Originally Posted by WIKI

Structure

* 1 Div: – Fallujah
o 1 Bde
o 2 Bde
o 3 Bde
o 4 Bde

* 2 Div: – Mosul
o 1 Bde
o 2 Bde
o 3 Bde
o 4 Bde

* 3 Div: – Al Kasik
o 1 Bde
o 2 Bde
o 3 Bde

* 4 Div: – Tikrit
o 1 Bde
o 2 Bde
o 4 Bde

* 5 Div: – Balad
o 1 Bde
o 2 Bde
o 3 Bde

* 6 Div: – Bagdad
o 1 Bde
o 2 Bde
o 3 Bde [11]
o 5 Bde

* 7 Div: – West Al Anbar Province
o 1 Bde
o 2 Bde
o 3 Bde

* 8 Div: – Al Kut
o 1 Bde
o 2 Bde
o 3 Bde

* 9 Div (Mech): – Taji
o 1 Mech Bde
o 2 Arm Bde
o 3 Mech Bde

* 10 Div: – Basrah
o 1 Bde
o 2 Bde
o 3 Bde

[edit] Training

Training of Iraqi forces was initially done by private contractors, transitioned to coalition forces, and is now done by three Iraqi training battalions.

[edit] Recruits and enlisted men

Iraqi Army recruits undergo a standard thirteen-week basic training course that includes basic soldiering skills, weapons marksmanship and individual tactics[26]. Former soldiers are eligible for an abbreviated three week "Direct Recruit Replacement Training" course designed to replace regular basic training to be followed by more training once they have been assigned to a unit.

Soldiers later go on to enroll in more specific advanced courses targeted for their respective fields. This could involve going to the Military Intelligence School, the Signal School, the Bomb Disposal School, the Combat Arms Branch School, the Engineer School, and the Military Police School.

[edit] Officers

The Iraqi Armed Service and Supply Institute located in Taji plays a significant role in training aspiring Iraqi non-commissioned officers and commissioned officers. The training is based on a Sandhurst model due to its shorter graduation time compared to West Point.

CMATT's main recruiting stations are located in Baghdad, Basra and Mosul. The most desired recruits are individuals who have prior military service or are skilled in specific professions such as first aid, heavy equipment operation, food service and truck driving. A recruitment target of approximately one thousand men is desired to eventually form a 757-man battalion. Soldier fallout usually occurs due to voluntary withdrawal or failure to meet training standards.

Due to the current demand for these battalions to become active as soon as possible, the first four battalions' officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted men are being trained simultaneously (in separate groups). Notable differences in training between CMATT and former training under Saddam's regime include schooling in human rights, the laws of land warfare, and tolerance in a multi-ethnic team.

Based on the philosophy used by the U.S. military to boost its own size in response to World War II — that an army can be built faster by focusing on the training on its leadership rather than enlisted men — CMATT has pursued a similar strategy of focusing recruitment and training on commissioned and non-commissioned officers for the remaining 23 Iraqi battalions. Upon successful completion of officer training, these groups of officers will form the battalion's leadership cadre, which will then be responsible for overseeing its own recruitment, training, and readiness of its enlisted men. It is hoped that having the Iraqi leadership train its own will overcome problems faced by CMATT's training process; namely recruitment, desertion, and unit loyalty.

All Iraqi Army battalions have embedded U.S. Military transition teams, according to the National Strategy for Victory in Iraq. The MiTTs advise their Iraqi battalions in the areas of intelligence, communications, fire support, logistics and infantry tactics. Larger scale operations are often done jointly with American battalions. This operational training aims to make the battalion self-sustainable tactically, operationally and logistically so that the battalion will be prepared to take over responsibility for battle space.
Iraqi soldiers perform a live-fire exercise
Iraqi soldiers perform a live-fire exercise

As of October 5, 2005 the New Iraqi Army had 90 Battalions, or 750 soldiers, trained well enough to be "deployed independently," i.e. without the help of others such as the United States.[12]

There are three levels of troop capability in the New Iraqi Army. One, two, and three. Three is just out of basic training, Two is able to work with soldiers, and one work by themselves.

However, since June of 2004, the partnership between Coalition forces and Iraqi forces has increased due to the number of Battalions growing in the Iraqi army, which now stands around 115. Out of this number, it has been deemed that 80 of them are able to carry out operations in the field with Coalition support limited to logistics and strategic planning, whilst another 20-30 battlions still need major Coalition support to carry out their operations.

Training has been impeded by domestic instability, infiltration by insurgents, and high desertion rates. But in spite of these setbacks strides have been made to improve the level of training for the Iraqi Army. Members of NATO, MNF-Iraq, and the occupying American military forces are conducting ongoing training programs for both enlisted men and officers including training as medics, engineers, quartermasters, military police, and so forth. Outside of the various courses and programs being held in-country, both American staff colleges and military academies have begun taking Iraqi applicants, with Iraqi cadets being enrolled at both the USMA West Point and the US Air Force Academy.

[edit] Equipment
The 2nd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Division took delivery of 10 armored HMMWVs in March 2006
The 2nd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Division took delivery of 10 armored HMMWVs in March 2006
New Iraqi Army T-72
New Iraqi Army T-72

Virtually all of the equipment used by the former Iraqi Army was either destroyed by the U.S. and Britain during Operation Iraqi Freedom or was looted during the chaotic aftermath shortly after the fall of the Hussein regime. Four T-55 tanks however have been recovered from an old army base in al-Muqdadiyah and are now in service with the 1st Mechanized Division.

On February 2, 2004 the U.S government announced that Nour USA was awarded a $327,485,798 contract to procure equipment for both the Iraqi Army and the Iraqi National Guard; however, this contract was cancelled in March 2004 when an internal Army investigation (initiated due to complaints from losing bidders) revealed that Army procurement officers in Iraq were violating procedures with sloppy contract language and incomplete paperwork.

On May 25, 2004 the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) stated that they would award a contract worth $259,321,656 to ANHAM Joint Venture in exchange for procuring the necessary equipment (and providing its required training) for a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 35 battalions. The minimum bid would begin to be delivered immediately and further orders could be placed until the maximum of 35 battalion sets or September of 2006 after the first order was fully delivered.

In 2005, Hungary agreed to give 77 T-72 Main Battle Tanks to the Iraqi Army, to be refurbished by Defense Solutions. On July 29, 2005, the United Arab Emirates gained approval to purchase 180 M113A1 APCs from Switzerland, with the intent to transfer them to Iraq as a gift (since cancelled). 173 M113s, 44 Panhards, and 300 Spartans donated by Jordan, Pakistan and UAE. 600 Dzik-3 (Ain Jaria) APCs were ordered in Poland (option 1200) for delivery by Jan 2007. 573 Akrep APCs for delivery by Jan 2007. 756 Cougar APCs (option 1050) for delivery by Nov 2008.

713 M1114s and 400 M1151s purchased for IA with delivery complete by end July 2006.