US embassy cable - 05AMMAN1076

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). 
 
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Summary 
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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. 
 
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ICTF 
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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. 
 
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King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center 
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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. 
 
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Comment 
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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