United States military in Iraq
Encyclopedia
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
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 IraqIraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
is General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Raymond T. Odierno
Raymond T. Odierno
Raymond T. Odierno is a United States Army general and the 38th and current Chief of Staff of the Army. Odierno most recently commanded United States Joint Forces Command from October 2010 until its disestablishment in August 2011. He served as Commanding General, United States Forces – Iraq and...
, Commander, Multi-National Force Iraq
MNF-Iraq
Multi-National Corps – Iraq was a formerly multinational, then United States only, army corps created on 15 May 2004, fighting the Iraq War. It's superior body, the Multi-National Force-Iraq had replaced Combined Joint Task Force 7 on May 15, 2004...
(MNF-I), who reports to United States Central Command
United States Central Command
The United States Central Command is a theater-level Unified Combatant Command unit of the U.S. armed forces, established in 1983 under the operational control of the U.S. Secretary of Defense...
. MNF-I replaced Combined Joint Task Force 7
Coalition Forces Land Component Command
Coalition Forces Land Component Command, or CFLCC, is a generic U.S. and allied military term. In U.S. military terminology, Unified Combatant Commands or Joint Task Forces can have components from all services and components – Army ~ Land, Air, Naval, Marine, and Special Operations...
in May 2004. MNF-I consists of Multi-National Corps Iraq and Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq
Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq
Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq was the branch of the Multi-National Force - Iraq that is responsible for developing, organizing, training, equipping, and sustaining the Iraqi Security Ministries and their associated Iraqi Security Forces , i.e...
(MNSTC-I), as well as a logistical support element.
Special Operations Task Forces
There 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 Joint Special Operations Command, through CENTCOM. There are two special operations task forces operating in Iraq: Task Force 77 (TF 77) and Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula (CJSOTF-AP). Though TF 77, a 'black' force, does not answer to MNF-I, it is included here for the sake of completeness of the U.S. forces operating within Iraq. TF 77's principal mission is to hunt down the leaders of al Qaeda in Iraq.Task Force 77 (formerly Task Force 145)—LSA Anaconda, Balad:
- TF North/unidentified battalion 75th Ranger RegimentUnited States Army RangersUnited States Army Rangers are elite members of the United States Army. Rangers have served in recognized U.S. Army Ranger units or have graduated from the U.S. Army's Ranger School...
—unknown location, northern Iraq - TF West/unidentified element, DEVGRUUnited States Naval Special Warfare Development GroupThe United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group , commonly known as DEVGRU and informally by its former name SEAL Team Six , is one of the United States' four secretive counter-terrorism and Special Mission Units .The vast majority of information about DEVGRU is highly classified, and...
—unknown location, western Iraq - TF Center/unidentified squadron, 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - DeltaDelta Force1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta is one of the United States' secretive Tier One counter-terrorism and Special Mission Units. Commonly known as Delta Force, Delta, or The Unit, it was formed under the designation 1st SFOD-D, and is officially referred to by the Department of Defense...
—LSA Anaconda
The second special operations element, 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. Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula (CJSOTF-AP), itself answers to United States Special Operations Command Central
United States Special Operations Command Central
The United States Special Operations Command Central is a subordinate unified command of joint forces for the U.S. Central Command...
. While information is scarce, it consists of two battalions of the United States Army Special Forces
United States Army Special Forces
The United States Army Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets because of their distinctive service headgear, are a special operations force tasked with six primary missions: unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct action, hostage rescue, and...
(the 'Green Berets') and a west coast-based Navy SEAL Team. CJSOTF-AP is task organized into three Special Operations Task Forces (SOTFs): SOTF-Central, SOTF-North, and SOTF-West.
Multi-National Corps Iraq
The U.S. Army's XVIII Airborne Corps headquarters, under Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. AustinLloyd J. Austin
Lloyd James Austin III is a United States Army general who currently serves as Commanding General, United States Forces - Iraq. On June 30, 2010, he was confirmed by the Senate to replace General Ray Odierno and to lead Operation New Dawn. -Early years & Education:Lloyd James Austin III was born...
, provides command and control for Multi-National Corps Iraq, which is divided into division-sized areas.
