Security Assistance; and Logistics - Federation of American Scientists

shortage of mechanics properly trained to perform 3 rd Line maintenance on Iraqi Armyvehicles, we believe the move to transition this important capability from Coalition toIraqi Army responsibility was premature and occurred before the Iraqi Army was capableof fully assuming the mission.Recommendations, Client Comments, and OurResponse17.a. We recommend that Commander, Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq coordinate with the Iraqi Ministry of Defense and the Iraqi Joint Headquarters toassess the Iraqi Army capability to conduct 3 rd Line intermediate vehicle maintenanceand associated spare parts support and identify a bridging strategy to ensure adequatesupport is available.Client CommentsCommander, MNSTC-I concurred. The Commander stated that a bridging strategy hadbeen developed to improve lack of qualified mechanics and lack of spare parts. Hereported that HMMWV repair parts were being pushed to 1 st and 2 nd Line elements toalleviate their immediate spares shortages and that short term contract support for sparesdistribution had been arranged to fill the gap until the General Transportation Regiment(GTR) becomes operational in late 2008. He stated that the Iraqi Army MaintenanceProgram (IAMP) computerized network had been set up in all 3 rd and 4 th Line workshopsand translated into Arabic. Additional MNSTC-I advisers had been deployed to theCombined Logistics Operations Center (CLOC) to enable improved asset tracking andcross leveling. The Commander expressed concern over the lack of planned logisticprocurement, especially for Class IX parts, by the ISF either through the use of FMS orby direct contracting.Our ResponseCommander, MNSTC-I comments were responsive, and no additional comments arerequired.17.b. We recommend that Commander, Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq coordinate with the Iraqi Ministry of Defense and the Iraqi Joint Headquarters toensure that the 3 rd Line intermediate maintenance organizations attached to the 13 IraqiLocation Commands are manned sufficiently to perform their mission.Client CommentsCommander, MNSTC-I concurred. The Commander reported that the JHQ directorateresponsible for manning 3 rd Line locations had recently hired 3,000 new soldiers and thatthey had received another 3,200 rejoiners, of whom 2,700 were NCOs. In addition, theJHQ had also recruited 400 former Army Warrant Officers to increase the knowledgelevel of the current force. He stated that manning of the Location Commands remained akey topic for the JHQ.111