HQ structures, developing staff work skills, assistance in developing org structures, helping establish internal communication and between HQ structures on the operational level. • Training started as early as 18 August, involving HQ personnel falling under both Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior. The training eventually took the form of advice, coaching and best practice, all on staff officer level. • NTIM-I concentrated its training efforts on structures falling under the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, to increase efforts on structures falling under MOI and other functions as the mission developed and as manning allowed. • A small group of officers and NCOs were located on the outskirts of Baghdad, assisting IAF in developing infrastructure and programs for a Iraqi Military Academy (Training, Education and Doctrine Centre). About 10 individuals were directly involved in the planning of the TEDC, working on both infra structure and organizational issues / curriculum. A separate team fm JFC Naples deployed to Baghdad for some time to develop detailed plans for the infrastructure of the academy. • A part of the NTIM-I was also involved in the Iraqi-chaired Training and Equipment Coordinating Committee which exists to validate and prioritize the IMOD’s requirements for training and education and for equipment. Fed by 2 Iraqi-led working groups, the TECC feeds these requirements to a similar group at NATO HQ that has links to the PfP and Mediterranean Dialogue countries as well as NATO’s 26 members. • The initial training mission consisted of some 45 officers from 12 NATO countries. Throughout September and October, the main bulk of the personnel was replaced, while the mission grew to comprise 60 officers and NCOs from 10 NATO nations. (US, NL, UK, NO, TU, IT, RO, BU, CA, DK ). The team had members from both Allied Command Transformation (ACT) and Allied Command Operations (ACO) and their cub-commands. • 12 NATO nations made contributions to NTIM-I: US, UK, NL, NO, IT, TU, DA, CA, RO, HU, BU, PO. (current as of 16 December 2004, when the NTM-I mission was activated)   Arabic translation