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The First Senior Intel Management Course Graduates

Baghdad - A mix of Iraqi Army officers and high ranking civilian equivalents graduated Apr. 30 from the first Senior Intelligence Management course at the Minister of Defence Training Center.

The 10 day long course took place Apr. 20 to the 30. The 22 student class was the first of many to graduate the course. The new class focused on training Iraqi Army lieutenant colonels and above, as well as their civilian equivalents, the necessary skills to manage their assigned soldiers and provide high quality intelligence data to their superiors.

"The class was set up in a seminar type fashion," said U.S. Navy Lt. Roger Ferrell, Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq Advisors executive officer at Taji. "This helped to facilitate the sharing of ideas between the various agencies the Iraqis represented."

Steve Bond, Intelligence Transition Team senior advisor, speaks to the first class of the Senior Intelligence Management course graduates during a graduation ceremony Apr. 30, at the Minister of Defence Training Center. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Andrew Davis)

The course curriculum focused on the gathering and managing of various intelligence reporting procedures and analysis methods.

"The course consisted of introductions to signals, human, counter, reconnaissance and survey intelligence," said Lieutenant Ferrell. "They also had in-depth briefings on the Iraqi Air Force's capabilities to collect intelligence reports so they could be better utilized by ground forces."

An Iraqi Army officer examines his graduation certificate just after the graduation ceremony held April 30 at the Minister of Defence Training Center. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Andrew Davis)

According to senior leaders and the course instructors, the objectives of the course were met and fully exceeded all expectations. The course will continue on at Taji, as an all day three day course opposed to the half day version that was held here.

"The students received the information very easily and they had many in depth discussions about the curriculum and how to utilize it further in the field," said Iraqi Army Capt. Laith, Senior Intel Management course instructor. "My fellow instructor (Iraqi Army) Capt. Ahmade and I look forward to the next class in Taji."