United States military in Iraq

The United States military has played a major role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the subsequent Iraq War. Its missions and activities there have brought a range of new challenges, and various impacts on military personnel, equipment and procedures. United States land forces in Iraq are represented by all service branches, and also include Joint command organisations.

United States Joint command in Iraq

The overall military commander in Iraq is General David H. Petraeus, Commander, Multi-National Force Iraq (MNF-I) who reports to United States Central Command. MNF-I replaced Combined Joint Task Force 7 in May 2004. MNF-I consists of Multi-National Corps Iraq and Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq (MNSTC-I), as well as a logistical support element.

* Special Operations Task ForcesThere is an official distinction between U.S. troops who are commanded by Multinational Force-Iraq, and U.S. troops in Iraq who are commanded directly by United States command, through CENTCOM. There are two special operations task forces operating in Iraq, Task Force 77 and CJSOTF-AP. Though TF 77, a 'black' force, does not answer to MNF-Iraq, it is included here for the sake of completeness of the U.S. forces operating within Iraq. TF 77 is under the command of the Joint Special Operations Command and its principal mission is to hunt down the leaders of al Qaeda in Iraq. [Army Times, [http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/02/army_specialforces_080225w/ SF presence may grow in combat areas] , February 2008]

Task Force 77 (formerly Task Force 145)—LSA Anaconda, Balad: [Sean Naylor, [http://www.armytimes.com/legacy/new/0-ARMYPAPER-1739369.php Closing in on Zarqawi] , Army Times, May 8, 2006]
* TF North/unidentified battalion 75th Ranger Regiment—unknown location, northern Iraq
* TF West/unidentified element, DEVGRU—unknown location, western Iraq
* TF Center/unidentified squadron, 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta—LSA Anaconda

The second force, which appears to be separate from TF 77, is the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula (CJSOTF-AP). CJSOTF-AP is a "white," or unclassified, special operations task force that is always organized around the headquarters of 5th Special Forces Group or 10th Special Forces Group. [ [http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/02/army_specialforces_080225w/ SF presence may grow in combat areas] ] Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula (CJSOTF-AP), itself answers to United States Special Operations Command Central. While information is scarce, it probably consists of battalions of the United States Army Special Forces (the 'Green Berets').

* Multi-National Corps IraqThe U.S. Army's III Corps headquarters, under Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, provides command and control for Multi-National Corps Iraq, which is divided into division-sized areas.

United States Army in Iraq

Personnel and equipment issues

Most of the units that carried out the ground campaign phase of the invasion of Iraq, and who bore the larger part of the conflict with the Iraqi military in 2003 were those of the Army. Since then, they have performed numerous operations against insurgents.

The United States Army has had to make several adjustments to address demands on its personnel and equipment. The US Army has utilized its stop-loss policy and has required more of its combat personnel to serve more tours of duty than before, due to the need for experienced personnel.

There are deep concerns about effects on the psychological health of US soldiers in Iraq. Suicides among US soldiers have been rising, and have reached their highest rate in 26 years. This increase has coincided with US deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7221775.stm US army suicides set for new high] , BBC, 1 February 2008. ]

During the insurgency, it was found that most army vehicles such as HMMWVs were insufficiently armored, leading to efforts to add greater armor to protced again improvised explosive devices. Some soldiers added armor by using modifications known as hillbilly armor. In the short term, HMMWVs in service in Iraq are being replaced by Category 1 MRAP vehicles, primarily the Force Protection Cougar H and the International MaxxPro. [ [http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2007/06/more-mraps-1200-maxxpro-mpvs-from-navistar/index.php ] More MRAPs: Navistar’s MaxxPro Maintains the Pole Position] The US Marine Corps plans to replace all HMMWVs patrolling "outside the wire" with MRAP vehicles.

Force organization

Multi-National Division Baghdad is headquartered by the 4th Infantry Division, based at Camp Victory (primary component of the Victory Base Complex), north of Baghdad International Airport. The division controls those brigades in greater Baghdad that are responsible for areas within the city itself. Of the brigades currently controlled by the 4th Infantry Division, one is north of the city at Taji, one in the northeastern part in Adhamiya, one at Camp Liberty in the west, one in the "International Zone" or "green Zone" at the heart of the city, one on the southern outskirts, and a sixth in the southeast near Rasheed airfield. Most of the brigades' troops are dispersed at battalion- and company-level "combat outposts" and "joint security stations." MND-B was previously headquartered by the 1st Armored Division (2003–2004), 1st Cavalry Division (2004–2005), 3rd Infantry Division (2005–2006), 4th Infantry Division (2006) and 1st Cavalry Division (2007).

