There has recently been the ceremony for the changing of the Commander at the Kurdistan Training Coordination Centre (KTCC), the Coalition Unit dedicated to train the Kurdistan Security Forces in the independent region of Kurdistan. At the same time the KTCC has passed at the dependencies of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), the Command dedicated to face the so-called Islamic State.
The ceremony took place in presence of the most important political and military authorities of the Independent Region of Kurdistan, the Deputy Commanding General for Training at the CJTF-OIR in Baghdad and the Italian Contingent Commander, Brigadier General Roberto Vannacci. Colonel Angelo IACHETTI replaced the German Colonel Andreas STEINHAUS who took on the KTCC Command last December.
The KTCC is composed of contingents from 8 European Nations: Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Great Britain, Hungary and Slovenia, that are part of the "Global Coalition" created in September 2014 to defeat international terrorism and Daesh.
Since its constitution in January 2015 there are 31000 servicemen of the Peshmerga Ministry and the Interior Ministry trained by the KTCC; among them about 16000 are trained by Instructors of the Italian Army that contributes with 110 servicemen and servicewomen to the training unit based in the Independent Region of the Iraqi Kurdistan. The training courses can train up to 4 Battalions contemporarily (about 1800 units) and it lasts 12 weeks; at present they are focused on the training of the KSF, on the control and the stabilization of the territory taken away from Daesh.
In addition, the KTCC develops courses aiming to train local instructors in military subjects as infantry employment, shooting, first aid and knowledge of the risk linked to explosives (EHAT, Explosive Hazard Awareness Training).
It has also been reinforced the training in favour of police units in terms of capabilities in controlling the territory and specialized activities.
With the Battalion Staff Course the Italian personnel contributes to the training of the future staff managers of Peshmerga Units, up to Brigade level.
C-IED (Counter-Improvised Explosive Device) courses continue to be decisive in facing the threat of improvised explosive device. Those courses are organized in favour of personnel specialized in research, recognition and securing of improvised explosive device, but also in favour of all the Kurdish security forces through EHAT courses.
The personnel trained by KTCC has participated in battles against the so-called Islamic State and it continues to guarantee the security in the areas freed by ISIS, showing the national effort to defeat DAESH and the international terrorism.