The first wave of Australian troops bound for Iraq have been deployed as part of a training mission to fight Islamic State militants.
About 300 Australian Defence Force personnel and 100 New Zealand Defence Force personnel named Task Group Taji will take part in an international effort to train the Iraqi Army.
The majority of the troops come from army's 7th Brigade based at the Gallipoli Barracks at Enoggera in Brisbane, who left Brisbane for Iraq on Wednesday afternoon.
Defence Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, said the training will increase the Iraqi Army's ability to co-ordinate operations and fire support, and improve logistic and intelligence functions.
He said while the mission was a non-combat role, Task Group Taji troops were trained for challenges they may face in Iraq.
"... they have undertaken an extensive pre-deployment training schedule culminating in an intensive mission rehearsal exercise in southern Queensland," Air Chief Marshal Binskin said.
"Task Group Taji is well prepared and ready to deploy."
Other nations who have committed to training Iraqi forces, include Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Spain.
