NATO TRAINING MISSION – IRAQ
Public Affairs Office, Cultural Centre, Baghdad
APO AE 09316

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MNSTC-I/ NTM-I Release No. 081215-01
Dec 15, 2008
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DSN:  239-7798
IRAQNA:  0790-193 3839

INP begin 7th Leadership Training Course led by Italian Carabinieri

The 7th Leadership Training Course, led by Italian Carabinieri, was attended by 591 Iraqi National Police officers at Camp Dublin, Baghdad, Dec. 13.

The specialized course is designed to provide additional training to the INP thus enhancing the basic skills taught at training centres. The Carabinieri-led course includes elements of both police and military training. Police attending the nine-week course will study operational planning, police procedures, police intelligence, counter-insurgency skills, weapons, combat skills, first aid and basic logistics. The course places special emphasis on police ethics and human rights.  

The attendees are members of the INP 1st Battalion, 6th Brigade, 2nd Division. This is the seventh battalion trained by Italian Carabinieri since October 2007. To date, 2,654 police officers from six battalions have graduated from the Leadership Training Course. Twelve Iraqi National Police trainers, whom graduated from the same course, are already working side-by-side with the Carabinieri instructors.

Italy currently has more than 50 Carabinieri officers and instructors training the INP under the auspices of NATO Training Mission-Iraq. Italian Carabinieri are a Security Force with a combination of Armed Forces skills with police authority. They are highly skilled in public order tactics in high-risk situations, carrying out crime investigations and participating in national defence, if required.

The training site at Camp Dublin is expanding its facilities in order to double the throughput. Next year, the number of trainees per course will increase to 900, consisting of two battalions per course.
 

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NATO has trained Iraqi Security Forces since 2004 and remains committed to supporting the Government of Iraq’s efforts to resume its important place in the international community. Some of NATO’s cooperative projects include the Joint Staff College at Ar Rustamiyah, the Iraqi National Defense College, and the National Police training led by Italian Carabinieri. Officers of NATO Training Mission – Iraq also provide mentoring and advice to the Prime Minister’s National Operations Center, the Iraqi Ministry of Interior Command Center, and the Iraqi Ministry of Defense Joint Operations Center.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT NATO TRAINING MISSION – IRAQ, PLEASE CONTACT This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it OR VISIT OUR WEBPAGE: www.jfcnaples.nato.int/NTM-I/