Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle 2010-06

(c) DJ Elliott
(click to view full)

DJ Elliott is a retired USN Intelligence Specialist (22 years active duty) who has been analyzing and writing on Iraqi Security Forces developments since 2006. His Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle is an open-source compilation that attempts to map and detail Iraqi units and equipment, as their military branches and internal security forces grow and mature. While “good enough for government use” is not usually uttered as a compliment, US Army TRADOC has maintained permission to use the ISF OOB for their unclassified handouts since 2008.

This compilation is reproduced here with full permission. It offers a set of updates highlighting recent changes in the ISF’s composition and development, followed by the full updated ISF OOBs in PDF form. Reader feedback and tips are encouraged. This month’s developments include:

• Iraqi Army
  
• Iraqi Air Force
  
• Ministry of the Interior
  
• Additional Readings: Full ISF OOB
  
• Additional Readings: DID Articles
  

This Iraqi Security Force (ISF) update provides a summary of changes to the ISF during May 2010. The Iraqi Security Force Order of Battle is updated as of May 31/10.

A separate article addressing the ISF significant portions of the March 2010 quarterly report “Measuring Security and Stability in Iraq” (released in May) was published during May at Montrose Toast, and will not be addressed here.

This month was less active than others.

Iraqi Army

ILAV “Badger” EOD
(click to view full)

The Iraqi Army continues to form new units from its overmanned forces. Prior to the budget crunch in the fall of 2008, all combat units were intentionally overmanned to 120-135%. Since the budget crunch, the IA has been under a hiring freeze and the authorized unit manning has been reduced to 100% but, the IA has continued to form new units from the existing over manning.

During May 2010, the 4-27/7 Battalion and the 6-24/6 Battalion were reported for the first time. The existence of the 6-24/6 Battalion also infers the formation of a 5-24/6 Battalion. The expansion of 24/6 Brigade to 6 battalions also indicates that a new brigade is being formed by splitting the 24/6. Standard structure of IA brigades is 3 combat battalions each.

The 14th Mortar Battery was reported training at Lutifiyah. The report mentioned plans for training on more advanced US, Chinese, and Russian artillery, however, no further details have be forthcoming.

The 10th Division’s maintenance element is now being referred to as “the 10th Field Factory Regiment, 10th Iraqi Army Division.” This is the first and only divisional maintenance force called a regiment. The 10th Division is the only division in the IA with 2 Location Commands [Sustainment Battalions] and 2 Field Factories [Maintenance Battalions]. Many of the divisions are still company strength in their maintenance support. The 10th Division is expected to be reinforced, split, and form a new division. Apparently the IA has learned from the formation of the 17th Division that they needed to form the support elements first. Since most of the divisional support battalions are formed, the commissioning of the new division is probably planned for this fall.

The US Army-run “Iron Claw Academy” has closed, indicating that all further route-clearance training for the Iraqi Army will be performed by the Iraqi Engineering and EOD schools.

On April 11/10, the first graduations from the Battalion and Brigade Command Courses were held. These new courses are now mandatory for new commanding officers. The next course starts in June 2010.

The 48th Brigade has relocated from northern Salahadin to Tikrit and the 14th Brigade has started taking over US facilities in the 48th Brigade’s former area of northern Salahadin. Initial erroneous reporting indicated elements of 48th Brigade [erroneously called 848th Brigade] were in Tikrit for commando training at 4th Division’s training center on 10 April. On 17 April the 1-14/4 Battalion and the 14th Mortar Battery was reported conducting operations near Sharqat and the 14th Brigade received control of Siniya Base near Baiji from US Forces on 19 April.

Apparently the green 48th Brigade from 12th Division is now assigned to the experienced 4th Division [co-located with division HQ] and the green 12th Division in Kirkuk owns the experienced 15th Brigade from the 4th Division. This also shifts the divisional boundaries, 4th Division now owns all of Salahadin Province, and 12th Division owns Kirkuk Province.

Iraqi Air Force

Jordanian EC635
(click to view full)

Groundbreaking on Nasiriyah Air Base Sector Operations Center was reported in May. It is to be the southernmost of 4 SOCs, which will form the core of Iraq’s national air defense. Taji (center), Kirkuk (north), and Al Asad (west) are to be the locations for the other 3 SOCs.

The first Eurocopter EC635 was reported as confirmed active at Taji by Marco Dijkshoorn of Scramble Magazine in May. Iraq has contracted for 30 with an option for 20 more. At least 2 had been previously reported as shipped to Iraq.

The Iraqi Air Force is to take custody of Q-West Air Base in July 2010. According to the new Iraqi Base Commander Colonel Natik, “the Iraqi Air Force plans for COB Q-West to be fully equipped with three squadrons, including new helicopters and multiple F-16 Fighting Falcons by 2011. He also said he plans to improve base security.” However, Lieutenant Colonel Martin Downie [USF-I PAO] indicates there is no F-16 deal yet: “Mr. Elliott, Although the Iraqi government has asked for information about F16s no final agreements have been made. I would refer you to the U.S. Air Force press desk for any new information on this.” Despite repeated Iraqi claims, the US Military continues to say there is no formal deal or declines comment.

