Multi-National Corps - Iraq (MNC-I)

In January 2010, with the reorganization and redesignation of Multi-National Force - Iraq (MNF-I) to US Forces - Iraq (USF-I), Multi-National Corps - Iraq (MNC-I) was inactivated and its subordinate units placed directly under the command and control of USF-I.

Multi-National Corps - Iraq (MNC-I) was the tactical unit responsible for command and control of operations in Iraq. US units rotated through as the lead unit for MNC-I and were foward deployed to Camp Victory, Baghdad. MNC-I exercised command and control over 5 multi-national divisions, Multi-National Division - Baghdad (MND-B), Multi-National Division - North (MND-N), Multi-National Division - West (MND-W), Multi-National Division - Center (MND-C), and Multi-National Division - South (MND-S).

Multi-National Corps - Iraq (MNC-I) was established on 15 May 2004, due to concerns that had existed for some period of time, mainly that the Combined Joint Task Force 7 headquarters was not sufficient to handle the range of military operations in Iraq, including peace support, civil military operations, and at the same time conduct strategic engagement, such as talking to the sheiks and talking to the political authorities. Those were typically functions that were performed by 2 different headquarters.

MNC-I conducted offensive operations to defeat remaining non-compliant forces and neutralize destabilizing influences in Iraq in order to create a secure environment. It concurrently conducted stability operations to support the establishment of government, the restoration of essential services, and economic development in order to set the conditions for a transfer of sovereignty and operations to designated follow-on authorities. A 3-star headquarters, MNC-I was initially to be commanded by Lieutenant General Thomas F. Metz.

Initially, MNC-I consisted of 5 multi-national divisions, Multi-National Division - Baghdad (MND-B), Multi-National Division - North (MND-N), Multi-National Division - West (MND-W), Multi-National Division - Center (MND-C), and Multi-National Division - Southeast (MND-SE). It also exercised command and control over Joint Base Balad at Balad Air Base, Iraq. In preparation for the transformation of Multi-National Forces - Iraq (MNF-I) to US Forces - Iraq (USF-I) in January 2010, the responsbility for Joint Base Balad was passed to MNF-I. MND-SE was also reorganized as Multi-National Division - South (MND-S). Units rotated through the command of the various Multi-National Divisions.