Iraq Assistance Group

The Iraq Assistance Group (IAG) was a temporary joint-service military command established during the Iraq War to coordinate the United States-led effort to develop Iraqi security institutions and transfer responsibility for internal security to Iraqi authorities. It was responsible to Multi-National Corps-Iraq and drew primarily on personnel from the U.S. Army, while also including sailors, airmen, Marines, and personnel from allied or partner militaries. The group’s central mechanism was the military transition team, commonly called a MiTT. These teams were assigned to Iraqi formations and security organizations, where they provided partnership, advising, mentoring, training, and operational support. The organizations assisted included the reconstituted Iraqi Army, the Federal Police, the Department of Border Enforcement, the Ports of Entry Directorate, and provincial police forces. Rather than functioning as a conventional combat formation alone, the IAG was designed to help Iraqi units reach operational effectiveness and progressively assume responsibility for security missions. Its structure and mission resembled the Military Assistance Advisory Groups used by the United States in earlier conflicts, particularly the advisory organizations that worked with South Vietnamese armed forces during the Vietnam War. The comparison reflected the IAG’s emphasis on embedded advice, institutional development, leadership support, and the gradual transfer of security duties to a partner government. Training for Army transition teams took place at Fort Riley, Kansas, and Camp Buehring, Kuwait. Marine Corps teams trained at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms and at the Advisor Training Group at Camp Pendleton, California. Before deployment to their assigned Iraqi units, Army and Marine teams also completed final in-theater preparation at the Phoenix Academy in Taji, Iraq. Its curriculum included counterinsurgency, rules of engagement, cultural awareness, and Iraqi history. By early 2009, the Phoenix Academy had been combined with the Counter Insurgency Center for Excellence to form the Counter Insurgency Stability Operations Center, or COINSOC. The command was led by senior U.S. Army general officers, several of whom simultaneously held positions in the 1st Infantry Division. Dana J. H. Pittard commanded the group during the period from June 2006 through June 2007, followed by James C. Yarbrough and then Keith C. Walker. John P. McLaren had commanded the organization from 2005 to 2006. As Iraqi security institutions improved and the coalition shifted away from large-scale combat toward partnership and mentoring, the separate IAG command was no longer considered necessary. On 3 June 2009, it cased its colors and its personnel and functions were absorbed back into Multi-National Corps-Iraq. The Iraq Assistance Group therefore ceased to exist as an independent command, leaving its advisory mission to be carried forward within the broader coalition command structure.

The Iraq Assistance Group was created as a joint U.S.-led command during the Iraq War to organize and support the coalition’s military transition teams. Its mission was not limited to tactical training. The group coordinated a broad advisory effort intended to help rebuild Iraqi security institutions, improve their operational capabilities, and enable a gradual transfer of responsibility for internal security from coalition forces to the Government of Iraq. The command reported to Multi-National Corps-Iraq and was composed primarily of U.S. Army personnel, with substantial participation from the U.S. Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Foreign military personnel also served within the broader advisory effort. The IAG’s formation reflected the need for a dedicated structure capable of coordinating teams assigned to multiple Iraqi organizations, including the Iraqi Army, Federal Police, Department of Border Enforcement, Ports of Entry Directorate, and provincial police. The military transition teams worked in partnership with Iraqi units. Their activities included advising commanders, mentoring staffs, supporting training, helping improve planning and logistics, and assisting Iraqi formations as they conducted operations. The model was comparable to earlier U.S. military advisory commands, especially the Military Assistance Advisory Groups associated with the Vietnam War. In Iraq, however, the teams operated in a continuing insurgency and were required to combine institution-building with operational support and force protection. Training was conducted in several stages. Army MiTT personnel received preparation at Fort Riley, Kansas, and Camp Buehring, Kuwait. Marine Corps teams trained at Twentynine Palms and Camp Pendleton, California. Teams then completed final preparation in Iraq at the Phoenix Academy in Taji. Instruction covered counterinsurgency doctrine, rules of engagement, cultural awareness, and Iraqi history. The academy was subsequently combined with the Counter Insurgency Center for Excellence, becoming the Counter Insurgency Stability Operations Center by early 2009. Senior Army officers associated with the 1st Infantry Division commanded the group during much of its operational life. John P. McLaren led it from 2005 to 2006. Dana J. H. Pittard took command in June 2006 while also serving as assistant division commander for maneuver of the 1st Infantry Division, and remained in command through 30 June 2007. James C. Yarbrough succeeded him and served until July 2008. Keith C. Walker then commanded the organization until its dissolution in June 2009. The IAG’s separate existence ended as the coalition’s mission changed. Improvements in Iraqi security institutions and the broader move from combat operations toward partnership and mentoring reduced the need for an independent assistance-group headquarters. On 3 June 2009, the organization cased its colors and merged its personnel and functions into Multi-National Corps-Iraq. The dissolution marked an organizational transition rather than the end of coalition advising, since training and partnership activities continued within the larger command structure.

