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Iraq

The United States began its advisory effort in Iraq early during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). It initially began advising, along with other allied and partner nations, the Iraqi Civilian Defense Corps (ICDC) battalions formed in the 2003-2004 timeframe. Later it began training and advising the New Iraqi Army. U.S Special Forces began in early 2004 to advise, train, and support the newly formed 36th Commando Battalion (ICDC) and the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Force (ICTF).

Military Transition Teams (MiTTs). The advising effort continued from 2004 on to 2011 - until U.S. forces withdrew from Iraq. Military Transition Teams or (MiTTs) were aligned with Iraqi units from battalion through brigade to division level. Some MiTTs were general in nature; while others specialized in certain fields like aviation or logistics. MiTTs were trained by the 1st Infantry Division - so the patch they wore while deployed to Iraq was usually the 'Big Red One'. 4. One little known effort was an attempt to augment the MiTTs with contract civlians through the Military Advisor Support Team (MAST). 5.

Iraq Assistance Group. This command coordinated MiTTs across Iraq. The setup and mission of the IAG was similar to the Military Assistance Advisory Group that employed advisors in South Vietnam.

At the same time the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Arabian Peninsular (CJSOTF-AP) aligned advisor teams with selected and specialized Iraqi units. 1. These unites included the ISF SOF Brigade as well as the Emergency Response Unit (ERU).

For the most part, the advisory effort in Iraq ceased until the resurgence of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in 2014. Special operations forces and other military advisors deployed once again to Iraq (and Syria) to advise, assist, support, and enable  the Iraqi forces in degrading ISIS. 2.

Currently (as of 2024) U.S. Special Forces teams and other specialized advisory teams are continuing the advising and training mission with the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service and other elements of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). 3.


References

Military Transition Team (MiTT) - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_transition_team

Iraq Assistance Group - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_Assistance_Group


Publications

JCISFA, Iraqi Federal Police Advisor Guide, Joint Center for International Security Force Assistance, 10 May 2010, (FOUO).
https://info.publicintelligence.net/JCISFA-IraqiPolice.pdf


Papers

Denn, MAJ William J. (2017). Muddling Through: An Analysis of Security Force Assistance in Iraq, SAMS, Fort Leavenworth, KS, PDF, 75 pages.
https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/AD1038935.pdf

Deady, COL Timothy (2009). "MiTT Advisor: A Year with the Best Division in the Iraqi Army", Military Review, November-December 2009, PDF, 14 pages.
https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Portals/7/military-review/Archives/English/MilitaryReview_20091231_art008.pdf


Articles

"Iraq's Counterterrorism Service (CTS) and USSOF", SOF News, February 27, 2024.

"By With, and Through" Will Not Save US Forces From Direct Combat: American Ground Force Contributions to the Campaign Against ISIS", Modern War Institute at West Point, January 24, 2023.

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Endnotes

1. Grip, Stanley T., "The Avghani Model", Army Magazine, May 2008. The writer profiles 19th Special Forces Group's Operational Detachment Alpha 944's deployment to Iraq in 2006. The ODA conducted a Foreign Internal Defense (FID) mission in Avghani, Iraq.
www.ausa.org/publications/armymagazine/archive/2008/5/Documents/Grip_0508.pdf

2. January 5, 2015. "U.S. Military Begins Training Iraqi Forces to Take on ISIL". DoD News.

3. Special Forces Soldiers learn a language as part of the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC).  Once they are assigned to a Special Forces detachment they will continue their language training.  In addition, they may get the opportunity to do advanced language training while immersed in other cultures - called Live Environment Training (LET).

4. "The Power of the Patch", by James King, Modern War Institute at West Point, August 21, 2016.

5. See a solicitation for former military personnel (preferably special operations) to work as members of the Military Advisor Support Team (MAST) in support of the Military Transition Teams (MiTTs) deployed to Iraq. GOVTRIBE, May 1, 2008. See also "Lessons Not Learned: Contracting Out Iraqi Army Advising", by Peter W. Singer, Brookings Institute, May 12, 2008.

 

U.S. Army Special Forces Patch

Big Red One Division Patch

 

 

 

 

 


Books about Military Advisors in Iraq

Books about Military Advisors in Iraq. Military Training Teams - MiTTs.

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