Multi-National Division Center is headquartered by the 3rd Infantry Division, this division, also known as Task Force Marne, is responsible for operations in the "belt" areas south of Baghdad. It controls one brigade on the southwest outskirts of Baghdad, two to the south near Iskandariya, a fourth east of the city on a newly built forward operating base (FOB Hammer), and a Georgian brigade in Kut.

Multi-National Division North is headquartered by the 1st Armored Division and is also known as Task Force Iron. It is based at Contingency Operating Base Speicher outside Tikrit, where one of its brigades is also stationed. Its also has one brigade based in Mosul, one in Kirkuk, one at Taji, and one in Baqubah. A sixth brigade is also temporarily under its command in Baquba for Operation Arrowhead Ripper.

Logistics Support Area Anaconda is run by the U.S. 13th Corps Support Command, which is responsible for providing logistics support throughout Iraq. It has operational control over one combat brigade, based at Tallil Airbase near Nasiriyah. This brigade provides convoy security across much of the country.

United States Marine Corps in Iraq

The USMC has sought to maintain two expeditionary forces, and one expeditionary unit in the theatre of operations. Its major deployment are had been within the Multi-National Force West command.

Multi-National Force West is headquartered by I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). It covers western Iraq, including Al Anbar Governorate and the cities of Ramadi and Fallujah, the area where Iraq's Sunni insurgency has been at its strongest. Headquartered at Camp Fallujah, where one of its two regiments is also stationed, it has another regiment at Camp Ripper near Al Asad Airbase and a brigade in Ramadi.

United States Navy in Iraq

In terms of the major surface units the Navy has sought to maintain in the theatre one carrier strike group, one expeditionary strike group at all times. The United States Navy Riverine Squadrons of the United States Navy are elements of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) that have taken active part in the land operations in support of the Army and USMC units. According to the Navy: “The Navy’s Riverine force focuses on conducting Maritime Security Operations and Theater Security Cooperation in a riverine area of operations or other suitable area. The force is capable of combating enemy riverine forces by applying fires directly, or by coordinating supporting fires. It will share battle space with the other Services in an effort to close the seams in Doctrine, Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures, and Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance.” [http://www.necc.navy.mil/ U.S. Navy Expeditionary Combat Command: “Riverine: About Us”] ]

As of 2008, three riverine squadrons are active in the Navy, all under the command of Riverine Group 1, located in Norfolk, Virginia. Riverine Squadron 1 (RIVRON 1) deployed to Iraq in April 2007 and was relieved by Riverine Squadron 2 (RIVRON 2) in October 2007. [http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=32756 Navy NewsStand: “RIVRON 1 Sailors Return Home”, Story Number: NNS071023-24, date: 2007-10-23] ] Riverine Squadron 3 (RIVRON 3) was established in July 2007 [http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=30481 Navy NewsStand: “NECC Establishes Riverine Squadron 3”, Story Number: NNS070710-13, date: 2007-07-10] ] and will presumably relieve RIVRON 2 in Iraq when their deployment is completed.

United States Coast Guard in Iraq

The relatively small USCG force deployed to Iraq provides a specialist and vital role to the operations with their six Coast Guard cutters and elements of Port Security Units that utilise unique skill sets of the branch.

United States Air Force in Iraq

The USAF has played a less visible but crucial role in the US military operations in Iraq by deploying elements of 10 fighter, fighter/bomber, specialized, and support wings in the theatre of operations.

References

ources

* Carter, Linwood B., Information Research Specialist, "CRS Report for Congress, Iraq: Summary of U.S. Forces", Knowledge Services Group, Updated November 28, 2005

ee also

*Iraq War
*Iraq War order of battle

External links

* [http://www.mnf-iraq.com Multi-National Force, Iraq] Official website.
* [http://www.centcom.mil Central Command] US military command for Mideast.