Iraq Assistance Group

Last updated

Iraq Assistance Group
United States Army 1st Infantry Division CSIB.svg
Active2005–2009
Country United States
BranchJoint Command
Size~150
Part of Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Headquarters Camp Victory, Baghdad
Engagements Iraq War
Decorations Joint Meritorious Unit Award

The Iraq Assistance Group (IAG) was a joint service U.S. military command responsible to Multi-National Corps Iraq. It coordinated military transition teams assisting the reborn Iraqi Army, the Federal Police, the Department of Border Enforcement, Ports of Entry Directorate and the provincial police. These teams provided partnership, mentoring and training to assist their Iraqi partners in achieving full operational effectiveness and facilitating the transition of internal security to Iraqi control. The Iraq Assistance Group itself was a joint command formed from the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division and composed of mostly Army soldiers but also including a sizable contingent of sailors, airmen and marines as well as members of foreign militaries.

Contents

The setup and mission of the Iraq Assistance Group was similar to the Military Assistance Advisory Groups that sent American military advisors to train, advise and mentor members of foreign militaries in South Vietnam, such as the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps, Republic of Vietnam Navy and the Republic of Vietnam Air Force.

Training

In July 2006, General Dana J.H. Pittard deployed to Iraq where he assumed command of the Iraq Assistance Group, while still serving as the assistant division commander for maneuver (ADC-M) of the 1st Infantry Division. He was the commander of the Iraq Assistance Group in combat in Iraq from June 2006 through 30 June 2007, and then transferred command to Brigadier General Yarbrough. Yarbrough also remained serving as the ADC-M for the 1st Infantry Division while commanding the IAG.

At some point, all Army Military Transition Teams (MiTTs), received training at Fort Riley, Kansas and Camp Buehring, Kuwait. Marine Corps MiTTs receive training both at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, CA and the Advisor Training Group on Camp Pendleton, CA.

Both the Army and Marine Corps teams then conducted their final in-theater training at what was formerly the Phoenix Academy located in Taji, Iraq. The Phoenix Academy's mission was to give final additional training to the Military transition teams (MiTTs) before they were assigned to advise the Iraqi Armed Forces, Police or Border units. Classes that were taught included counterinsurgency (COIN), rules of engagement, cultural awareness and the history of Iraq.

As of early 2009 the Phoenix Academy has merged with the former COIN CFE (Counter Insurgency Center for Excellence) to become COINSOC (Counter Insurgency Stability Operations Center).

Dissolution

As the security situation in Iraq improved along with the capabilities of the Iraqi Security Forces, the primary focus of coalition forces shifted from combat operations to partnership and mentoring. As a result, it was decided to merge the Iraq Assistance Group back into its parent command. On 3 June 2009, the Iraq Assistance Group cased its colors and its functions and personnel were merged into Multi-National Corps-Iraq.

Commanding Generals

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Infantry Division (United States)</span> United States Army combat formation, oldest continuously serving division in the Regular Army

The 1st Infantry Division is a combined arms division of the United States Army, and is the oldest continuously serving division in the Regular Army. It has seen continuous service since its organization in 1917 during World War I. It was officially nicknamed "The Big Red One" after its shoulder patch and is also nicknamed "The Fighting First." The division has also received troop monikers of "The Big Dead One" and "The Bloody First" as puns on the respective officially sanctioned nicknames. It is currently based at Fort Riley, Kansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Assistance Command, Vietnam</span> Joint-service command of the US Dept. of Defense in South Vietnam (1962-73)

U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) was a joint-service command of the United States Department of Defense.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">98th Infantry Division (United States)</span> Military unit

The 98th Infantry Division ("Iroquois") was a unit of the United States Army in the closing months of World War I and during World War II. The unit is now one of the U.S. Army Reserve's training divisions, officially known as the 98th Training Division. The 98th Training Division's current primary mission is to conduct Initial Entry Training (IET) for new soldiers. It is one of three training divisions subordinate to the 108th Training Command (IET).

