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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.
19 Comments
Thanks guys for keeping us informed.
Are the ESU’s temporary until new IA Forces come online in Anbar?
It appears Sadr city mayor and INP General are talking the talk:
ooops, the link to that report is out of MNF-I;
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10312&Itemid=21
“Are the ESU’s temporary until new IA Forces come online in Anbar?”
Yes and No.
– SWAT appears to be being replaced with ESUs.
– Think of ESUs as Provicial level IP.
They are being sent to IP school as class space opens up.
– We were thinking that ~1-2x ESU per province plus extra for the big cities.
– The 8 Bns in western Anbar is somewhat more than that (light Division’s worth).
– As things die down, the ESU count will probably reduce and they will be assigned as IP in their areas, join INP/IA or civilian jobs (a few years down road). They may be retained as a reserve force.
– Keep in mind that the MoD (IA) plans to turnover interal security to MoI (IP/INP) eventually and focus on external threats. Some of the new equipment in the US FY07sup and US FY08 budgets are for that conversion (E.G. Howitzers).
Whenever the mainstream media is quiet it is a sign that things are moving in right direction. They seem to be quiet last couple of days.
DG
DJ, thanks…
The larger picture for Iraq’s future is coming into focus with that bit of info. Plus the info regarding Anbar Salvation plan led by sheik Abdul Sattar al-Rishawi, which is being covered in UK as well:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/03/africa/web-0303sheik.php
What is an ESU Btn size? I noticed they still have volunteers for IPs and IA as well still ongoing in recruitment, which appear to be seperate from the ESUs. Is this correct?
So besides of future roll-out plans for the ESUs, MOD and MOI are still recruiting long term in Anbar?
Michael:
ESU size has not been explicitly reported. Unfornately, the range possible is anywhere between 270 (size of former ERU) to 759 (full size battalion) to >900(some former ICDC battalions). Since these are provincial recruited units, I would guess there wont be a standard size. It will depend on the individual needs and recruiting capablilty of each provincial government.
For IP in Anbar, the stated goal is 11,333 province-wide. My last count was 9500 on duty. So probably still recruiting but pretty close to end strength.
For IA, (DJ can give you a better answer but), 7th division has a low priority for getting recruits. They are at about 50% of end strength and it will be a while before they get recruits to reach to 100%. 1st divsion has one of its bdes in Bagdad. The other 3 are probably 60-70%(?).
Michael:
Checked my notes: 2nd battalion ESU in Ramadi is about 500
7th Div and 1st Division were at 50-65% at end of Jan.
The IA Bde that you hear about showing up in Baghdad 11 Jan with 60% was 4-1.
They filled it out with replacements and didn’t deploy until 7 Feb.
IA in or deploying to Baghdad have had priority for replacements.
Good news is that the replacements graduating (10-12,000) end-March will be boing mostly to Anbar.
They rest of the IA are up to strength and that is the last cycle before they start building new formations.
Put that together with intact command structures and Anbar will be tightening up considerably in April.
The numbers in ESUs are varied. One briefer put the Western Anbar ESU Battalions at 450-600 each. Recruiting is in-progress. Training slots for them is becoming an issue.
Expect partnering of IA with them to stiffen them up, provide support and command/control and ensure they do not go rouge…
CJ Radin, its nice to hear from you. Thanks for putting in all this work to educate and inform the rest of us novices. Its a real public service . . . that’s critical retaining support for the Iraq operation.
Americans (almost everyone I know personally) will not support the mission in Iraq unless the ISF and Iraqi people are seen as carrying their fair weight.
Nor will the international community support the Iraqi government or people unless Iraqis are seen to be competently striving to solve their own problems.
Your work will help rebutt those who say “Iraq has no army” or that Iraqis are freeloading on us.
I would add the following to this post:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=3246
The BOC (Baghdad Operational Command) is in the lead in Baghdad. (I assume it has operational control over 6th IAD, most of 9th IAD, most of the 2 national police divisions–excluding the Quicklook II brigade and one combat battalion–and most Iraqi police in the city)
My interpretation is that the BOC still reports to MNF-Baghdad (this isn’t clear). I suspect it transitions to IGFC later this month.
DJ says that the next corp HQs to be created is the mobile HQs. I suspect it will be deployed in the Al Anbar region. Will it command the ESUs?
