Iraqi Army Training and Deployment of 1st Infantry Division (ID) to Iraq- Ft. Riley, Kansas

January 23-25, 2007, Ft. Riley, Kansas
Contact: Washington Foreign Press Center Program Officers Andrew Strike and Wendy Lyle.
Telephone: Andrew Strike: (202) 504-6356; Email: strikeap2@state.gov; Wendy Lyle: (202) 504-6362; Email: lylewp@state.gov

Thirty five journalists representing 12 TV, 7 radio and five print media outlets from 15 countries around the world visited Ft. Riley, Kansas to cover Iraqi Army training and the deployment of the 1st Infantry Division (ID) soldiers to Iraq.  During the tour, the media received an in-depth servies of briefings and interviews with soldiers and 1st ID Commander, Major General Ham on the training of U.S. Army Military Training Teams (MTTs) about to deploy to Iraq to train the Iraqi Army.  They were also able to accompany the soldiers through two days of field training with Iraq-American cultural trainers and Arabic language experts.

Wearing Army jackets and helmets, the journalists were given a unique opportunity to take part in such training as humvee rollover exercise or do standup reports in front of a humvee or a helicopter.  Soldiers who have just returned or will soon be deployed to Iraq gave series of interviews after each training exercies.  Major Genral Carter Ham took part in media roundtables and granted twelve TV, one-on-one interviews.  They also interviewed Col. Richard Gibbs, 4th Brigate Commander, and soldiers with their spouses and children before and after the deployment ceremony.