Six weeks to train Iraqi military/police? Then why aren't they ready?

Question

So I'm learning that it only takes about six weeks to train Iraqi military/police. hummm..Then why aren't they ready? Is it true they do not have the proper weapons? Of course, we also know that about 6 thousand of the trainees have been killed....

Answer 1

They keep getting killed and deserting.

Answer 2

It takes a long time to train a soldier well. Just look at the death counts in the Civil War through WWII. Then look at the death counts in Korea and Vietnam. Then look at the death rates at both Gulf Wars. The difference has not been the equipment, but training and cultural understanding of what went right and wrong in previous wars (for instance the U.S. civilian population has a general knowledge of how to do codes, set up ambushes, how to scout and pick off somebody at several hundred yards all without formal military training). The Iraqis that have survived the Iraq and Iran war and the fighting against the U.S. have been the run and hide types with little education.

What the U.S. military should have done was look at Iraq at large. There is 18 providences in Iraq and the fighting is in 4 of them. That means there are 14 relatively peaceful providences in Iraq. That's where the Iraqi police and soldiers should have been sent. They should also be paid every half day, because they tend to just show up to get their paychecks. They should be less likely to be killed or abandon their posts out of fear of attack. This would also lessen the need for mass equipment supplies they would need if they were on the offensive like they are now.

The U.S. should have then began chipping away at the Sunni triangle and had Iraqi soldiers and police on standby (from training more police and soldiers) to fill in the vacuum.

Instead, the U.S. has been doing trial by fire excersises with these guys.

Answer 3

If you insist on taking snippets from here and yon, you'll remain confused, or just hard-headed. Basic training may take a short period, but that doesn't make one functional. US troops typically undergo about 3 months of boot camp and then go to a training program such as AIT (advanced infantry training), after which they go to a platoon that is run by men with years of experience, and once the cherry has been around for two or three years he's actually worth his pay. The Iraqis don't have that luxury, and one can expect it'll be somewhat difficult to get them trained to be fully competent. An entire platoon is going to be no better than its platoon sergeant. AK47's aren't in short supply, but we don't have enough armored vehicles for our own troops, and this has been a sticking point.

Answer 4

We tried to give them M16A2s and then M4 Carbines but for some reason they will only fight w/ AKs. Im dead serious about it, I dont get it but yeah.

These people arent like the US citizens, they didnt go to school for 12 years when they were children. I doubt they can read and write or speak English (Which makes it kind of hard). It takes 6 weeks to train an AMERICAN MP, it takes alot longer to train someone that has litte/no schooling, speaks a different language, and has no idea what theyre doing.

Answer 5

Trying to bring a camel jockey up to a race car driver in 6 weeks is just too difficult. Remember these people cannot fix a bicycle. They have hired outsiders since day one. All they can do is sit around in burnooses and hum stuff to Mecca.