Army cuts training of 100 NCOs 5 weeks short to support Iraq surge

FORT BLISS, Texas — About 100 senior NCOs will be released early from the nine-month resident Sergeants Major Course to support the troop surge in Iraq.

Col. David J. Abramowitz, commandant of the Sergeants Major Academy, said graduation ceremonies will be held April 13 for sergeants major designated for immediate deployment to Iraq. The rest of the 649-member Class #57 that began studies late last summer will graduate May 22, the regularly scheduled date.

Abramowitz, who leaves here Friday to become chief of staff for the Iraq Assistance Group, said the soldiers designated for early graduation will not participate in the course’s culminating command post exercise.

Read the rest at the Army Times

Related Link:
2 Army units will forgo desert training in rush to Iraq

Related Link:
Report: Pace warns Congress of signifcant decline in military readiness, 'may take several years' to reverse

Related Link:
Perspective: In rush to surge, soldiers sent in with little training