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
Stop-loss policy
Stop-loss is a term primarily used in the United States military. In the U.S. military, it is the involuntary extension of a service member's active duty service under the enlistment contract in order to retain them beyond their initial end of term of service date and up to their contractually...
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.
During the insurgency, it was found that most army vehicles such as HMMWVs were insufficiently armored, leading to efforts to add greater armor to protect against 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
MRAP (armored vehicle)
A Mine Resistant Ambush Protected is a family of armored fighting vehicles design led by the United States Marine Corps in use by the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, and Special Operations Forces with the goal of surviving IED attacks and ambushes - prompted by US deaths in Iraq...
vehicles, primarily the Force Protection
Force Protection Inc
Force Protection, Inc. is a manufacturer of ballistic- and blast-protected vehicles which have been used in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and other hot spots around the world.-Company:...
Cougar H and the International MaxxPro
International MaxxPro
The International MaxxPro MRAP is an armored fighting vehicle designed by American company Navistar International's subsidiary Navistar Defense along with the Israeli Plasan Sasa, who designed and manufactures the vehicle's armor...
. The US Marine Corps plans to replace all HMMWVs patrolling "outside the wire" with MRAP vehicles.
Force organization
Camp Victory
Camp Victory is the primary component of the Victory Base Complex which occupies the area surrounding the Baghdad International Airport . The Al-Faw Palace, which served as the headquarters for the Multi-National Corps - Iraq , is located on Camp Victory...
(primary component of the Victory Base Complex), north of Baghdad International Airport
Baghdad International Airport
Baghdad International Airport, originally Saddam International Airport, , BIAP is Iraq's largest airport, located in a suburb about west of downtown Baghdad in the Baghdad Governorate...
. The division controls those brigades in greater Baghdad that are responsible for areas within the city itself. Of the brigades currently controlled by the 1st Cavalry Division, one is north of the city at Taji
Taji, Iraq
Taji, At Taji or Tajidiyah is a town approximately 20 miles north of the city of Baghdad, and is located in the Al-Faris district of the Salah ad Din Governorate. Taji is the location of a large U.S.-controlled military base.-History:...
, 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
Iskandariya
Iskandariya is an ancient city in central Iraq, one of a number of towns in the Near East named after Alexander the Great...
, 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 25th Infantry Division and is also known as Task Force Lightning. It is based at Contingency Operating Base Speicher outside Tikrit
Tikrit
Tikrit is a town in Iraq, located 140 km northwest of Baghdad on the Tigris river . The town, with an estimated population in 2002 of about 260,000 is the administrative center of the Salah ad Din Governorate.-Ancient times:...
, where one of its brigades is also stationed. It also has one brigade based in Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
, one in Kirkuk
Kirkuk
Kirkuk is a city in Iraq and the capital of Kirkuk Governorate.It is located in the Iraqi governorate of Kirkuk, north of the capital, Baghdad...
and one in Baqubah
Baqubah
Baqubah is the capital of Iraq's Diyala Governorate.The city is located some to the northeast of Baghdad, on the Diyala River. In 2003 it had an estimated population of some 467,900 people....
.
Logistics Support Area Anaconda
Logistics Support Area Anaconda
Joint Base Balad, formerly Balad Air Base and Logistics Support Area Anaconda, or simply LSA Anaconda - formerly known as Al-Bakr Air Base and known in popular media as Camp Anaconda - is one of the largest United States military bases in Iraq...
is run by the U.S. 13th Corps Support Command
13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
The 13th Sustainment Command —the Lucky 13th—is a U.S. Army modular sustainment command which serves as a forward presence for expeditionary operations for a theater, or in support of a regional Combatant Commander...
, which is responsible for providing logistics support throughout Iraq. It has operational control over one combat brigade, based at Tallil Airbase near Nasiriyah
Nasiriyah
Nasiriyah is a city in Iraq. It is on the Euphrates about 225 miles southeast of Baghdad, near the ruins of the ancient city of Ur. It is the capital of the province of Dhi Qar...
. This brigade provides convoy security across much of the country.
