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NATO Training Mission - Iraq The NATO Training Mission - Iraq (NTM-I) was approved by the North Atlantic Council on 17 November 2004. The Supreme Allied Commander Europe promulgated the Operational Order which activated the new mission on 16 December 2004. Lt General David Petraeus is the Commander of NTM-I. The initial NATO Training Implementation Mission arrived in Iraq on 14 August, as a result of a request from the Iraqi Interim Government on 22 June, following the NATO decision to support Iraq during the Istanbul Conference, and a decision made at the end of July to establish a training implementation mission to Iraq. The tasks of the mission were to identify training opportunities for the Iraqi Security Forces; start training selected groups of headquarters personnel and establish liaison arrangements with the Iraqi Interim Government and Coalition Forces The successor NTM-I is currently focusing on the following areas: · Providing training and advice to selected groups of HQ personnel, predominantly military · Assisting in standing up a military academy; a Training, Education and Doctrine Centre ( TEDC) · Coordinating national contributions on military equipment and training (TECC) · Assisting in planning the establishment of an Iraqi Training Command All efforts are executed in close cooperation with the Iraqi Authorities and in cooperation with the Coalition Forces. The guiding principle for the mission is that the Iraqis make the decisions; NATO is there to advise and assist. The training mission involves both Allied Command Transformation and Allied Command Operations. This mission demonstrates 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 was Deputy Commander from 8 October 2004 until 6 February 2005, when he was replaced by Maj. Gen. Agner Rokos, Danish Army. Following the North Atlantic Council (NAC) meeting 8 October, Lt Gen David Petraeus was appointed Commander, 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 is now "double-hatted", commanding both MNSTCI and NTM-I. The NATO training mission will still be a distinct mission, under the political control of the NATO. Since 8 October, Maj Gen Carel Hilderink has been the Deputy Commander. Previously, Maj Gen 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 arrangement came into force after the NAC decision. 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 has its headquarters located in the International Zone, Baghdad. Currently, approximately 20 personnel are directly involved in training. The training comprises the development of HQ structures, developing staff work skills, assistance in developing organisational structures and helping establish internal communication. Training started 18 August, involving HQ personnel falling under both the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior. The training has since taken the form of advice, coaching and best practice, all at staff officer level. NTM-I is currently concentrating its training efforts on structures falling under the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, but will increase efforts on structures falling under MOI and other functions as the mission develops and as manning allows. A small group of officers and NCOs are located on the outskirts of Baghdad, assisting the IAF in developing infrastructure and programs for an Iraqi Military Academy (Training, Education and Doctrine Centre). About ten individuals are directly involved in the planning of the TEDC, working on both infrastructure and organizational issues/curriculum. A separate team from Joint Force Command Naples has been in Baghdad for some time to develop detailed plans for the infrastructure of the academy. A part of the NTM-I is also involved in the Iraqi-chaired Training and Equipment Coordinating Committee which exists to validate and prioritise the requirements for training and education and for equipment. Fed by two 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. - Arabic Translation