The Sunni tribal uprising against Al Qaeda in Iraq, known as the Anbar Awakening, was the decisive event in the counterinsurgency campaign in Iraq. To capitalize on discontent between the Sunni population and Al Qaeda, U.S. commanders on the ground...
Few insurgencies are resolved by military means alone. Insurgents, by definition, pursue political ends and resolve to accomplish those objectives by means of violence. Today the United States and her Allies are engaged in two distinct...
MAJ Christopher L'Heureux served with the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) as assistant personnel officer (S1) and company commander in Baghdad, Iraq during 2005 and 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). In this August 2010...
During his September 2003 to September 2004 deployment in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, Major Thomas Neemeyer served as the intelligence officer (S2) for the 1st Infantry Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team, based in the Iraqi city of Ar...
Counterinsurgents have raised and employed irregular security forces in many campaigns over the last century. Irregular security forces are indigenous forces, not part of the regular police or military organizations of the host nation, that are...
In January 2007, President of the United States George W. Bush announced a strategy called the New Way Forward in Iraq, a departure from the National Strategy for Victory in Iraq announced only thirteen months previous. Additionally, President Bush...
Major Sargis Sangari served as a civil affairs team leader with the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion in Al Anbar Province from August 2006 to June 2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While in Al Anbar Province, Sangari supported AOB 540, the...
In this interview, MAJ Troy Schnack, US Army, Field Artillery; discusses his deployment to Iraq as part of the Stability Transition Team (STT) in 2009 through 2010 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). MAJ Schnack discusses his missions as...
Monograph examines the use of security barriers and delves into circumstances leading to the removal of security barriers. The purpose was to explore whether there existed specific conditions or criteria for removal of security barriers. Specific...
Addendum: Anbar awakens. Colonel Sean MacFarland, U.S. Army; A major player in the Anbar Awakening recalls how joint-force cooperation led to the turnaround in Ramadi.
The most important thing: legislative reform of the national security...
The purpose of this paper is to capture and record the events that I experienced
while serving as the First Sergeant of Grim Troop, 2D Squadron, 3d Armored Cavalry
Regiment . The period of time that will covered in this paper will primarily be...
In this first of two interviews, Major Brian Russell, US Marine Corps, talks about commanding a military transition team in Anbar Province from December 2006 through December 2007 in support of Operation Iraqi freedom. He discusses how the...
In this third of three interviews, Major Tom Chalkley, US Marine Corps, discusses his deployment to Habbaniyah, Iraq, as the leader of a military transition team (MiTT) throughout 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Chalkley's team was...
The purpose of this monograph is to determine the ideal practices for militias and irregular forces in counterinsurgency operations. This study specifically addresses those groups organized by a legitimate sponsor such as the Host Nation or one of...
In this second of two interviews, Major Brian Russell, US Marine Corps, talks about commanding a military transition team (MiTT) in Anbar Province from December 2006 through December 2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He discusses...
Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Sanborn was a major when deployed to Iraq and served at the Division Artillery operations officer for the 82nd Airborne Division from September 2003 through March 2004. His unit was uncertain as to what their mission...
During the first six months of his December 2004 through December 2005 deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Major Mark Coble served as executive officer of the 224th Engineer Battalion, Iowa National Guard, and then, for the remainder...
In the wake of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, one of the most intensely debated issues concerning the conduct of the war has been the level of troops committed to the effort. Military observers, policy makers, military officers, and...
In command of the 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, also known as the "Ready First" Brigade, COL Sean MacFarland, deployed his command from Central Germany to Iraq in March 2006. The Ready First Brigade assumed control of western Ninewah Province...