Op SHADER By Major Duncan Ayres


Sun, palm trees and lots of concrete – FOB Union III is a curious place. The compound sits in the International Zone just next to the Tigris river and is built around the old Ba’ath Party Headquarters, colloquially known as ‘Building 5’.


C


urrently AGC personnel from the ALS, ETS, RMP and SPS work across different areas and missions in a range of E1 and E2 positions.


The UK has one of the best National Support Elements (NSE) on camp ensuring all the J functions are covered and support is provided to the OP SHADER personnel working in NATO Mission Iraq (NMI) and the other major resident at Union III, the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR). In total there are around 50 odd Brits working in Union III.


NMI is a non-combat advisory and capacity-building mission that assists Iraq in building more sustainable, transparent, inclusive and effective security institutions and armed forces, so that Iraqis themselves are able to stabilise their country, fight terrorism and prevent the return of Daesh. It sees NATO personnel working closely with Iraqi institutions from the Ministry of Defence to individual training establishments. The current 30 NATO members are also supported by partners from Finland, Sweden and Australia. The Austrians may even send a few bods in the coming months. The majority of the AGC team are involved directly or indirectly in the day to day advisory activities including managing ground movements around the Greater Baghdad Area (GBA), management of interpreters, curriculum development and institutional reform to name but a few.


As with all multi-national deployments there is a heady mix of languages, cultures and shared bathroom etiquette to get used to. There are a host of national days and parades


to attend, though during the summer months the 50 degree heat ensures that only the hardiest of nations get up at 0600 to stand in the baking sun. The Spaniards have it down to a fine art.


In between grueling days stuck in windowless rooms there are physical challenges aplenty to participate in. The Danes and Spaniards run a number of weighted marches throughout the year and SSgt Ricky Oxley even managed to finish 3rd in Murphy’s Challenge that was run by the Americans and had around 250 international participants, many who resembled Ivan Drago from Rocky IV!


Our antecedent branch personnel who served in this region from the Mesopotamian campaign through the Gulf Wars to today would see their AGC brothers and sisters in arms both visible and well-represented in Baghdad, in varied roles, highlighting the capability and flexibility of the AGC officer and soldier. Something I am sure they would be very proud of.


Major Duncan Ayres with Iraqi Ministerial Training Development Centre Director Ahmed.


102 AGC JOURNAL 2022


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