Security Assistance; and Logistics - Federation of American Scientists

Although not flawless, the Iraqi military is now sustaining itself in most areas of lifesupport. Strides have been made in maintenance and transportation capability at alllevels. With some contractor support, the Iraqi Army now controls and operates thelogistics functions at Taji National Depot and a majority of the Location Commands.The MoI controls and operates the logistics functions for the Iraqi Police from theirlogistics hub at the Baghdad Police College. Most recently an Iraqi Army 4 th lineGeneral Transportation Regiment has completed training and become operational. TheIraqis have also demonstrated improved logistics capabilities during recent operations inBasra, Diyala, and Mosul. While work remains to be done, we believe that developmentof the Iraqi logistics capability is on track and mitigates against the need for a LogisticsExecutive Agent. We will continue to monitor progress in this area; however, we haveclosed the recommendation.Recommendations N.2.a, N.2.b, and N.2.cWe recommended that the Commander, MNF-I:a. Establish and approve the required positions for senior logistics mentors andMilitary and Police Transition Team logistics mentors in MNC-I and MNSTC-I throughthe JMD or Request for Forces (RFF) processes so as to provide sufficient personnel withthe requisite skills and experience levels to successfully execute the logistics mentoringmission.b. Ensure that senior logistics mentors and MiTT logistics mentors assigned toMNSTC-I via the JMD/RFF process are further assigned to advise/mentor the appropriateoffices in MoD, MoI, the Iraqi Joint Headquarters, and ISF, as needed.c. Establish a logistics training program in Iraq, comparable in comprehensiveness tothat currently provided by the Counter-Insurgency Academy, to train U.S. Military andPolice Transition Team logistics mentors. This could be a block of instruction taught atthe Counter Insurgency Academy itself. We need to ensure that logistics mentors andadvisors are prepared to perform this critical mission.Management Comments to Recommendations N.2.a, N.2.b, and N.2.cMNF-I concurred with N.2.a. and N.2.b., noting that MNSTC-I would determinerequirements for logistics mentors needed for the MNC-I and MNSTC-I staffs, andwould coordinate with the MNF-I personnel section to ensure requisite skills andexperience levels are incorporated in the JMD or RFF, as appropriate.MNF-I non-concurred with recommendation N.2.c. They stated that the MNF-ICommanding General directed the establishment of a “Council of Colonels”(subsequently renamed the Iraqi Logistics Development Committee (ILDC)), aninitiatives group to develop a way ahead to assist the accelerated growth of the ISF lifesupport, maintenance, and logistics system.The ILDC is representative of all Coalition Force organizations, to include: MNF-I,MNC-I, MNSTC-I, the Iraqi Assistance Group, and Iraqi Ground Forces Command25