The United States military has played a major role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the subsequent Iraq War. Its missions and activities there have brought a range of new challenges, and various impacts on military personnel, equipment and procedures. United States land forces in Iraq are represented by all service branches, and also include Joint command organisations.
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The overall military commander in Iraq is General Raymond T. Odierno, Commander, Multi-National Force Iraq (MNF-I), who reports to United States Central Command. MNF-I replaced Combined Joint Task Force 7 in May 2004. MNF-I consists of Multi-National Corps Iraq and Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq (MNSTC-I), as well as a logistical support element.
There is an official distinction between U.S. troops who are commanded by Multinational Force-Iraq, and U.S. troops in Iraq who are commanded directly by United States Joint Special Operations Command, through CENTCOM. There are two special operations task forces operating in Iraq: Task Force 77 (TF 77) and Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula (CJSOTF-AP). Though TF 77, a 'black' force, does not answer to MNF-I, it is included here for the sake of completeness of the U.S. forces operating within Iraq. TF 77's principal mission is to hunt down the leaders of al Qaeda in Iraq.[1]
Task Force 77 (formerly Task Force 145)—LSA Anaconda, Balad:[2]
The second special operations element, separate from TF 77, is the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula (CJSOTF-AP). CJSOTF-AP is a "white," or unclassified, special operations task force that is always organized around the headquarters of 5th Special Forces Group or 10th Special Forces Group.[3] Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula (CJSOTF-AP), itself answers to United States Special Operations Command Central. While information is scarce, it consists of two battalions of the United States Army Special Forces (the 'Green Berets') and a west coast-based Navy SEAL Team. CJSOTF-AP is task organized into three Special Operations Task Forces (SOTFs): SOTF-Central, SOTF-North, and SOTF-West.
The U.S. Army's XVIII Airborne Corps headquarters, under Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin, provides command and control for Multi-National Corps Iraq, which is divided into division-sized areas.
Most of the units that carried out the ground campaign phase of the invasion of Iraq, and who bore the larger part of the conflict with the Iraqi military in 2003 were those of the Army. Since then, they have performed numerous operations against insurgents.
The United States Army has had to make several adjustments to address demands on its personnel and equipment. The US Army has utilized its stop-loss policy and has required more of its combat personnel to serve more tours of duty than before, due to the need for experienced personnel.
There are deep concerns about effects on the psychological health of US soldiers in Iraq. Suicides among US soldiers have been rising, and have reached their highest rate in 26 years. This increase has coincided with US deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq.[4]
During the insurgency, it was found that most army vehicles such as HMMWVs were insufficiently armored, leading to efforts to add greater armor to protect against improvised explosive devices. Some soldiers added armor by using modifications known as hillbilly armor. In the short term, HMMWVs in service in Iraq are being replaced by Category 1 MRAP vehicles, primarily the Force Protection Cougar H and the International MaxxPro.[5] The US Marine Corps plans to replace all HMMWVs patrolling "outside the wire" with MRAP vehicles.
Multi-National Division Baghdad is headquartered by the 1st Cavalry Division, based at Camp Victory (primary component of the Victory Base Complex), north of Baghdad International Airport. The division controls those brigades in greater Baghdad that are responsible for areas within the city itself. Of the brigades currently controlled by the 1st Cavalry Division, one is north of the city at Taji, one in the northeastern part in Adhamiya, one at Camp Liberty in the west, one in the "International Zone" or "green Zone" at the heart of the city, one on the southern outskirts, and a sixth in the southeast near Rasheed airfield. Most of the brigades' troops are dispersed at battalion- and company-level "combat outposts" and "joint security stations." MND-B was previously headquartered by the 1st Armored Division (2003–2004), 1st Cavalry Division (2004–2005), 3rd Infantry Division (2005–2006), 4th Infantry Division (2006) and 1st Cavalry Division (2007).
