Iraqi Assistance Group
Encyclopedia
The Iraq Assistance Group (IAG) was a U.S. military command underneath Multi-National Corps-Iraq that coordinated military transition teams
assigned to the Iraqi Security Forces
(ISF) including the Iraqi Army, Federal Police
, Department of Border Enforcement, Ports of Entry Directorate and provincial police
. These teams provide partnership, mentoring and training to assist their ISF 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.
The setup and mission of the Iraq Assistance Group was similar to the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
(MACV) and Military Assistance Advisory Group
(MAAG) that sent American military advisors to train, advise and mentor members of foreign militaries in Indochina
, specifically the Army of the Republic of Vietnam
(ARVN), Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps
,
Republic of Vietnam Navy
and the Vietnam Air Force
.http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/7/prweb408426.htm
The Iraq Assistance Group and the transition teams it supported played a pivotal role in the success of the coalition strategy in Iraq
which has made possible the planned redeployment of all US forces in Iraq in accordance with the U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement
.
(MiTTs), receive training at Fort Riley
, Kansas and Camp Buehring
, Kuwait. Marine Corps MiTTs receive training both at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, CA and the Advisor Training Group on Camp Pendleton, CA. Both the Army and Marine Corps teams then conduct their final in-theater training at what was formerly the Phoenix Academy
located in Taji
, Iraq before they are assigned to their Iraqi Army, Police or Border units. 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).
Military transition team
A Military Transition Team, or Transition Team, is a 10-15 soldier team that and trains local forces. The term has been used in the context of the "War on Terror" to design groups training in particular the Iraqi Security Forces, Afghan Army and other Afghan security forces.- Mission :The primary...
assigned to the Iraqi Security Forces
Iraqi Security Forces
The Iraqi Armed Forces are the military forces of the Government of Iraq. They consist of the Iraqi Army, the Iraqi Air Force, and the Iraqi Navy....
(ISF) including the Iraqi Army, Federal Police
Iraqi Police
The Iraqi Police Service are the uniformed Territorial police force responsible for the enforcement of civil law within Iraq.The current organisation, structure and recruitment practice was guided by the Coalition Provisional Authority following the 2003 invasion of Iraq...
, Department of Border Enforcement, Ports of Entry Directorate and provincial police
Iraqi Police
The Iraqi Police Service are the uniformed Territorial police force responsible for the enforcement of civil law within Iraq.The current organisation, structure and recruitment practice was guided by the Coalition Provisional Authority following the 2003 invasion of Iraq...
. These teams provide partnership, mentoring and training to assist their ISF 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.
The setup and mission of the Iraq Assistance Group was similar to the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
The U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, MACV, , was the United States' unified command structure for all of its military forces in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.-History:...
(MACV) and Military Assistance Advisory Group
Military Assistance Advisory Group
Military Assistance Advisory Group is a designation for American military advisers sent to assist in the training of conventional armed forces of Third World countries. Before and during the Vietnam War, there were three of these groups operating in Southeast Asia...
(MAAG) that sent American military advisors to train, advise and mentor members of foreign militaries in Indochina
Indochina
The Indochinese peninsula, is a region in Southeast Asia. It lies roughly southwest of China, and east of India. The name has its origins in the French, Indochine, as a combination of the names of "China" and "India", and was adopted when French colonizers in Vietnam began expanding their territory...
, specifically the Army of the Republic of Vietnam
Army of the Republic of Vietnam
The Army of the Republic of Viet Nam , sometimes parsimoniously referred to as the South Vietnamese Army , was the land-based military forces of the Republic of Vietnam , which existed from October 26, 1955 until the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975...
(ARVN), Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps
Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps
The Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps ) was part of the armed forces of the Republic of Vietnam . It was established by Ngo Dinh Diem in 1954 when he was Prime Minister of the State of Vietnam, which became the Republic of Vietnam in 1955. The longest-serving commander was Lieutenant General Le...