United States Marine Corps in Iraq
Multi-National Force West
Multi-National Forces West
Multi-National Forces West or United States Forces West was one of the coalition headquarters under Multi-National Force-Iraq. It was headquartered by either I or II U.S. Marine Expeditionary Force that rotated on a 12 month basis...
is headquartered by I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). It covers western Iraq, including Al Anbar Governorate and the cities of Ramadi
Ramadi
Ramadi is a city in central Iraq, about west of Baghdad. It is the capital of Al Anbar Governorate.-History:Ramadi is located in a fertile, irrigated, alluvial plain.The Ottoman Empire founded Ramadi in 1869...
and Fallujah
Fallujah
Fallujah is a city in the Iraqi province of Al Anbar, located roughly west of Baghdad on the Euphrates. Fallujah dates from Babylonian times and was host to important Jewish academies for many centuries....
, the area where Iraq's Sunni insurgency
Iraqi insurgency
The Iraqi Resistance is composed of a diverse mix of militias, foreign fighters, all-Iraqi units or mixtures opposing the United States-led multinational force in Iraq and the post-2003 Iraqi government...
has been at its strongest. Headquartered at Camp Fallujah
MEK Compound (Fallujah, Iraq)
The MEK Compound in Fallujah, Iraq is a large compound used by the U.S. Marines from 2004 to 2009. Prior to Marine occupation, the Iranian dissident group called Mujahideen-e-Khalq used the MEK as a training camp, but turned it over to the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne on May 11, 2003 after the...
, 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 Squadron
United States Navy Riverine Squadron
The Riverine Squadrons of the United States Navy are elements of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command . 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...
s of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
are elements of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command
Navy Expeditionary Combat Command
The Navy Expeditionary Combat Command serves as the single functional command to centrally manage current and future readiness, resources, manning, training and equipping of the United States Navy's 40,000 expeditionary forces who are currently serving in every theater of operation. The NECC was...
(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.”
As of 2008, three riverine squadrons are active in the Navy, all under the command of Riverine Group 1, located in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
. Riverine Squadron 1 (RIVRON 1) deployed to Iraq in April 2007 and was relieved by Riverine Squadron 2 (RIVRON 2) in October 2007. Riverine Squadron 3 (RIVRON 3) was established in July 2007 and will presumably relieve RIVRON 2 in Iraq when their deployment is completed.
United States Air Force in Iraq
U.S. Airmen are increasingly on the ground in Iraq. They drive in convoys and even work with detainees. The main aerial hub in Iraq has 1,500 airmen doing convoy operations in and 1,000 working with detainees. The USAF is also involved in training Iraqis and performing other activities not usually associated with the Air Force.
The dangers of the Air Force's new role were highlighted when the expeditionary wing lost its first female member in the line of duty in Iraq. A1C Elizabeth Jacobson, 21, was killed in a roadside bombing while performing convoy security near the U.S. detention center at Camp Bucca in southern Iraq.
"More and more Air Force are doing Army jobs," said Senior Master Sgt. Matt Rossoni, 46, of San Francisco. "It's nothing bad about the Army. They're just tapped out."
Air Force security forces are traditionally associated with base defense, however, now they provide security for patrols and to deliver supplies.
The Air Force also is keeping up with its traditional duties. In November, the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing delivered its 1 millionth passenger to Iraq since October 2003.
USAF missions included transporting troops, casualties and cargo flights.
The Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps flew thousands of missions in support of U.S. ground troops in Iraq this fall, including attacks by unmanned Predator aircraft armed with Hellfire missiles, military records show. American and allied refueling, transport and surveillance planes also are in the air. Airstrikes have been largely in areas where the insurgency is strongest, like Balad, Ramadi and in the vicinity of Baghdad, according to the U.S. Central Command. At least 2,179 members of the U.S. military have died since the Iraq war started in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.
See also
- Iraq War
- Iraq War order of battleIraq War order of battleBelow is a estimate of the list of the major units deployed with the Multi-National Force - Iraq and other U.S. military units operating in Iraq under United States Central Command . It has been compiled through the synthesis of many many wikipedia contributors in the years 2006-2009...
Sources
- Carter, Linwood B., Information Research Specialist, CRS Report for Congress, Iraq: Summary of U.S. Forces, Knowledge Services Group, Updated November 28, 2005
External links
- http://www.onet.tv/28962,4451,1,4350623,1,1,0,0,wideo.html How soldiers play in Iraq
- Multi-National Force, Iraq Official website.
- Central Command US military command for Mideast.