Job Title
TAFT Primary/Lead Instructor – Field Artillery (13A)
Why IDS?
IDS believes in resolving conflict, building innovative approaches to do so. Combining operational expertise with an intimate understanding of today’s greatest challenges, we bring our customers the solutions required for success in a complex and multidimensional world. IDS tailors solutions for a diverse range of government, military, nonprofit, and public‑sector clients.
Locations
Iraq
The TAFT Lead Instructor for the Artillery Officers Basic Training Course (AOBTC) is responsible for the complete planning, management, and delivery of all field artillery officer training. Serving as the in‑country Site Lead, this instructor is the primary point of contact for all coordination between IDS, SATMO, OSC‑I, Iraqi Ministry of Defense representatives, and AOBTC leadership.
This position oversees the entire training program including curriculum execution, lesson plan alignment, instructor synchronization, and training quality control. The Lead Instructor delivers officer‑level field artillery instruction across fires planning, fire support fundamentals, gunnery theory, targeting, and unit‑level employment of artillery systems.
Responsibilities include designing evaluations, conducting academic and practical assessments, leading instructor teams, ensuring compliance with all Performance Work Statement (PWS) requirements, and maintaining high‑level communication with US and Iraqi stakeholders. The TAFT Lead Instructor ensures that all students achieve the required proficiency to serve effectively in artillery command and leadership roles.
• Lead all instructional operations for the AOBTC, ensuring lesson plans, training schedules, and student progression align with PWS standards and partner‑nation goals.
• Deliver advanced artillery officer instruction covering fire support planning, ballistic and gunnery principles, call‑for‑fire methodologies, and tactical employment of artillery assets.
• Supervise TAFT instructors, ensure doctrinal accuracy, evaluate instructional performance, and coordinate daily teaching responsibilities.
• Develop, administer, and evaluate written tests, practical exercises, command post drills, and field‑based assessments.
• Serve as the primary liaison with SATMO, OSC‑I, and Iraqi MoD artillery leadership, ensuring synchronized training efforts and strategic alignment.
• Review, revise, and validate training material for doctrinal correctness and instructional effectiveness, maintaining program accreditation and standardization.
• Conduct formal student counseling, performance reviews, and targeted remediation to ensure academic and tactical proficiency.
• Monitor student understanding of artillery systems including the 120mm mortar, M198, and M109A5 howitzer, ensuring officers can plan and employ each system effectively.
• Prepare and submit required training reports, status updates, and instructional documentation to IDS leadership and relevant stakeholders.
• Ten (10) years of program management or military equivalency with supervisory experience in artillery or mortar units.
• Knowledgeable at the NCO‑level or higher regarding 120mm mortars, M198, and M109A5 systems.
• Bachelor’s degree required per U.S. Military officer standards.
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