Military Transition Team - Mission

Mission

The primary mission of transition teams is to advise the security forces of Iraq and Afghanistan in the areas of intelligence, communications, fire support, logistics, operations and infantry tactics. The aim is to make the ISF and ANA capable of conducting independent counterinsurgency operations, tactically, operationally, and logistically. When executing military operations with their Iraqi or Afghan partners, transition teams call for U.S. close air support, indirect fire, and medical evacuation, whenever necessary. They also perform the critical role of liaising between the foreign unit and nearby U.S. units to ensure that each unit is aware of and can assist the other in their operations. Transition teams also monitor and report on the capabilities of the fledgling security force. They work with their Iraqi and Afghan counterparts to enhance the understanding of the rule of law and fundamental human rights.

In Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, the transition teams are a central part of the strategy to train and equip national security forces. One of the primary missions of U.S. military in Iraq is the training of competent Iraqi security forces. By the end of 2006, transition teams assisted in the training and equipping of approximately 326,000 Iraqi security services. That figure includes 138,000 members of the Iraqi Army and 188,000 Iraqi police and national police forces.