,
Republic of Vietnam Navy
Republic of Vietnam Navy
The Republic of Vietnam Navy was the naval force of the former Republic of Vietnam from 1955 to 1975. The early fleet consisted of boats from France. After 1955 and the transfer of the armed forces to Vietnamese control, the fleet was supplied from the United States...
and the Vietnam Air Force
Vietnam Air Force
The Vietnam Air Force began with a few hand-picked men chosen to fly alongside French pilots during the State of Vietnam era. It eventually grew into the world’s sixth largest air force at the height of its power, in 1974...
.http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/7/prweb408426.htm
The Iraq Assistance Group and the transition teams it supported played a pivotal role in the success of the coalition strategy in Iraq
National Strategy for Victory in Iraq
The National Strategy for Victory in Iraq is a document by the United States National Security Council which articulated the strategy of the United States President, in 2003, and provided an update on progress in various challenges and conflicts, notably Iraq....
which has made possible the planned redeployment of all US forces in Iraq in accordance with the U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement
U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement
The U.S.–Iraq Status of Forces Agreement is a status of forces agreement between Iraq and the United States. It establishes that U.S...
.
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 June 3, 2009, the Iraq Assistance Group cased its colors and its functions and personnel were merged into Multi-National Corps-Iraq.http://iraq.pigstye.net/article.php/IraqAssistanceGroupCasesColorsTraining
Currently all Army Military Transition TeamsMilitary transition team
A Military Transition Team, or Transition Team, is a 10-15 soldier team that and trains local forces. The term has been used in the context of the "War on Terror" to design groups training in particular the Iraqi Security Forces, Afghan Army and other Afghan security forces.- Mission :The primary...
(MiTTs), receive training at Fort Riley
Fort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 100,656 acres in Geary and Riley counties and includes two census-designated places: Fort Riley North and Fort...
, Kansas and Camp Buehring
Camp Buehring
Camp Buehring is a staging post for US troops in the northwestern region of Kuwait. The base is used for military troops heading north into Iraq as well as the primary location for the Middle Eastern Theater Reserve...
, Kuwait. Marine Corps MiTTs receive training both at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, CA and the Advisor Training Group on Camp Pendleton, CA. Both the Army and Marine Corps teams then conduct their final in-theater training at what was formerly the Phoenix Academy
Phoenix Academy
The Phoenix Academy is located on an Iraqi Army base in Taji, Iraq. The Iraq Assistance Group , is in charge of the academy. The academy gives final additional training that the Military transition team , receive before they are assigned to advise Iraqi Security Forces.Classes taught include...
located in 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:...
, Iraq before they are assigned to their Iraqi Army, Police or Border units. 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).
See also
- Major General John P. McLarenJohn P. McLarenJohn P. McLaren, Jr. served in the United States Army from 1974 to 2011. He retired at the rank of Major General in the United States Army on August 29, 2011....
- Commander 2005 to 2006 - Brigadier General Dana J.H. PittardDana J.H. PittardMajor General Dana J.H. Pittard, USA, serves as the Commanding General of 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss, Texas. He was also Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations & Training at the Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe, Virginia and commanding general of the National Training Center,...
- Commander June 2006 to June 30, 2007 - Brigadier General James C. YarbroughJames C. Yarbrough-Education:He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management from Tulane University in May 1979 and, as a Distinguished Military Graduate, was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps . He earned a Master of Arts Degree in Business Management from...
- Commander June 30, 2007 to July 2008. - Brigadier General Keith C. Walker - Commander July 2008 to June 2009, when unit conducted casing of colors.http://iraq.pigstye.net/article.php/IraqAssistanceGroupCasesColors
External links
- Military Transition Team Official site
- Iraq Assistance Group Change of Command
- Phoenix Academy Life Support Services
- Captain James Văn Thạch the first Vietnamese-American to serve as an Military Advisor to the New Iraqi Army
- Colonel Abramowitz: Drawdown Will Force Adjustments in Iraqi Security Training