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KIRKUK, Iraq, July 10, 2006 -- In order to function, a military force relies on its supply channels to obtain the supplies soldiers need. Until recently, the Iraqi Army had to rely on Coalition Forces for their supplies; be it clothing, ammunition or food. Now, however, Iraqi Army Garrison Support Unit soldiers at Kirkuk’s K-1 Army compound are taking over their own logistical support, fully capable of sustaining the base on their own. “We all know that all armies are dependent on their logistic support,” said British Brig. Gen. Jamie Gordon, acting Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq commander. “This handover marks the first step in bringing the system alive and making the Iraqi Armed Forces fully self-sufficient.” The Garrison Support Unit was one of the last units coalition forces focused on while the growing the Iraqi Army force. This is largely because fighting forces were needed in initial phases to ensure the country’s stability. “Building the logistic concept and logistic forces has not been easy and it has been last in the force generation process,” Gordon said. “That is not a reflection on its importance. It is more a reflection that the combat forces were needed first to fight the insurgents and terrorists.” The Garrison Support Unit will support the 4th Iraqi Army Division, soon to be headquartered at K-1, as well as all Iraqi Army troops in the area.
“The logistic system has been designed so that the fighting troops do not have to be concerned about their support, because you are doing that thinking,” Gordon said, “anticipating their needs and … giving them the support that they deserve.”
The Iraqi Army soldiers at K-1 will continue to work with Coalition Forces to further stabilize their position as a |