• 2009

  Command is dissolved

  [1]Iraq Assistance Groupen.wikipedia.org

  On 3 June 2009, the Iraq Assistance Group cases its colors and merges its personnel and functions into Multi-National Corps-Iraq.

• 2008

  Keith C. Walker assumes command

  [1]Iraq Assistance Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Keith C. Walker becomes commanding general in July 2008 and remains in command through the organization’s dissolution.

• 2007

  Command passes to James C. Yarbrough

  [1]Iraq Assistance Groupen.wikipedia.org

  James C. Yarbrough succeeds Pittard as commanding general on 30 June 2007.

• 2006

  Dana J. H. Pittard takes command

  [1]Iraq Assistance Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Dana J. H. Pittard assumes command in June 2006 while also serving as assistant division commander for maneuver of the 1st Infantry Division.

• 2005

  John P. McLaren assumes command

  [1]Iraq Assistance Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Major General John P. McLaren is identified as the Iraq Assistance Group’s commanding general from 2005 to 2006.

A coalition military assistance and security-force development command focused on advising, mentoring, training, and preparing Iraqi institutions to assume responsibility for internal security.

• Military advisory teams

  Military Transition Teams

  Military transition teams were the principal operational instrument coordinated by the Iraq Assistance Group. They were assigned to Iraqi Army, police, border, and ports-of-entry organizations and worked alongside Iraqi partners to improve leadership, planning, training, operational effectiveness, and institutional capacity. The teams combined mentoring and advising with support during ongoing security operations, helping Iraqi forces assume progressively greater responsibility.

• Advisor training facility

  Phoenix Academy

  The Phoenix Academy in Taji, Iraq, provided final in-theater preparation for military transition teams before they were assigned to Iraqi security organizations. Its instruction included counterinsurgency, rules of engagement, cultural awareness, and Iraqi history. By early 2009, it had been combined with the Counter Insurgency Center for Excellence to form the Counter Insurgency Stability Operations Center.

• 2009

  Merge the Iraq Assistance Group into Multi-National Corps-IraqStrategy

  Background

  Improved Iraqi security-force capabilities and the coalition’s shift from primary combat operations toward partnership and mentoring reduced the operational need for a separate assistance-group command.

  Action taken

  The organization cased its colors on 3 June 2009, and its personnel and functions were incorporated into Multi-National Corps-Iraq.

  Aftermath

  The IAG ceased to exist as an independent command, while its advisory and partnership functions continued within the wider coalition command structure.

  Source

• 2009

  Create the Counter Insurgency Stability Operations CenterStrategy

  Background

  The Phoenix Academy and the Counter Insurgency Center for Excellence provided overlapping preparation and counterinsurgency-related functions for transition teams.

  Action taken

  The two facilities or functions were merged into the Counter Insurgency Stability Operations Center, known as COINSOC.

  Aftermath

  Final in-theater preparation and counterinsurgency education were consolidated under the new center.

  Source

1. 1Iraq Assistance Groupen.wikipedia.org