(18)Iraq Security Forces OOB: March 2007 Update
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| Progression of Iraqi Army units 'in the lead' as of December 2006. |
By DJ Elliott, CJ Radin and Bill Roggio
The March 2007 updates to the Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle are now available at the ISF OOB Page. Three significant events - the Baghdad Security Plan, and events in Anbar Province and Samarra - have effected the Order of Battle. These events and the major changes to the OOB are summarized below.
Major events that effect the Order of Battle
The Baghdad Security plan begins in earnest. The plan to secure the capital involves deploying 9 U.S. combat Battalions plus Training Teams and Quick Reaction Forces, totaling about 17,500 troops, to augment the 10 Iraqi Army combat Brigades, 8 Iraqi National Police Brigades and local police forces. While this plan was formally announced to begin February 13, some of the security activities had started prior to that. A significant number of Iraqi and US forces have moved into place, but not all forces announced have been deployed to Baghdad yet.In Anbar province, the local tribal leaders, under the banner of the Anbar Salvation Council, are increasingly supporting the Iraq government. This has lead to some tangible results, including:
• A significant increase in police recruiting in Ramadi.
• The formation of battalion sized tribal levies called "Emergency Services Units," or ESUs.To enhance security in Samarra, the Iraqi Army (IA) and Iraqi National Police (INP) are establishing a Joint Military Police (MP) Brigade composed of an IA MP Battalion and a Headquarters element (which has started training in Numaniyah) augmenting Samarra's 3-3-1 INP Battalion. This MP Brigade is a formal version of the ad hoc Joint Security Station deployments in Baghdad and may be a preview of IA/INP permanent Joint Brigade structures for urban internal security.
Significant changes to OOB
The transfer of Operational Control (OPCON) of the 1st, 2nd and 10th Divisions to Iraqi Ground Forces Command (IGFC).The planned formation of joint IA/INP MP Bde for Samarra.
The Iraqi Army 4-3-4 Battalion is forming in Sulmaniyah province
The addition of ESUs in the IP section.
• ESUs are new battalion sized police units that support the IP for high risk operations.
• ESUs are under the operational control of provincial governors.These are the major changes implemented as part of Baghdad Security plan:
• The establishment of the Baghdad Operational Command (BOC).
• The transfer of OPCON of all Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) in Baghdad to BOC.
• Additions to the augment to Baghdad.
• Assignments of Baghdad Augments.
