By Staff Sgt. Matt Meadows
4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq – Iraqi security forces are becoming more self-sufficient in securing supplies and equipment they need to sustain continual operations as a viable organization, and Multi-National Division – Baghdad forces are assisting in advancing their efforts.
ISF logistics operations used to paint a pretty dismal picture, but things have improved and his brigade has instituted efforts to help turn things around, said Capt. Leonardo Nava, the brigade ISF logistics officer for 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light), who is a native of New York City.
"There was a huge logistics problem; people didn't have bullets, food and water to sustain themselves at checkpoints," said Nava, "so the brigade wanted to focus on two efforts: Shadow tracking, making sure the Iraqi army and national police were receiving what they were requesting, and we also supplied logistical training teams."
Nava explained that he coordinates those two efforts with Soldiers within National Police Transition Teams and the brigade's 94th Brigade Support Battalion. Logistical training to support the efforts encompassed several areas.
Two fields of coalition forces support for ISF logistics operations are training IA and NP personnel in basic preventative maintenance checks and services of ISF military and civilian vehicles in addition to teaching the Iraqi army soldiers of the 35th Logistics and Administration Battalion, 9th IA Division, how to properly set up an Ammunition Supply Point.
"[They] had an ASP that we helped them build according to our standards," explained Nava. "They took over that ASP, so they saw what we were doing; we helped them build it, and then they adopted it."
Capt. Hitoshi Kumagai, a logistics advisor for 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade, 1st National Police Division, who hails from Fort Lee, N.J., said the results of a recent inspection proved the NPs, with whom he works, have made tremendous progress in logistic efficiency.
"All they received was accolades from the Ministry of Interior personnel, who conducted the inspection," commented Kumagai. "They [NPs] prepared for the inspection by themselves. They received minimal support from us, so it showed us they know what right is, and they are capable of executing what right is."
Kumagai continued, saying the training NPs received was extremely detail oriented and the NPs learned well. They were able to overcome cultural barriers that hinder improving logistics and assisting ISF in becoming more self-sustaining.
"I think working with coalition forces, [NPs] were able to break cultural challenges that we had to overcome in order for them to be self-reliant," remarked Kumagai. He cited digital reporting and detail-oriented spreadsheets as areas in which NPs displayed marked improvement and advanced skills. The 1st Bn., 4th Bde., 1st NP Div has made tremendous improvements, said Kumagai, and he hopes they sustain that progress for the next group of coalition partners with whom they might work.
In addition to working closely with NPTTs and IA units in tracking logistical operations and offering training to support those operations, the Patriot Brigade has helped ISF units with requisitioning items they need. The IA uses a 101 form that U.S. Soldiers helped create when they request supplies, commented Nava. However, ISF units still submit supply requests to higher headquarters on paper, which can cause difficulties if they have to travel long distances.
For example, IA units are able to pick up supplies and equipment at the National Supply Depot in Taji. Brigade and division personnel may receive ordered items in Taji, said Nava, but battalion-level units rely on higher headquarters to pick up and deliver their requests to them. National police units at all levels, however, have the option of going to the National Sustainment Brigade, which is in the International Zone, directly to fill their supply and equipment needs.
Nava said he has seen definite improvements in IA logistical operations and successes in national police logistical advancements. He cited a recent mission in which IA units processed "push packages" so all of the concerned units within the Patriot Brigade operating environment can receive humvee parts. He described it as a great success.
Ideally, and what Nava and higher headquarters is working toward, ISF units eventually will become self-reliant in all logistical operations. Efforts are underway to help make that happen.
"The biggest things they are trying to do is set up Foreign Military Sales programs so that Iraqi army and national police will get their parts from other countries and then issue it out themselves as opposed to coalition forces giving out supplies to them," explained Nava.
The Ministry of Defense has created a report to measure supplies, and they consistently push supplies to ISF units, explained Nava. A MoD transition Team encourages their Iraqi counterparts to request parts for equipment they know units have before the units actually request them, which helps keep likely-needed parts in stock and quickens turn-around times once requests are received.
"So they coach, teach and mentor their counterparts to create procedures so they can be successful," Nava expressed.
Progress is slow, and Nava said sometimes it seems nothing is happening. In the overall picture, however, there is success in improving ISF logistical operations, which is always a good sign, and Nava is pleased with the successes and with doing whatever he can to help.
He said he thinks that with proper support from the appropriate government of Iraq ministries, ISF units will be logistically sound and self-sufficient in the future.
"We can always teach them the way we want them to do it, but as long as the higher powers that be – Ministry of the Interior, MoD – provide a budget for them, Iraqi security forces want to be viable," said Nava. "And if you give them the funds, they will sustain themselves and complete the mission."