Multi-National Division Center is headquartered by the 3rd Infantry Division, this division, also known as Task Force Marne, is responsible for operations in the "belt" areas south of Baghdad. It controls one brigade on the southwest outskirts of Baghdad, two to the south near Iskandariya, a fourth east of the city on a newly built forward operating base (FOB Hammer), and a Georgian brigade in Kut.
Multi-National Division North is headquartered by the 25th Infantry Division and is also known as Task Force Lightning. It is based at Contingency Operating Base Speicher outside Tikrit, where one of its brigades is also stationed. It also has one brigade based in Mosul, one in Kirkuk and one in Baqubah.
Logistics Support Area Anaconda is run by the U.S. 13th Corps Support Command, which is responsible for providing logistics support throughout Iraq. It has operational control over one combat brigade, based at Tallil Airbase near Nasiriyah. This brigade provides convoy security across much of the country.
The USMC has sought to maintain two expeditionary forces, and one expeditionary unit in the theatre of operations. Its major deployment are had been within the Multi-National Force West command.
Multi-National Force West is headquartered by I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). It covers western Iraq, including Al Anbar Governorate and the cities of Ramadi and Fallujah, the area where Iraq's Sunni insurgency has been at its strongest. Headquartered at Camp Fallujah, where one of its two regiments is also stationed, it has another regiment at Camp Ripper near Al Asad Airbase and a brigade in Ramadi.
In terms of the major surface units the Navy has sought to maintain in the theatre one carrier strike group, one expeditionary strike group at all times.
The United States Navy Riverine Squadrons of the United States Navy are elements of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) that have taken active part in the land operations in support of the Army and USMC units. According to the Navy: “The Navy’s Riverine force focuses on conducting Maritime Security Operations and Theater Security Cooperation in a riverine area of operations or other suitable area. The force is capable of combating enemy riverine forces by applying fires directly, or by coordinating supporting fires. It will share battle space with the other Services in an effort to close the seams in Doctrine, Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures, and Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance.”[6]
As of 2008, three riverine squadrons are active in the Navy, all under the command of Riverine Group 1, located in Norfolk, Virginia. Riverine Squadron 1 (RIVRON 1) deployed to Iraq in April 2007 and was relieved by Riverine Squadron 2 (RIVRON 2) in October 2007.[7] Riverine Squadron 3 (RIVRON 3) was established in July 2007[8] and will presumably relieve RIVRON 2 in Iraq when their deployment is completed.
The USAF has played a less visible but crucial role in the US military operations in Iraq by deploying elements of 10 fighter, fighter/bomber, specialized, and support wings in the theatre of operations.
U.S. Airmen are increasingly on the ground in Iraq. They drive in convoys and even work with detainees. The main aerial hub in Iraq has 1,500 airmen doing convoy operations in and 1,000 working with detainees. The USAF is also involved in training Iraqis and performing other activities not usually associated with the Air Force.
The dangers of the Air Force's new role were highlighted when the expeditionary wing lost its first female member in the line of duty in Iraq. A1C Elizabeth Jacobson, 21, was killed in a roadside bombing while performing convoy security near the U.S. detention center at Camp Bucca in southern Iraq.
"More and more Air Force are doing Army jobs," said Senior Master Sgt. Matt Rossoni, 46, of San Francisco. "It's nothing bad about the Army. They're just tapped out."
Air Force security forces are traditionally associated with base defense, however, now they provide security for patrols and to deliver supplies.
The Air Force also is keeping up with its traditional duties. In November, the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing delivered its 1 millionth passenger to Iraq since October 2003.
USAF missions included transporting troops, casualties and cargo flights.
The Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps flew thousands of missions in support of U.S. ground troops in Iraq this fall, including attacks by unmanned Predator aircraft armed with Hellfire missiles, military records show. American and allied refueling, transport and surveillance planes also are in the air. Airstrikes have been largely in areas where the insurgency is strongest, like Balad, Ramadi and in the vicinity of Baghdad, according to the U.S. Central Command. At least 2,179 members of the U.S. military have died since the Iraq war started in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.