IMAR cadet

On 21 June 2004, Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi asked for NATO's assistance in developing the capabilities of Iraq's security forces.  In August 2004 the NATO Training Assistance Implementation Mission in Iraq (NTM-I) was established.  NTM-I provides training and assistance with equipping Iraqi security force.  Since its inception, NTM-I has trained over 10,000 Iraqis.

NTM-I provides a number of training programmes:

• Command and Control Centres.  NTM-I advises and mentors staff in the National and Regional Operations Centres in support of the transition of security responsibility to Iraqi control.
  
• Gendarmeri (police) training.  Gendarmerie type training began in October 2007 and is delivered by Italian Carabinieri.  The training aims to provide leadership training to 8 battalions of the Iraqi National Police.
  
• Iraqi Army Staff Training.  Introductory Staff Training for Brigade and Battalion Officers.
  
• Iraqi Junior Navy Officer Leadership Courses.  The first leadership training course was held onboard the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Cardigan Bay out of an Iraqi naval base in 2008.
  
• Defence Language Institute.  English language training to enable officers to attend NTM-I training courses.
  
• Officer training.  The UK has sponsored a Train the Trainer course to help develop Iraqi capabilities at the Iraqi Military Academy Ar Rustamiyah Officer Selection Centre, Officer Cadet Academy and the Joint Staff College.

NATO and one non-NATO nation (Ukraine) have around 160 personnel working in Iraq.  The UK provides around 30 personnel.  From the 1 Sep 2009 the UK assumed the role of Principal Coordinating Nation for Officer Training and Education.

At the NATO Summit in Bucharest on 3 April 2008, NATO Heads of State and Government reaffirmed their commitment to NTM-I.  The Summit's Declaration stated:

"We reiterate the Alliance’s commitment to support the Government and people of Iraq and to assist with the development of Iraqi Security Forces. We have responded positively to a request by Prime Minister Al-Maliki to extend the NATO Training Mission-Iraq (NTM-I) through 2009. We are also favourably considering the Government of Iraq’s request to enhance the NTM-I mission in areas such as Navy and Air Force leadership training, police training, border security, the fight against terrorism, defence reform, defence institution building, and Small Arms and Light Weapons accountability. NTM-I continues to make an important contribution to international efforts to train and equip Iraqi Security Forces and, to date, has trained over 10,000 members of these forces. Complementing these efforts, NATO has also approved proposals for a structured co-operation framework to develop NATO’s long-term relationship with Iraq and continue to develop Iraq’s capabilities to address common challenges and threats."

On 17 April 2008, Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri Al-Maliki, visited NATO HQ in Brussels where he welcomed the decision to extend NTM-I through to 2009.