SACEUR Visits NATO Training Mission - Iraq

Topics SACEUR

Baghdad, Iraq - NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, General John Craddock visited the NATO Training Mission – Iraq (NTM-I) on March 29. General Craddock visited the NTM-I Headquarters in the Cultural Centre Compound in Baghdad where he was briefed by IT Army MG Ernesto Alviano, NTM-I Deputy Commander, and UK Army Col Ed Feldmanis about the latest successes of the mission and future challenges.

Subsequently General Craddock traveled to Ar Rustamiyah, on the outskirts of Baghdad, with Lt Gen Martin Dempsey, Commander NTM-I. In Ar Rustamiyah NTM-I supports the Joint Staff College and the Iraqi Military Academy Ar Rustamiyah (IMAR). The Joint Staff College is in its second year of operations and NTM-I has been involved in the establishment and running of the organization from the beginning. NTM-I took over the supporting role of IMAR last July. There are currently 454 officer cadets in training at the Academy.

In Ar Rustamiyah General Craddock met with the leaders of the NTM-I team and the Iraqi leaders of both the Joint Staff College and IMAR and acquired a good insight into the current state of affairs. Finally General Craddock honored NTM-I members who are about to finish their tour of Iraq and presented them with the NATO Medal, thereby recognizing and thanking them for their important contribution.