Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq

Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq (MNSTC-I) was the branch of the Multi-National Force - Iraq that is responsible for developing, organizing, training, equipping, and sustaining the Iraqi Security Ministries (Ministry of Defense (MoD) and Ministry of Interior (MoI)) and their associated Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), i.e. the military of Iraq and the Iraqi Police.

The stated mission was to assist MoI, MoD, and Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) by improving the quality of the ISF and institutional performances. Allowing ISF to increasingly assume responsibility for population protection and develop Iraqi security institutions capable of sustaining security with reduced Coalition involvement. Therefore, the MNSTC-I mission was a central part of the U.S. exit strategy.

MNSTC-I was commanded (since October 2009) by US Army Lieutenant General Michael D. Barbero and was headquartered in the International Zone in Baghdad at Phoenix Base, a former elementary school. It was previously commanded by US Army Lieutenant General Frank Helmick(July 2008 — October 2009), US Army Lieutenant General James M. Dubik (June 2007 — July 2008), Lieutenant General Martin E. Dempsey (September 2005 — June 2007) and Lieutenant General David H. Petraeus (June 2004 — September 2005).

The command was a direct outgrowth of the need to create a new Iraqi Army under the [Coalition Provisional Authority]. The original command consisted of the Coalition Military Assistance Transition Team (CMATT) under Major General Paul Eaton. Separate efforts under the State Department were designed to build a new police force through the [Civilian Police Assistance Team] and advisory missions to the Ministries of Defense and Interior. All of these missions were consolidated under MNSTC-I when then Lieutenant General Petraeus was tapped to take over the ISF mission.

It was originally organized into three training teams, listed below, but has since grown dramatically as newer missions and needs have been identified. The three former organizations were:

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