by MATT CETTI-ROBERTS

At a military base outside Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, a battalion of Kurdish Peshmerga fighters stood in formation on a concrete parade ground.

The men wore mismatched uniforms and headgear — giving them an irregular appearance. But looks aside, they were here to become professionals … and learn the combat tactics they’ll need to defeat Islamic State on the battlefield.

German army Col. Jochen Schneider, the commander of coalition forces training Kurdish troops in Iraq, gave a speech to the assembled troops. He finished by shouting, “Bizhi peshmerga!” — “Long live the Peshmerga!”

The Kurds repeated the shout.