Military

CALL Newsletter 04-13 Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) CAAT II Initial Impressions Report (IIR)

Observation Synopsis

CSS commanders are authorized to maintain, as bench stock, a limited amount of parts from captured and abandoned Iraqi AK-47 weapons. This poses several issues for accountability and control. The first issue is tracking functional weapons entering small arms shops. Once inner mechanisms are removed, the weapon is no longer functional, however, the parts must now be accounted for. Enforcing Army policy that all small arms bench stock is double-locked, and that it is not possible to build a complete weapon from bench stock becomes an issue. Working knowledge of non-NATO/U.S. weaponry for the small arms repairers (MOS 45B) and the armament technicians (MOS 913A) is limited. At a minimum, these individuals need to have a basic knowledge of AK-47s. The expansion and development of programs providing support to foreign nationals - Iraqi Civil Defense Corps (ICDC), the New Iraqi Army (NIA), the Iraqi Police Force (IPS), and the Facilities Protection Service (FPS) necessitates the addition to armorer MOS (military occupational specialty) training. As operations in theater continue, the most likely non-NATO/U.S. weapon available will be the AK-47.

Lessons Learned

• Commanders are authorized to maintain a limited amount of AK-47 parts to be used as bench stock.
• Working knowledge of non-NATO/U.S. weaponry for the small arms repairers and the armament technicians is limited.

DOTMLPF Implications

Training: Expand the 45B and 913A MOS to include instruction and knowledge base development by including non-NATO weaponry training. Unit armorers will be able to provide support to foreign nationals - ICDC, NIA, IPS, and FPS.

Materiel: Army materiel command (AMC) authorize purchase of replacement parts for Soviet/non-NATO weapons.

Captured Iraqi Weapons Captured Weapons Diagram

Table of Supporting Observations

Table of Contents

Chapter 4-Topic A-Subtopic 5: Providing Bulk Fuel to the Iraqi Civilian Population

Chapter 4-Topic B-Subtopic 2: Forward Repair Activities in OIF