Training & Equipment Synchronization Cell

The Training and Equipment Synchronization Cell (TESC) is responsible for planning, co-ordinating and executing Iraqi attendance at out-of-country (OOC) NATO training events (courses, exercises, conferences) and OOC courses offered bilaterally by individual nations. It is also responsible for co-ordinating equipment donations to the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) by NATO nations as part of the Equipment Donation Programme.

TESC consists of five personnel from Poland, Turkey, Hungary and Ukraine. Its main tasks are:

• To coordinate the execution of the in-year OOC training programme. This includes: calling for and collating the nominations from the Iraqi Ministries; coordinating with JFC Naples for flight arrangements; coordinating arrangements for the Iraqi nominees to get visas; conducting pre-course briefings; collating post-course reports; and all administrative tasks associated with sending large numbers of students on overseas courses.
• To prepare, as part of a wider NATO team, an annual OOC training programme. For TESC this includes: calling for, collating and interpreting the requirements from the Iraqi Ministries; creating a formal Statement of Training Requirements on behalf of the ISF; liaising with NATO Training and Equipment Coordination Group (NTECG) at SHAPE about the availability of suitable training opportunities for the ISF; allocating course places to the different Ministries; and publishing an annual Course Catalogue.
• To coordinate the in-country aspects of the delivery of equipment donations to Iraq. This involves close liaison with both NTECG and USF-I.
• To collate the ISF's equipment requirements and produce, on their behalf, an annual Statement of Equipment Requirements to be passed to NTECG to seek donations from NATO nations.
• Liaison with USF-I and the staff of DCG (Advising and Training) on all OOC training and equipment donation matters to ensure coordination.

During the period 2004-2009 1,530 ISF generals, officers and officials attended OOC courses at NATO Educational and Training Facilities (NETFs). In 2010 TESC has coordinated the attendance of 300 ISF representatives on 18 NATO courses offered by the NATO School in Oberammergau, the NATO Defence College in Rome, and the Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger. In addition, TESC has also coordinated the attendance of 300 representatives on 6 courses offered by, and paid for by, Turkey at the Centre of Excellence – Defence Against Terrorism and the Partnership for Peace Training Centre in Ankara.

For the 2011 programme TESC has received 340 training requirements from the ISF. A large majority of these requirements are not covered by NETFs and alternative solutions will be sought such as NATO Centres of Excellence, Mobile Training Teams, distance learning and bilateral offers from NATO nations to Iraq.

In the period 2005-2010 TESC supported 23 donations of arms, materiel and military equipment from 15 nations worth over 130M Euros. Major donations include 77 T72 tanks from Hungary, 100 BMP-1 from Greece and 100 light trucks from Denmark. In 2010 Croatia has donated 6 EOD dogs and trained 6 handlers, and 500 AK47; both these donations were delivered to the Baghdad Police College.