ABOARD A US MILITARY AIRCRAFT OVER THE PACIFIC — The Pentagon has assembled a group to look at potential changes to the train and equip mission in Iraq, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Thursday.

After the fall of Ramadi to forces from the Islamic State, commonly known as ISIS, Carter has tasked representatives from the department's policy, Central Command and joint staff offices to investigate ways the Pentagon can improve Iraqi government forces.

"The events of recent weeks there have highlighted the central importance of having a capable ground partner, and that's what the purpose of our train and equip program is," Carter explained to journalists travelling with him overseas.

"One of the last things I did before I left Washington was meet with my team and ask them what can we do to enhance the effectiveness of the train and equip line of effort," Carter said. "I can't describe to you what the possibilities are because folks are looking at them right now."

Carter added that the group is looking at ways to "hasten" the train and equip efforts.

A senior pentagon official later confirmed the group had its first meeting TuesdayMay 26, but noted there is no timetable for when a report needs to be delivered to Carter.

The same official added that while such discussions occur regularly inside the Pentagon, this group was set up specifically because of the events at Ramadi.

"Ramadi made us pause and say we had to take a hard look at how we do the train and equip mission," the senior pentagon official said.

One option not being explored, the official added, is the option to directly equip Sunni militias inside Iraq. The Iraqi government has the lead on any equipment decisions, and despite some calls in Congress to the contrary, the Obama administration has remained steadfast that the Iraqi government control that aspect of operations.

Carter made waves last weekend during a CNN interview where he appeared to take a shot at Iraqi military forces in Ramadi, saying "they showed no willingness to fight."

The secretary did not shy away from those comments Thursday, but instead cast them in a different light, indicating a better trained and equipped force would have been better able to stand up to ISIS.

"I think training and equipment affect the effectiveness of the forces, and therefore their ability to operate, their confidence in their ability to operate, so there is a direct relationship," he said.

Aaron Mehta was deputy editor and senior Pentagon correspondent for Defense News, covering policy, strategy and acquisition at the highest levels of the Defense Department and its international partners.

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