BAGHDAD, Iraq, May 18, 2004 — Training a new army, building a new police force and securing a new nation from internal and external dangers are no small tasks. But that's exactly what the Office of Security Cooperation, a division of the Coalition Provisional Authority headquartered here, is charged with accomplishing.

The organization, formerly referred to as the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team, has metamorphosed into the larger Office of Security Cooperation with two training prongs: the former training team and its newer sister division – the Coalition Police Assistance Training Team. It's comprised of U.S. soldiers, Marines, sailors, airmen, coalition forces and civilian contractors.

“This is a pick-up team,” said Office of Security Cooperation Commander Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton.

“All of us here responded to the unexpected phone call or reported in as a volunteer,” Eaton said. “We have had British former nuclear submarine captains and U.S. Air Force B-2 pilots – with all branches, skills and nine nations in between.”

Notwithstanding this fact, said Eaton, their performance has been exemplary. “My expectations were high and met,” he said.

The task, though, is monumental. And compared to another famous post-war rebuilding project – Japan following World War II – the titanic undertaking is moving at a sprinter's pace.

The rebuilding of Japan in the 1940s, for example, began on V-J Day – Aug. 14, 1945. It wasn't until four years later, however, in 1949, that a plan was even in place to begin turning over power to Japan's native rulers. And it was further not until 1952 that Japan became, once again, an independent state.

The United States, on the other hand, officially undertook the rebuilding project in Iraq just over 12 months ago. But even with the hostile acts of insurgent groups and foreign terrorists bent on undermining Iraq's new freedom, the coalition remains committed to an autonomous Iraq by June 30, 2004.

The Office of Security Cooperation is also committed to the transition and continues to organize, train, equip and mentor credible and capable Iraqi security and military forces. To that end, the office relies on a unique all-volunteer force of Iraqi citizens.

Recruits are first vetted by the organization before training, then leaders are chosen based on trainer observations of recruit performance. Officers are first considered merely candidates and only later assigned a rank. Noncommissioned officers are selected from the enlisted ranks.

Civil security forces also go through a comprehensive vetting process and both forces – civil and military – are, additionally, indiscriminately made up of a fully representative and integrated grouping where Kurds, Sunnis and Shiites serve together in mixed units.

For its part, the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team, OSC's military branch, is specifically charged with the initial training and building of the Iraqi Armed Forces. The team is directed by British Army Brigadier Nigel Aylwin-Foster, Office of Security Cooperation deputy commanding general for CMATT.

The Iraqi Armed Forces will eventually include four branches of security comprised of the Iraqi Army, Iraqi Air Force, Iraqi Civil Defense Corps and Iraqi Coastal Defense Force--a colossal effort in the post-war Iraqi environment.

“But I think everyone here is working extremely hard to make the coalition work,” Aylwin-Foster said. Even with many challenges, he said the coalition has performed well.

“Everybody's clear about what we're trying to achieve. And I think everybody's working together extremely well,” he added.

Indeed the Office of Security Cooperation is a team effort comprised of many coalition partners working together to stand up the new army and that includes forward training bases throughout the country as well as special on-site training in the United States, Great Britain, Australia, Italy and Jordon.

To that end, the organization has trained a force of four Army battalions and the U.S. major subordinate commands have trained 36 Iraqi Civil Defense Corps battalions that were equipped by the Office of Security Cooperation Currently, the office is training and equipping coastal defense forces at Umm Qsar, and training the Iraqi air force in Jordan.

Additional Army and Iraqi Civil Defense Corps battalions will also be added to bring the full complement to 27 Army and 45 ICDC battalions. And although the military side of the Office of Security Cooperation's efforts is only in its infancy, one story that's not being told is that people of Iraq are looking more and more with great favor on their country's new forces. In the face of setbacks and criticisms, this untold story remains a truth amidst the troops as well.

“It is a wonderful army now,” said Lt. Col. Ahmed Lutfi Ahmed Raheem, an Iraqi army officer. “The spirits are good. We are happy, and the training is good. Very good.”

“There is a big difference between the old army and the new army,” Raheem said.

And those differences are significant. The new Iraqi military has higher wages, equipment upgrades and the improved interpersonal relationships within the ranks — two-way communication akin to its U.S. military mentor.

But improved conditions have not removed the threat posed by insurgents. Many soldiers like Raheem who proudly wear their uniforms are targets of killings and kidnappings, but they continue to serve their nation.

“I don't think the critics understand what these guys are going through,” said Master Sgt. Daniel Satterlee, a Coalition Military Assistance Training Team advisor at the Tadji forward training base north of Baghdad.

“Many of the soldiers have put themselves at great risk to themselves and their family by joining the army,” Satterlee said. “And, for the most part, have no contact with their families. It is a testament to the soldiers that they are able to continue with what they know is right.”

The other half of the Office of Security Cooperation, the Coalition Police Assistance Training Team, is tasked with the instruction and equipping of the Iraqi Civil Security Forces including the Iraqi Police Service, Department of Border Enforcement and Facilities Protection Service.

The unit, led by British Army Brigadier Andrew Mackay, trains former police officers in three-week transition integration programs while sending non-prior service recruits to a comprehensive eight-week Basic Police Academy course. The team focuses civil security training on the basic fundamentals of policing in a free society. International police advisors mentor the Iraqi field training officers, station commanders and police chiefs.

“In a very short time we've been able to make considerable progress in the four lines of operation that we have,” said Marine Corps Col. Michael D. Greer, the team's chief of staff. That is: equipping, training, mentoring and certifying the forces.

“And although the police situation in Iraq is an extraordinarily complex one,” Greer said, “Everything is on track.”

The organization has had to deal with a non-existent post-war infrastructure. The environment also demands that the mission encompass not only the training of civil security forces, but the enormous task of rebuilding and equipping.

“There was also a fabulous loss of equipment and facilities at the end of the war,” Greer said. “We've had to replace all that and we've worked hard to do that.”

The net result, said Greer, is that Iraq is going to soon have equipment to protect and police itself that is as good as any nation on earth.

And although there have been drawbacks and setbacks and the political situation in the country remains fluid in many respects, the organization as a whole looks favorably on the future.

“Our sense is that as soon as the Iraqis begin to take more control with sovereignty – and then after elections toward the end of the year – that the police situation will continue to solidify,” Greer said.

A sentiment echoed in other corners of the organization: “I'm amazed really of the way they are so robust and resilient in coming back time and time again,” Aylwin-Foster said.

Iraqi Maj. Tahseen Salman Al Mia Ymi sums up the emotion of many within the new Iraqi ranks: “The old army was big, but empty.”