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New Zealand troops on ground in Iraq military training mission

Xinhua, May 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

New Zealand troops have set up base in Iraq and are preparing to begin training Iraqi security forces in the fight against Islamic State insurgents, the head of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) said Tuesday.

The Building Partner Capacity training mission part of a joint operation being run with Australian forces was in place at the Taji military complex just north of Baghdad, said Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Tim Keating.

"This will cover a broad range of individual and organizational military skills, including basic weapons. It also includes the planning of operations, and medical and logistics support to operations," Keating said in a statement.

"Our defense force has a strong track record of achieving good training outcomes. We work alongside and in partnership with other nations in this case working very closely with Iraqi security forces on agreed outcomes and delivery of training."

A comprehensive pre-deployment training strategy was designed by a team of specialists including linguists, security force assistance, training evaluation, coaching and mentoring and irregular warfare, he said.

The New Zealand contingent would emphasize and model the Profession of Arms behaviors, demonstrating how a modern and professional defence force operated.

The New Zealand government announced in February the deployment of up to 143 NZDF personnel to help the Iraqi security forces to tackle the threat of Islamic State insurgents.

The Building Partner Capacity mission was a non-combat mission for a two-year period, with a review to be conducted after nine months. Endi