Military advisors, or combat advisors, advise on military matters. Some are soldiers sent to foreign countries to aid such countries with their military training, organization, and other various military tasks. The Foreign powers or organizations may send such soldiers to support countries or insurgencies while minimizing the risks of potential casualties and avoiding the political ramifications of overtly mobilizing military forces to aid an ally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5th Marine Regiment</span> Military unit

The 5th Marine Regiment is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. It is the most highly decorated regiment in the Marine Corps and falls under the command of the 1st Marine Division and the I Marine Expeditionary Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Battalion, 1st Marines</span> Military unit

1st Battalion 1st Marines is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Pendleton, California, consisting of anywhere from 800 to 2,000 Marines and Sailors, but the number fluctuates depending on the Battalion's mission. They fall under the command of the 1st Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division. Commonly referred to as "The first of the First."

XXIV Corps (United States) Military unit

XXIV Corps was a U.S. Army Corps-level command during World War II and the Vietnam War.

A Military Transition Team or Transition Team, commonly abbreviated as MiTT, in the context of the United States Military, is a 10 – 15 soldier team that trains foreign national and local security forces. The term has been used in the "War on Terror" to designate groups training the Iraqi Security Forces in particular. By comparison, Afghan Army and other Afghan security forces are mentored and trained by US Embedded Training Teams (ETTs) and the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams (OMLTs) of other nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)</span> Infantry brigade combat team of the United States Army

The 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team ("Thunderbird") is a modular infantry brigade combat team of the United States Army headquartered in Norman, Oklahoma. It is a part of the Oklahoma Army National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iraq War order of battle, 2009</span>

Below is an estimated list of the major units deployed within the Multi-National Force – Iraq and other United States military units that were operating in Iraq under the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) in 2009, during the Iraq War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">War in Afghanistan order of battle, 2012</span> Coalition forces in Afghanistan (2012)

Below is the disposition and structure of international military forces that were participating in the War in Afghanistan in November 2012, listing deployed units under the command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which controlled both combat and reconstruction operations. During its existence from 2001 to 2014, ISAF comprised units from many countries. In this article, units are assumed to be from the United States unless otherwise stated. This list is a rough and unofficial listing of units and formations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embedded Training Teams</span>

Embedded Training Teams or ETT is the term used by the US military since 2003 to describe conventional forces used to train and mentor Afghan forces. They were formed in 2003 under Task Force Phoenix. Although ETT refers to the Embedded Training "Team", members of the team itself commonly refer to themselves as "ETTs"

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myanmar Army</span> Military unit

The Myanmar Army is the largest branch of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar (Burma) and has the primary responsibility of conducting land-based military operations. The Myanmar Army maintains the second largest active force in Southeast Asia after the People's Army of Vietnam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dana J.H. Pittard</span>

Dana James Hillian Pittard is a retired United States Army general officer. He served as Joint Force Land Component Commander-Iraq (JFLCC-I) from June 9, 2014, during the coalition response to the incursions by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Daesh) into Iraq from Syria. Pittard was deputy commanding general of operations (DCG-O) for ARCENT, the United States Central Command/Third Army, based in Kuwait, until 2015. He was also the commanding general of the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. He was also Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations & Training at the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) at Fort Monroe, Virginia and commanding general of the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Eaton</span> United States Army general

Paul D. Eaton is a former United States Army officer most known for his command of operations to train Iraqi troops during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Eaton served in that capacity between 2003 and 2004, and then returned to the US to become Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Training, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, Virginia. He previously served as Senior Adviser to the now-defunct National Security Network, a progressive Washington, D.C.-based think tank that focused on foreign policy and defense issues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James C. Yarbrough</span>

James C. Yarbrough is a retired brigadier general in the United States Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John P. McLaren</span>

John P. McLaren, Jr. is a retired United States Army major general.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samuel Tankersley Williams</span> United States Army general

Lieutenant General Samuel Tankersley Williams was a senior United States Army officer. Williams became prominent in army history for being reduced in rank from brigadier general to colonel, and then resuscitating his career to again advance to general officer rank. He also commanded the 25th Infantry Division during the Korean War and served as commander of Military Assistance and Advisory Group – Vietnam, the predecessor to Military Assistance Command – Vietnam.

Combined Joint Task Force 180 was a provisional multinational land formation, primarily made up of units from the United States Army, that fought in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), especially in the initial invasion phase of 2001-2002. It was active from May 2002 to 2003/05. It was the senior headquarters in country reporting to United States Central Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norman Cooling</span> United States Marine Corps general

Norman Lee "Norm" Cooling is a retired Brigadier General in the United States Marine Corps, who most recently served as the Assistant Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies & Operations, Headquarters, United States Marine Corps and who previously served a number of roles during deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom, notably as the battalion commander of 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.

References