Retired Major General Jim Molan believes Australian troops should go into battle with the Iraqi soldiers they're training if Islamic State is to be defeated.
"I think we've really got to now look very seriously at advising, assisting and accompanying (them) into battle," he told Network Ten.
Mr Molan said the Iraqi soldiers Australia is training aren't yet battle ready and tactics need to change because the enemy is moving so fast in Syria and Iraq.
There was a history of failure in training the Iraqi army, Mr Molan said citing British efforts in southern Iraq during the second Gulf War.
"We pushed them out (of) the barracks and they were destroyed," he said.
Last week, US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter blamed Iraqi forces for the fall of Ramadi, which is about 30km from Baghdad, saying they lacked the will to fight.
Islamic State has also captured Palmyra in Syria.
Mr Molan also warned restrictive rules of engagement for air power are inappropriate.
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