US to Train, Equip Individual Troops in Syria Instead of Entire Units

Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Col. Steve Warren said that during the first train-and-equip program in Syria, the US military pulled entire units off the battlefield and tried to push them through training, but that initiative failed.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US military will apply lessons learned from its failed train-and-equip program in Syria by training individuals as opposed to pulling entire units off the battlefield, Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Col. Steve Warren told reporters on Friday.

"Dozens of people are now being trained [in Syria]," Warren stated. "These are individuals as opposed to units."

During the first train-and-equip program in Syria, the US military pulled entire units off the battlefield and tried to push them through training, but that initiative failed, Warren explained.

The Department of Defense canceled its first Syrian train-and-equip program at the end of 2015 after the $500 million initiative failed to produce more than five or six fighters.

Earlier this month, US Central Command Commander Gen. Joseph Votel told Congress the Defense Department would enhance the vetting processes in the revived program, and fighters trained would focus efforts against the Islamic State (ISIL, or Daesh) as opposed to Syrian government forces.