Australians to train Iraqi army
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So far Australian troops have suffered no casualties in Iraq.
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CANBERRA, Australia (CNN) -- Australia will send additional troops to Iraq to help train the nation's armed forces.
Australia's Defense Minister Robert Hill announced Monday the contingent will spend six months working with three Iraqi army battalions, instructing them in everything from taking orders to firing weapons.
The 53 troops, who will travel to the Persian Gulf in May, will join the nearly 800 other Australian troops based in the region.
"Our soldiers currently serving with coalition military assistance training teams have already played a major part in graduating the first four battalions of the Iraqi army," Hill said in a statement.
Extra personnel and equipment would accompany the training teams as the Iraqi training base was located outside Baghdad, away from the Australian Task Force headquarters, he said.
The government has also decided to replace the guided missile frigate HMAS Melbourne deployed in the Persian Gulf with an ANZAC class frigate, HMAS Stuart.
The frigate will be used help secure Iraqi territorial waters and offshore oil platforms and prevent smuggling into and out of Iraq.
Australia sent 2,000 troops plus air and naval support to fight with U.S. and British forces in the initial invasion of Iraq last year.
So far, no Australian troops have been killed in the region.
Australia's defense department on Monday also released a report examining the involvement of Australian Defense Force personnel in operations in Iraq and the lessons learned from it.
"We are using our experiences to inform decisions on defense capability acquisitions, support and development to ensure our forces continue to be well-trained, equipped and led to defend Australia and its national interests," Hill said.
