FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – For Covington native Maj. Steve Smith, protecting the citizens of Iraq during his year as an adviser in that war torn region of the world has become his most important mission of all.
His mission started in Northern Kentucky, however. In fact, his military career did not start in the Army.
The 44-year-old Bronze Star recipient graduated from Holmes High School in 1983 and graduated from UK in ’92, after being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps. Smith joined the Army in ’95 as an infantryman and was accepted into the Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga., in ’96, which was also the year that he was commissioned as a field artillery officer.
From 2003 to 2004, Smith served his first tour in Iraq in the Al Anbar Province of Western Iraq as a battery in the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment.
While in the Al Anbar Province, he trained the first Iraqi security forces (the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps) in the City of Husaybah. After training the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps (ICDC) his unit conducted countless missions with them to defeat the insurgency in the area.
“My experience with the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps (ICDC) is what motivated me to volunteer as an adviser in 2006,” he said.
“The adviser mission is very important because we are preparing the Iraqi Army to operate independently. By preparing the Iraqi Army to be able to plan, execute and sustain their missions independently, we are guaranteeing the success of the coalition and the government of Iraq in our efforts to defeat the insurgency in Iraq.”
Smith is currently stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and attending the Command and General Staff College.
COLUMN by Maj. Steve Smith—
For the past three years the United States Government has been transitioning Iraq’s security from U.S. forces to Iraqi forces. This means that we have been preparing Iraqi forces to take on the mission of protecting the citizens of Iraq with less assistance from U.S. forces.
In order to ensure a successful transition, the Iraqi Government must have the ability to protect its citizens, continue to improve infrastructure, continue to restore essential services, and continue to hold free elections that yield representative government. All of this begins with security.
My job in Iraq was to train, advise, and assist an Iraqi Infantry Battalion. This assistance included preparing them to conduct counterinsurgency (COIN) operations, conventional operations, logistics operations, and administrative operations. We also acted as a liaison to U.S. units in the area.
I volunteered to work as an advisor in Iraq in late 2006. My decision was based on a very rewarding experience I had in Iraq in 2003-2004 in the Al Anbar Province. I had also served in both the infantry and field artillery during my career, and felt I had a lot of experience to offer. While serving as a battery commander in the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in 2003-2004, I trained and fought beside the first Iraqi security forces in the Al Qaim area of Al Anbar. The Iraqi security forces then were called the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps. I was very impressed with their courage and dedication, the Iraqi citizens who volunteered placed themselves and their families at great risk.
I reported to Fort Riley in Kansas in January 2007 to receive training as an advisor, and to build our advisory team. The advisor team was called a Military Transition Team (MiTT), and consisted of ten men. Each person on the team possessed a specific area of expertise. Our team consisted of a team leader, maneuver trainer, intelligence officer, logistical officer, administrative officer, and five non-commissioned officers with expertise in these same areas (including a medic).
During our three months at Fort Riley we received training in areas such as infantry tactics, convoy operations, Arabic language, Iraqi culture, first aid, and conducting negotiations. We also used these three months to build a cohesive team, and develop our own tactics, techniques, and procedures. It was very important that we meshed as a team, because we most often would be operating in Iraqi neighborhoods with only Iraqi forces for immediate support.
Our team deployed to Iraq in April 2007, but first received an additional two weeks training in Kuwait. Our training in Kuwait also included Arabic language, convoy operations, first aid, and foreign weapons training. Kuwait was also our first opportunity to become acclimated to the desert heat. Before moving to our area of operations we received our final classes, and our equipment at the Phoenix Academy in Taji, Iraq.
Our next stop was Southeast Baghdad in the city of Zafaraniyah. Zafaraniyah is just south of Sadr City and is mainly populated by Shi’a Muslims. The Iraqi unit we were to advise was the 1-4-1 Iraqi Infantry Battalion. The 1-4-1 had a good reputation and had been moved to Baghdad from the Western city of Ramadi to quell the violence. We quickly moved our equipment into the Iraqi base, and spent 10 days with the U.S. team we were relieving. We lived with the Iraqi unit in order to build rapport and camaraderie with them. The out-going MiTT shared their experiences over the past year, their knowledge of the area, information about the enemy, and information about the Iraqi unit we were to advise.
As the team leader it was my job to advise the Iraqi battalion commander. After our introductions and a formal Iraqi dinner, we immediately began conducting our training and missions together. I was instantly impressed with the Iraqi battalion Commander. He greeted me warmly, and provided his own detailed assessment of his area of Baghdad. He had been a Special Forces Officer in the former Iraqi Army, and was well respected by his men.
Despite the fact he and many of his officers were Sunni, they had earned the respect of the citizens of Zafaraniyah. His unit had captured many of the insurgents in the area that were terrorizing citizens. He had also made tremendous efforts to meet with local Sheiks to discuss security issues, and issues with essential services and infrastructure. When his men searched the homes of local citizens, he ensured his men treated the people with dignity and respect.
Over the next several months my team continued to advise the Iraqi Army battalion, conduct patrols with them, assist them in raids to capture insurgents, meet with Sheiks and city officials, conduct humanitarian missions, and work as a liaison to U.S. forces in the area. We also developed close relationships with the Iraqis and earned their trust and respect. They in turn earned our trust and respect as we conducted missions in some of the most dangerous areas of Baghdad.
The culmination of our tour occurred in March 2008 when Muqtada Al Sadr lifted the cease-fire of the Shi’a militia in our area. My team constantly moved from one neighborhood to another reinforcing the Iraqi soldiers of the 1-4-1 as they were attacked by the Shi’a militia. Throughout the firefights, they fought bravely and defeated the enemy in every fight. Frequently local citizens provided information that allowed us to conduct raids to capture enemy who had attacked coalition forces throughout the city. In one instance, we actually used the home of local citizens to observe enemy movement at night in an area where my team and Iraqi soldiers had been ambushed.
When the fighting ceased a few weeks later, the Commander of the U.S. 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division and the Iraqi Commander of the 1st Brigade, 9th Division recognized the 1-4-1 for its heroism. Both Commanders visited the 1-4-1 base located in the heart of the city, and presented the 1-4-1 Commander with a valorous award for their unit. The Iraqi Commander was very proud, and gave his men some well-deserved time off. We were also very proud of the 1-4-1.
Over the previous months we had observed their increased ability to plan and execute difficult tactical missions under our coaching. They also improved their ability to plan and organize meetings to solve problems involving security, reconciliation (between Sunni and Shi’a leaders), and essential services. As an U.S. Army officer, my ability to lead was greatly enhanced due to my experiences as an advisor.
Before we left Baghdad, it was announced that the 1-4-1 Iraqi Infantry battalion would be the first Iraqi unit to have their own area of operations without the assistance of an U.S. unit. Shortly after, my team had its own ceremony with the 1-4-1 battalion, and exchanged gifts and good-byes.
It was a sad occasion because we had developed close relationships with our Iraqi counterparts, as well as many Iraqi leaders and local citizens in the community. As I look back on my 20-year career, my year as an advisor was certainly the most rewarding.
