But three days with special forces last month in the former rebel town of Falluja showed that while one unit had a disciplined Iraqi commander, it was a struggle to motivate his soldiers.
Most of their time was spent idling in their chaotic room which was cluttered with pots and pans full of leftover food.
The television played at full volume all day as action movies, Iraqi belly dancing videos and Egyptian comedies kept their minds off the insurgents committed to wiping out Iraq's security forces, estimated to number 135,000.
Iraq's future hinges on the security forces, including the army and police. The government is pinning its hopes on them to end the suicide bombings, kidnappings and crime that show few signs of easing.
Iraqi and American officials have made it clear that deeply resented US troops will not leave the country until they have fully trained security forces and police. That could take months, if not years.
The poorly equipped Iraqi forces are unable to protect themselves, let alone Iraqis. Hundreds have been killed by suicide bombers and insurgents have ambushed many or shot them in the head execution-style.
The killings have raised concerns that guerrillas have gained intelligence on troop movements by infiltrating Iraqi forces.
A US official said a previous policy of leaving Iraqi security forces on their own in cities and towns had failed and the focus now would be on providing them with American military advisers.
"As we go off to the next adventure, and turn the thing over to Iraqi police and National Guard, who of course are all recruited from the same area, these people start getting intimidated," he said.
"They are not all that effective or efficient in any case. They are unable to deter insurgents from coming back in and intimidating them."
Iraqi and US officials say many people are recruited for the security forces and police. Most, like the unit in Falluja, say they sign up out of economic desperation.
They are typical of the Iraqi forces who hope to take over security in the world's most dangerous country.
"I am doing this job for my country and for a living. If we don't fight nobody will fight the insurgents and the terrorism will continue," said Mohammed, a commander who said he now earns $300 a month compared with only $2 in Saddam Hussein's special forces.
One of his soldiers said he was planning to quit after the next pay day because it was too dangerous.
Government forces face foreign Muslim militants linked to al Qaeda and former Iraqi intelligence and army officers who, according to the US official, have "superb" intelligence.
Poor Shi'ites from the south, Muhammad's men conducted several joint patrols with the Marines in Falluja, a city still bitter about the US Marines offensive in November that killed scores of insurgents and destroyed many buildings.
Trying to win over the locals is part of the routine. They stop occasionally and chat with Iraqis standing outside bomb-blackened homes and hand out sweets to children.
But the Iraqi soldiers know that some see them as puppets of the Americans who bombed their homes.
"Some people think of us as traitors. But we are fighting for our country and to protect Iraqis," said Hussein.
Special forces complain they will continue to fight a losing battle unless they are given better weapons.
"When the insurgents see the American tanks and machine guns they think twice about attacking them," said Basel. "They know we have bad weapons so they don't hesitate to attack us."
They are taking no chances, even though Falluja is firmly under US control.