Iraqi Navy

The first of 15 35-meter patrol boats was delivered in Morgan City, Louisiana on 20 May. The P-301 will now be stationed at Swiftships’ Training Village where it will remain until the first group of Iraqi sailors complete training in July 2010. The first 2 patrol boats will then be shipped to Iraq.

Iraqi Ministry of Interior Forces

Iraqi Policeman,
Baghdad
(click to view full)

The Federal Police graduated 760, including 43 Kurdish Zerevani policemen who completed Carabinieri training at Camp Dublin. This is the third time Arabs and Kurds have participated in this advanced training together. Unit identifications were not reported. 17 Federal Police battalions have been identified as graduating this course prior to this.

There are indications that the 9th Brigade is returning to the Department of Border Enforcement’s Region IV. The 9th Brigade and the 11th Brigade had swapped areas in 2009.

A new emergency battalion has been reported in Tal Afar. The 2nd Emergency Battalion in Tal Afar was reported in May.

Additional Readings: Full ISF OOB

These documents contain tables with the full OOB as we know it.

• Page 1: Iraqi National Operational Command (NOC)/Joint Forces Command (JFC) [PDF]

• Page 2: Iraqi Army Quick Reaction Forces (QRF) [PDF]

• Page 3: Iraqi Army Northern Forces [PDF]

• Page 4: Iraqi Army Central Forces [PDF]

• Page 5: Iraqi Army Southern Forces [PDF]

• Page 6: Iraqi Air Force (IZAF) [PDF]

• Page 7: Iraqi Navy (IZN) and Marine Corps (IZM) [PDF]

• Page 8: Counter-Terrorism Bureau and Commands [PDF]

• Page 9: Joint Operational Commands [PDF]

• Pages 10-14: Ministry of Interior (MOI)
  
• MOI Core Units and Emergency Response Force [PDF]
  
• Iraqi National Police and Provincial [PDF]
  
• Department of Border Enforcement et. al. [PDF]
  
• MoI Emergency Police [PDF]
  
• Oil Police Directorate [PDF]

• Appendix A: Definitions & Acronyms
  
• Appendix B: ISF Standard Tables of Organization
  
• Appendix C: ISF Equipment
  
• Appendix D: Related Articles & Monthly Updates
  
• Appendix E: 2007 Notes
  
• Appendix F: 2008 Notes
  
• Appendix G: 2009 Notes
  
• Appendix H: 2010 Notes

Additional Readings: DID Articles

Note that the ISF OOB often tracks developments that DID’s articles cannot, until official confirmation exists. On the other hand, DID articles can offer a drill-down into key contracts and their associated developments and background, via an easily-accessible organizing principle. As such, it’s best to treat these sources as separate but complementary. DID thanks DJ Elliott for his frequent assistance, which is credited in many of these articles.

• DID – Iraq Seeks F-16 Fighters

• DID – T/A-50 Golden Eagles for Iraq?

• DID – Iraq Orders C-130Js

• DID – The Penny Drops: Iraq Chooses its COIN Aircraft. And trainers.

• DID – Standing Up the IqAF: King Air 350s. Iraq’s top reconnaissance asset, now adopted by the USA. Iraq’s are reportedly slated to be armed.

• DID – Bird Dogs for the Iraqi Air Force. some of them have teeth, now.

• DID – Medium Mainstay: Mi-17s for Iraq

• DID- Iraq Seeks Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters

• DID – Iraq Orders Eurocopter’s EC635s

• DID – Iraq Looking for More Light/Med. Utility Helicopters

• DID – M1 Abrams Tanks for Iraq

• DID – Iraq: Looking for LAVs in All the Right Places. It appears that the Strykers were ordered, and the LAV-25s were not.

• DID – BAE Delivering a Cougar Variant for Iraq’s ILAV Contract. Iraq’s ILAV/ Badger MRAP. Supplemented by locally-produced Reva vehicles, which are another design.

• DID – Bittersweet Symphony: Lockheed & A-V Deliver Anti-IED Devices. Some of these orders have been Iraqi.

• DID – December 2008: Small Arms for Iraq

• DID – Command Tents and C3 for Iraq

• DID – Iraq Asks for USACE Help With Military Infrastructure

• DID – Iraq to Purchase $1.05B in Medical Items

• DID – Swiftships to Build Up Iraqi Navy’s Coastal Patrol Capabilities

• DID (Dec 9/09) – Ukraine, Iraq in $2.5 Bn Weapons Deal

• DID (Nov 29/09) – AECOM Gets 6-Month Extension to Iraqi Security Forces Maintenance Contract

• DID (June 11/09) – Non-Standard Ammo Orders for Iraq

• DID (Sept 25/08) – Standing Up Iraq’s MoD: A British Snapshot

• DID (Feb 14/08) – VSE, Westar to Help Train Iraqi Pilots

• DID (Oct 7/07) – $2.257B for Iraqi Army Guns, Vehicles & Logistics. Includes their DSCA request for BTR-3E1s.

• DID (Aug 27/07) – Iraq Requests Another 16 Huey-II Helicopters

• DID (Nov 21/05) – Iraq Receives T-72s & BMPs – With Another Armored Brigade Planned