TAFT Lead Instructor – Master Gunner (19K)
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
IraqJob Description
The TAFT Lead Instructor for the Master Gunner Training Program is responsible for planning, directing, and executing all training associated with the Master Gunner Common Core (MGCC) and M1A2 Master Gunner Courses. Serving as the primary in‑country representative for IDS, this position maintains direct coordination with SATMO, OSC‑I, the Program Manager, Iraqi Ministry of Defense officials, and the 9th Armored Division/MGTC leadership.
The Lead Instructor executes all instructional phases, including curriculum development, classroom instruction, turret‑based application, hands‑on technical demonstrations, operational gunnery tasks, and field evaluations. This role develops and validates lesson plans, ensures compliance with the Performance Work Statement (PWS), manages the daily training schedule, and ensures consistency among all TAFT instructors.
The position requires mastery of the M1A2 Abrams tank platform, including fire‑control systems, turret operations, ballistic theory, and all associated gunnery components. The Lead Instructor leads student progression management, formal counseling, academic assessments, remedial training development, and final evaluations to certify that students have achieved required proficiency prior to graduation. Key Duties
• Direct all MGTC training operations, ensuring alignment with PWS requirements, course design, and partner‑nation training objectives.
• Deliver advanced armor gunnery instruction covering fire‑control operations, turret operations, engagement techniques, ballistics, and crew coordination.
• Supervise TAFT instructors, validate lesson accuracy, maintain doctrinal consistency, and oversee instructor performance and mentorship.
• Develop comprehensive training schedules, instructor assignments, and daily/weekly resource plans to synchronize classroom, simulator, and field events.
• Create and administer written examinations, hands‑on performance evaluations, and live‑fire assessments; establish grading standards and evaluation metrics.
• Conduct formal academic counseling, identify performance gaps, develop remedial training plans, and oversee student progression through all MGCC and M1A2 MG modules.
• Coordinate directly with SATMO, OSC‑I, and Iraqi MoD to ensure synchronized execution of training tasks, reporting requirements, and mission objectives.
• Maintain quality control over all training materials, ensuring accuracy, relevance, and continuous improvement across all instructional platforms.
• Manage accountability and proper employment of training aids, technical manuals, turret trainers, sensitive items, and all resources used for instruction.
• Produce detailed training reports, risk assessments, course completion documentation, and operational summaries for IDS and mission stakeholders.Requirements
• Ten (10) years of program management or military equivalency, with supervisory experience in an operational armor unit employing M240 and M1A2 systems.
• NCO‑level mastery of Master Gunner training, gunnery operations, maintenance fundamentals, and Iraqi MoD‑relevant weapons systems. Questions?
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What We Do
Hybrid conflict. Non-state actors. Digital hacktivists. Tribal politics. Advanced technology. Ancient beliefs. Rapid adaptation. Strategic uncertainty. Declining resources. Rising extremism. Today’s national security challenges are complex and multidimensional, requiring adaptive, interagency responses. For more than a decade, IDS International has delivered innovative training, research and operational civil-military services to help address these 21st century challenges. We are seasoned soldiers, aid workers, diplomats, intelligence professionals, cyber warriors, technical experts, political advisors, and more with a common understanding of how to train for and operate in conflict zones and transitional areas. Our team of interagency experts and field practitioners operate and train together daily, building on our global multidisciplinary understanding of challenges, best practices and new approaches. This wide range of perspectives permits us to serve as a liaison between civil society, military, government and technology to enhance coordination and effectively solve complex security and political problems.
