U.S. Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, Task Force Strike, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), took charge of a ranger training program for qualified volunteers from Iraqi security forces at Camp Taji, Iraq, when they arrived in May.

The ranger training program, led by Company A, 1-502nd, is one of the multiple building partner capacity missions the around 1,800 member strong task force leads in Iraq.

“This program is important because it lays the foundation for an elite Iraqi unit,” said Capt. Peter Jacob, commander of Company A. “Students start at day one as an individual and come away at the end of this course as part of a team.”

The course is based on the U.S. Army’s Ranger training program established in 1951 at Fort Benning, Georgia. The goal of the program is simple: develop advanced warfighting skills within selected Iraqi army officers and enlisted personnel by requiring them to perform tasks in a realistic training environment.

 

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brandon Blanton, center, a trainer with Company A, 1st Battalion 502nd Infantry Regiment, Task Force Strike, assists Iraqi army ranger students during a room clearing drill at Camp Taji, Iraq July 18, 2016. Students were first instructed as a whole by their leadership, then broken into small groups for practice. Camp Taji is one of four Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve build partner capacity locations dedicated to training Iraqi security forces. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Daniel Johnson/Released)
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brandon Blanton, center, a trainer with Company A, 1st Battalion 502nd Infantry Regiment, Task Force Strike, assists Iraqi army ranger students during a room clearing drill at Camp Taji, Iraq July 18, 2016. Students were first instructed as a whole by their leadership, then broken into small groups for practice. Camp Taji is one of four Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve build partner capacity locations dedicated to training Iraqi security forces. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Daniel Johnson/Released)

 

Though based on the U.S. Army’s Ranger training program, Company A trainers sample aspects from other advanced programs as well.

“The program itself starts with a 21-day selection process similar to special forces selection,” said Jacob, himself a graduate of the U.S Army Ranger school. “It’s a [24-hour-a-day] operation where our cadre go out and validate each student no matter what the rank.”