Story and photo by Capt. Adam D. Westbrook, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C BAGHDAD—Soldiers with the 5th “Longknife” Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center finalized their roles as training advisors with the 2nd Iraqi Federal Police Division Combined Training School, formerly the Saber Academy, with a graduation ceremony Aug. 27 at Joint Security Station Justice, Iraq.The graduation marks the end of what has been more than a year’s worth of effort to create and maintain a training school specifically for the 2nd IFP Div. that would emphasize the need for standardized instruction. With the ongoing reduction in U.S. forces throughout Iraq, Soldiers with the Longknife Squadron are handing over full responsibility of the school to the 2nd IFP Div. training officer, Staff Col. Salman Abdulla Waleed, and his training instructors. Training continued at the school despite the Ramadan holiday, in which it is customary to fast from dawn to dusk. Such conditions often make it hard for a participating shurta, or police officers, to maintain the alertness and stamina needed to conduct physically-challenging training.During the graduation ceremony, Waleed stressed the importance of the training the students had undergone during the two-week course and the significance of continuing even through Ramadan.“Remember what you learned here,” he said. “The terrorists do not take breaks and do not stop to recognize the holidays.” Among those attending the graduation was Keith Carson, a civilian police adviser attached to C Troop, 5th Sqdn., 4th Cav. Regt. and a Fort Worth, Texas, native. Carson has worked with the instructors of the CTS since August 2010 and has been a key source of expertise and guidance for members of the 2nd IFP Div.“As things came to an end, things really started to come together for the instructors,” said Carson.As a token of appreciation, Waleed presented Carson with a certificate similar to the ones given to the graduating students. Carson accepted his certificate from Waleed just as the students would—with a hard stomp of his right foot and an Iraqi-style salute. The Iraqi instructors have, in the last few months, been running nearly every aspect of the training with little U.S. support. In fact, since the Longknife Squadron has been in the area, the 2nd IFP Div. has taken responsibility for supplying the food, personnel, and various other support needs for the school. As a testament to the school’s longevity, more than 500 students have been trained in the year alone. “Over the past ten months of our association with this course, we have seen significant improvement in the professionalism of the instructors and the quality of the training offered,” said Maj. Jonathan Simmons, an adviser with the Stability Transition Team attached to 5th Sdqn., 4th Cav. Regt. and a Temple, Texas, native, who has worked closely with 2nd IFP Div. staff.  “We are confident that the positive results gained from the course will ensure it continues after our departure from theater.”Simmons’ assessment of the CTS reflects not only the efforts of Iraqi counterparts and their dedication to bettering their training, but also the efforts of those U.S. personnel associated with the school working diligently to leave a program which will endure after they depart.