On another note, I hope the pentagon decides to have more blogger roundtables:
http://www.defendamerica.mil/specials/2007/blog/
Baghdad Operational Command owns all ISF in Baghdad City Limits.
– Entire 6th IAD (5 Bdes).
– All INP except 3-3-1 Bn and Bde currently in QLII.
– All IP in Baghdad.
– All Augments to Baghdad
(4-1, 1-2, 4-2, 3-4, 4-10, 1-9 and elements of 2-9 Bde).
BOC is under MNC-I.
– Too big to be subordinate to an overloaded Division.
MND-B Is also under MNC-I.
– Not sure what the split will be with 3ID HQ augmenting 1CD HQ. Probably Baghdad and outer-belt split.
DJ, thanks for the info. Makes sense that BOC is under MNF-I.
Does BOC command all ISF (excluding SOF) within Baghdad City, or within Baghdad province?
Does BOC command IA battalions that are cat level 3 or 4 that are within Baghdad? My understanding is that IA HQs take command of battalions after they reach level 2. Or maybe this is no longer true.
If BOC commands all local IP within Baghdad, then its total strenght is more than 50,000. The local IP in Baghdad is more than 20,000.
6th IAD is about 17,000 (including all HQs, non-combat elements, SIB).
21 combat battalions + 5 Brigade HQs + 1 Division HQs + 1 MTR + 1 BSU + 1 Engineering battalion + 4 combat Strategic Infrastructure battalions + 1 Strategic Infrastructure Brigade HQs.
Does BOC command all ISF (excluding SOF) within Baghdad City, or within Baghdad province?
– Province at this time. Expect split-off of MSR after new formations established.
Does BOC command IA battalions that are cat level 3 or 4 that are within Baghdad?
– Operative word is ALL ISF.
My understanding is that IA HQs take command of battalions after they reach level 2.
– That as true of non-Iraqi subordinate Divisions when the training was still US controlled. Except for some technical training, US only advises training now (MiTT/NPTT etc).
6th IAD is about 17,000
– Closer to 20,000. Also, the 6th Engineer Bn is the furthest trained/equipped in the IA.
anand:
BOC is under Multinational Corps – Iraq (MNC-I)
Not Multinational Force – Iraq (MNF-I)
Different staffs.
MNC-I is a MNF-I subordinate…
DJ,
Thanks for the info and clarification on MNC-I (the field command for the multinational forces in Iraq).
About how big is BOC in terms of people (now and at full strenght before the split off of forces to the MSR Command).
I suspect that it will be Summer before the MSR command becomes operational. I think it will be deployed to Al Anbar first (might also control parts of Baghdad and Salahadin province).
Thanks,
Anand
Summer sounds right. It will be beginning Aug before the new formations are filled out and basic trained (C3). Formation starts in Apr.
Count of BOC staff or of forces?
– Hard count of Staff is not available in opensource yet. Probably 500-700 personnel in BOC Staff plus ~550 each forming staffs in East and West Baghdad Divisions.
(Did you notice that the IA three new Staffs for BOC, West Baghdad and East Baghdad. IA planned three more Div HQs for command and control. Coincidence?)
– I count 30-35% of the entire IA in Baghdad province (most in Baghdad).
– Add 8/9 INP Bdes (23 Bns)
– Add IP
On the subject of new IA Bdes forming. So far only two have been Identified and both are going to be 4th Bdes in what is now 3xBde Divisions.
– 4-9 (U/I type) Bde and
– 4th IADs new Samarra MP Bde.
Any bets that the remaining three new Bdes will go to the remaining three Divisions that have only 3xBdes (3rd, 5th and 7th IA Divs)?
Any bets on what type of Bdes they will be? IA is very deficient in MP troops and they are specificaly mentioned in FY07sup request for funding…
CJR,
Thanks for that info. Truly appreciate what you and DJ are doing. Means a lot whenever I am arguing points with people to have as much information at possible.
This site is a great resource to point to people who are not well informed.
If you don’t mind me asking. Are you retired or currently serving?
Michael:
http://billroggio.com/archives/2007/02/iraqi_security_force.php
Iraq Security Forces OOB: March 2007 Update
Courtesy of The Fourth Rail:
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…