Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080512-08
May 12, 2008

200 students graduate from Iskandariyah vo-tech
Multi-National Division – Center PAO

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Approximately 200 students from the Vocational-Technical School in the Iskandariyah Industrial Complex (IIC) graduated May 4 amongst friends and family members.
 “I’d like to say congratulations to the vo-tech director and his staff but most of all to the students of this graduating class,” said Lt. Col. Jeff McKone, Multi-National Division – Center Iskandariyah Industrial Complex liaison, Team Iskan officer in charge. “It is an honor to be a part of the success in the rebuilding of the Iskandariyah vo-tech.”
 Graduates received a certificate of training along with a gift -- sewing machine or computer repair kit -- to help them get started in the business world.
 Back in May 2007, only 32 students were enrolled at the technical school, but now there are more than 700, said Naseer Abdul Jabar, vo-tech director. He said by June they’re hoping to have 1,000 students enrolled per quarter.
 The IIC is located in the northern Babil Province, approximately 50 kilometers south of Baghdad, and houses a cluster of state-owned factories and the vo-tech, which is open to Iraqis wanting to learn job skills and trades.
 Some of the classes held there include computers, electrical engineering, plumbing, sewing, carpentry, HVAC, mechanical, auto mechanics, machining, milling and grinding.
 “Now that you have the skills you need you will be able to serve this country and you will help the economy grow,” said Sabah al-Khafaji, chief of the Mussayib council.
 The IIC is a business incubator similar to the Job-Corps program in the United States, dedicated to young start-up businesses. It has the space required for manufacturing, research and development and administration for young and established enterprises.
 At the same time, the vo-tech is intended to produce a steady stream of qualified workers for the industries and business, providing a further base of economic stability in the region.

Lt. Col. Jeff McKone, the Team Iskan officer in-charge, presents an Iraqi student with a certificate and gift during a graduation ceremony at the Vocational-Technical School in the Iskandariyah Industrial Complex May 4. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Tami Hillis)

-30-

FOR QUERIES, CONTACT THE MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION – CENTER PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE AT: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it OR BY PHONE AT DSN 318-822-7482 OR COMMERCIAL 912-767-4114.