8th Division
On March 25, 2005 soldiers from the 8th Iraqi Army Division seized a 3-ton cache of TNT and hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition following an Iraqi army raid near Jurf al-Sakher. 121 suspects were also detained in the raid.
- In total the raid led to the confiscation of:
- 3 tons of TNT
- 624 rifles
- 250,000 light ammunition rounds
- 22,000 medium ammunition rounds
- 193 RPG launchers
- 300 RPG rockets
- 27 82mm mortar tubes
- 155 82mm mortar rounds
On 20 December 2005, staff of the 8th IA Division accomplished the certification process. It means the ability of the division’s staff to plan and conduct the operations with limited support of the Coalition Forces. Now, the units of the 8th Division will continue to move forward to achieve the full combat readiness. In the nearest future final coordination with local and central administration will be completed in order to formally finalize the process of battlespace transfer.
Certification process was preceded by long term trainings, exercises and combat operations. Before certification on the Division staff level six battalions and two brigades of the 8th Iraqi Army Division completed certification process towards the goal of combat readiness. The main elements of the training process included planning and executing counter insurgency operations which encompassed cordon and search techniques check points, patrolling and convoy protection. Tactical training such as weapons proficiency, engineering, communication, medical support and logistics also contributed to the overall certification process.
Main, final test to check the capabilities of 8th IA Div soldiers was conducted during parliament elections in December. Division staff under supervision of MNDCS Military Transition Teams had planned and conducted operation to provide the security environment during elections. Staff and Iraqi soldiers passed this exam successfully.
The ceremony of signing the protocol of certification took place in 8th Iraqi Army headquarters in Ad Diwaniyah. Protocol was signed by MNDCS Commanding General MG Piotr CZERWINSKI and 8th IA Div Commanding General MG Othman Ali FERHOOD. Iraqi Land Forces Commander and Multinational Security Transition Command-Iraq Commander participated in the ceremony.
Growing capability of the Iraqi Army allows MNDCS to be day by day closer to desire end state. We want to see Iraqi Army capable of maintaining the domestic order, said MG Czerwinski, MNDCS Commander during the ceremony.
