The Iraq Army continues to be plagued by absenteeism
and equipment shortages, but at a far lower level than that during 2004.
A U.S. Defense Department report said Iraqi military and security forces
have achieved significant progress over the last year. The report said this
has included the easing of equipment shortages and absenteeism.
"Although there is variance in the rate of absenteeism, AWOL
[Absent-without-leave], attrition,
and desertion among the Iraqi Army, rates have diminished significantly and
are now around one percent for some divisions," the report said. "Still,
units that are conducting operations and units that relocate elsewhere in
Iraq experience a surge in absenteeism."
The report said the Iraq Army has obtained 60 percent of its equipment
authorization. The army has more than 100 percent of its AK-47 assault rifle
requirements. In all, the army has 76,000 troops, Middle East Newsline reported.
The Pentagon's classified report to Congress detailed the operational
readiness of army and police units. The non-classified report, released on
Thursday, outlined the parameters of force readiness, but did not
rate either units or the entire army.
"Just as the Department of Defense should not and must not disclose the
precise equipment, training, and readiness data for U.S. military units,
such precise data are similarly classified for Iraqi forces," the report
said. "The enemy's knowledge of such details would put both Iraqi and
coalition forces at increased risk."
On Thursday, the Pentagon released a statement by Gen. Peter Pace, vice
chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who said one-third of Iraqi army
battalions could conduct counterinsurgency operations with coalition support
and the remaining two-thirds were "partially capable." Pace told Congress
that half of the Iraqi police units were still being formed and have not
been deployed.
"I don't want to minimize what 'partially capable' means, because again,
every one of the individuals, every one of the Iraqis in those two-thirds of
the units out there are fighting," Gen. Walter Sharp, director of strategic
plans and policy for the Joint Chiefs, said. "What it means, though, is that
we are alongside them helping them, enabling them to be able to do that."
The 23-page Pentagon report, entitled "Measuring Stability and Security
in Iraq," portrayed an Iraqi military that underwent significant improvement
over the last year. The report cited the U.S.-Iraqi operation to capture
Faluja in November 2004, saying Iraqi forces were forced to fight Sunni
insurgents without sufficient equipment, proficiency and chain of command.
"Ministry of Defense forces did not perform well in Faluja — several
battalions collapsed," the report said. "Absent-without-leave rates among
regular army units were in double digits and remained so for the rest of the
year."
The Iraqi military has procured former Warsaw Pact weapons and vehicles
for army units. Mechanized forces have been trained with T-55 and T-72 main
battle tanks, BMP-1s and MTLBs. They have included U.S.-standard vehicles
such as High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles and M-113 armored
personnel carriers.
Iraqi special operations forces have been equipped with M4 carbines, M9
pistols, night-vision devices, M24 sniper systems, M240 machine guns, 12
gauge shotguns, 50-caliber machine guns, global positioning systems
equipment and surveillance equipment.
"The majority of the forces for this structure have been recruited, have
completed individual entry training, and are equipped with basic equipment,"
the report said. "Iraqi forces are making progress in developing individual
and unit capabilities, and Iraqis are increasingly taking over
responsibility for their country's security."
The report said the SOF brigade, which has undergone rigorous training,
has reduced rates of absenteeism and insurgency infiltration. The chain of
command and officer cadre has been assessed as being "very effective."
"ISOF elements have been conducting operations for the past year," the
report said. "They have played crucial roles in major combat operations
along side of, and sometimes independently of, coalition forces."
The report said the Iraq Navy has been protecting ports, oil assets and
territorial waters from smugglers and infiltrators. The navy, with 500
trained sailors, has been equipped with five 27-meter Predator-class patrol
boats, 24 fast aluminum boats and 10 rigid-hull inflatable boats.
The navy has also received the first of six Al Faw Class Patrol Boats
and two Off-Shore Support Vessels.
"It is anticipated that the Iraqi Navy will assume point defense
responsibilities of the oil terminals by September 30, 2005," the report
said. "Assumption of the waterside mission [the afloat defensive screen] is
dependent on the acquisition and initial operational readiness of the six Al
Faw class vessels."
The air force, with 100 personnel, has been focusing on such missions as
surveillance and transport. The service has more than 100 personnel and a
fleet of nine helicopters, three C-130 air transports and eight
single-engine propeller-driven observation airplanes.
The helicopters consist of four UH-1Hs and five Jet Rangers. The
surveillance aircraft fleet comprises six CompAir turboprop aircraft and two
Seeker piston aircraft.
"There are 19 Iraqi C-130 personnel currently being trained in the
United States," the report said. "Language training and flight training are
being conducted at Al Ali Air Base. Crews have previously trained in Jordan
on the UH-1H and Seeker."
