Military Transition Teams Embed with Iraqi Security

By U.S. Army Sgt. Shannon Crane
U.S. Central Command Public Affairs

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq, April 23, 2007 — Embedded transition teams have taken “embedding” to the next level in Baghdad.

As part of Operation Fard al-Qanun – Arabic for “enforcement of the law” – these 11-15 man teams that advise, coach, teach and mentor Iraqi security forces are not only living and working with their Iraqi counterparts, but they are doing so in the very neighborhoods they are securing.

“Fard al-Qanun is the security plan for the city of Baghdad,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Moore, Iraq Assistance Group Command Sergeant Major. “It is really a key and essential piece of the Iraqi security forces with the U.S. coalition forces in the security and establishment of Baghdad.”

“They wanted to create an operation to secure the city of Baghdad that was fully integrated across the spectrum,” said Col. Stuart Pollock. “What we had before was coalition forces working on one side and Iraqi forces working on the other – a lot of times in the same battle space and not very well integrated.

“You had operations that had been ongoing for a while that had become kind of stale. We found out we weren’t really progressing. What we wanted to do was to create another offensive type operation, a surge of operations to break through and enhance the security of the city of Baghdad. And that’s what it’s all about is the continued effort to secure Baghdad,” Pollock said.

“In terms of the surge, we now have over half of the troops’ plus-up in place,” said Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, Multinational Corps – Iraq (MNC-I) Commander. “An additional three Iraqi brigade headquarters and 11 additional battalions have moved into Baghdad in support of the operation.”

And as those Iraqi security forces relocate to Baghdad, their transition team advisers are moving, as well – coaching and supporting their counterparts every step of the way.

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