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Baghdad - NTM-I personnel during the DANCON march at Forward Operating Base Union III on 4th November 2011 (Photo by NTM-I) |
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Baghdad, Iraq – Fifty military members of NATO Training Mission-Iraq (NTM-I) took part in a DANCON March at Forward Operating Base Union III on 4th November 2011. The march was organized by the six Danish officers and NCOs currently deployed as part of NTM-I.
This year the DANCON March included not only a march in uniform and full military equipment, but also some competitive physical and mental tasks for the teams of two. Overseen by the Danish personnel, the tasks included the demonstration of sporting prowess, judging distances, military and general (Danish) knowledge tests.
"The March became a good trial for all participants and all of them have shown an excellent and high team spirit,” – said Colonel Karsten Vestergaard, Danish Senior National Representative and Deputy Chief of Staff,
NTM-I.
Those who successfully completed the march received a certificate and the "DANCON Iraq 2011” medal.
The winning team comprised Brigadier General Russell Wardle (British Army, GBR) and Colonel Vincenzo Gardin (Carabinieri, ITA). The second place team comprised Wing Commander Alan Morrow (Royal Air Force, GBR), and MSgt Algimantas Greicaitis (Lithuanian Army, LIT).
Danish Contingent (DANCON) Marches have been a tradition with the Danish Defence Forces since 1972. The event involves foreign troops, allied with Denmark. Marches have taken place in Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and the Gulf of Aden.
The NATO Training Mission in Iraq (NTM-I) was established in 2004 at the request of the Iraqi Interim Government under the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1546. The aim of NTM-I is to assist in the development of Iraqi security forces training structures and institutions so that Iraq can build an effective and self-sustainable capability that address the needs of the nation.
NTM-I is not a combat mission but is a distinct training mission, under the political control of NATO's North Atlantic Council. Its operational emphasis is on training and mentoring. The activities of the mission are coordinated with Iraqi authorities and the Office for Security and Cooperation-Iraq (OSC-I) Chief, who is also dual-hatted as the Commander of NTM-I. NATO has an enduring commitment to Iraq.
NTM-I advises and supports the Defence University for Military Studies, National Defence College, War College, and the Defence Language Institute with the other institutions in Baghdad. Other cooperation projects for NATO in Iraq are out-of-country training courses for Iraqi nationals at NATO schools as well as the Iraqi Police (Iraqi Federal Police and Oil Police) training led by Italian Carabinieri.
Currently, NTM-I is a small tactical force of NATO/PfP personnel, representing 13 member nations (as of October 2011): Albania, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine (Partner for Peace), UK, USA.