CODEL SHAYS STAFF REVIEWS IRAQI COUNTER TERRORISM

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001076 SIPDIS STATE FOR P/M USCENTCOMM FOR CDR SOCCENT E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/03/2015 TAGS: PREL PTER MASS IZ JO SUBJECT: CODEL SHAYS STAFF REVIEWS IRAQI COUNTER TERRORISM TRAINING REF: A. BAGHDAD 403 ¶B. 04 AMMAN 9151 Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Jordanian Special Operations Command briefed staff members of Codel Shays January 29 on training for the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Force (ICTF). The Jordanians requested U.S. support for a new training facility, unique to the region, that would provide greater capacity for counter terrorism training. End Summary. -------------- ICTF -------------- ¶2. (C) Staff Director Larry Halloran, Senior Policy Analyst Dr. Nicholas Palarino, and Minority Staff Member Jeffrey Baran of Codel Shays visited the Jordanian Special Operations Command headquarters and training facilities just north of Amman on January 29. Known as the 71st Battalion, the Jordanian counter terrorism force has provided training to the ICTF since February 2004 as set forth in a memorandum of agreement with U.S. Special Operations Command-Central in October 2003. The agreement provided for six, twelve-week courses comprised of 100 Iraqi students each. According to the 71st Battalion's leadership and U.S. special forces advisors, recruiting qualified Iraqis for the initial courses proved difficult and resulted in smaller class sizes. As the ICTF training has progressed, the unit's positive reputation in combat has spread, primarily by word of mouth. This has raised the profile of the program and attracted better qualified volunteers from the Iraqi National Guard to fill the ranks. The current class - the fourth of six - was in its third week of training and conducting marksmanship exercises during the delegation's visit. ¶3. (C) In cooperation with U.S. Special Operation Command-Central, the 71st Battalion has adjusted the twelve-week training curriculum to reflect the combat needs in Iraq. For example, the first three courses contained a sniper module that has been removed in favor of more tactical assault training. (NOTE: Certain graduates of the ICTF training in Jordan are selected for sniper training in Iraq. END NOTE.) To date roughly 200 Iraqi soldiers have graduated from the counter terrorism training program in Jordan. -------------- -------------- King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) The Jordanian Special Operations Command leadership briefed the delegation on King Abdullah's plans to build a regional Special Operations Training Center in Jordan. The greatly expanded facility would include train and airplane mock-ups, as well as urban landscapes encompassing simulated embassies. The center would be used to train counter terrorist forces from across the region in a variety of simulated situations such as hostage taking at diplomatic missions. No similar facilities exist in the region. The expanded training center would increase the capacity for the ICTF from the current class size of 100 and would allow the 71st Battalion to resume its full schedule of training which has been squeezed by the presence of the ICTF. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) The training facilities for the 71st Battalion include sophisticated firing ranges that were recently installed and more improvements are underway. However, the current center's capacity is clearly limited. U.S. help in funding the proposed new training facility remains a high priority for the King and the Jordanian Armed Forces (ref B) and would significantly expand their ability to host training for neighboring forces, such as the ICTF. End Comment. ¶6. (U) Codel Shays did not have the opportunity to clear on this message. ¶7. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. HALE