34 ARMY n September 2009

By BG Peter C. Bayer Jr.

In April, I Corps assumed command of

Multi-National Corps-Iraq (MNC-I)

from the outgoing XVIII Airborne

Corps. After a 38-year hiatus, I Corps, histori-

cally known as America’s Corps, was back in

the fight. Now in the middle of its rotation as

Headquarters, MNC-I, it is the last U.S. Army

corps to deploy as MNC-I, executing its first

deployment as a corps headquarters since the

Korean War.

Just a few years ago, deploying I Corps into

a theater of operations outside the Pacific Rim

would have been hard to envision. The 2007

Army global force reposturing plan made I

Corps one of three deployable corps head-

quarters. At that time, the I Corps staff num-

bered fewer than 400, with its operational fo-

cus limited to Pacific contingencies, security

cooperation and reserve component training.

The journey to transform into an enhanced

headquarters commanding Coalition forces,

I Corps As Multi- National Corps-IraqBack in the Fight—

September 2009 n ARMY 35

- National Corps-IraqI Corps—America’s Corps

Organized in January 1918, I Corps was forged inFrance during World War I, tempered in NewGuinea and the Philippines during World War II,and honed to a fine edge during the Korean con-flict. Having served in 20 named campaigns over itslifetime, it is the most decorated corps headquartersin the Army. Because of its soldiers’ heroic efforts, ICorps received the U.S. Presidential Unit Citation(Army) as well as the Philippine and Korean Presi-dential Unit Citations. During the undeclared “Sec-ond Korean War” (1968–69), I Corps (Group) com-manded two U.S. Infantry Divisions as well as aKorean army corps along the western sector of thedemilitarized zone. Although it provided a com-mand element for northern Iraq in 2004, I Corps hasnot deployed the entire headquarters since the Ko-rean War. Today I Corps carries its proud legacy tothe Middle East to command three divisions and a Marine Expeditionary Force while serving asMulti-National Corps-Iraq.

I Corps staff in Korea circa 1950. America’s Corps, nowin the middle of its rotation as Headquarters/Multi-National Corps-Iraq, deployed as a corps headquartersthis year for the first time since the Korean War.

CSM Frank Grippe, Multi-National Corps-Iraq (MNC-I)I Corps senior enlisted advisor, addresses soldiersat Al Faw Palace at Camp Victory, Iraq, before the ar-rival of President Barack Obama in April.

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partnering with Iraqi security forces and assisting in thedevelopment of Iraq’s democracy was under way. Prepara-tions included increased staffing, fielding new equipmentand changing the culture within the Corps.

A New CultureI Corps continued to play a large role in Pacific Com-

mand’s theater engagement strategy during 2007 and con-ducted four major exercises. During this same period, theCorps leadership completed a gap analysis to establish re-quirements for full operational capability. The team visitedthe Pentagon to request assistance from the Army Staff andgained assurances that the Corps would be staffed andequipped to meet its mission. The established individualand organizational training requirements would ensurethat the headquarters was physically ready. The challengefor Corps leadership was to prepare the organization intel-lectually for the mission.

I Corps would arrive during unprecedented change tothe operational environment, with the new security agree-ment turning over more and more responsibility to the

Iraqi security forces, a growing shift inthe mission from counterinsurgency tostability operations and the beginningof the U.S. drawdown of forces. Therequirement to increase the profes-sionalization of the Iraqi army and po-lice through aggressive partneringwould become essential.

The Corps would arrive in Iraq intime to begin the detailed planningthat will culminate in a merger of sixexisting headquarters into a singleheadquarters—U.S. Forces-Iraq. TheCorps staff and leadership had to cul-tivate a mind-set built around thechanging mission and operational en-vironment.

Training and PreparationTraining and mission rehearsal ex-

ercises occupied much of the summerand fall of 2008. Along the way, ICorps staff established exceptional re-lationships with their MNC-I counter-

parts in XVIII Airborne Corps. This included outstandingcooperation at every level, from the two commanding gen-erals to every staff section. In an innovative move, I Corps’long-range planners deployed early and integrated intothe existing MNC-I staff. This helped the Fort Lewis,Wash., team develop early situational awareness and get ajump on planning before the transfer of authority. I Corpssubsequently phased in future plans, then future opera-tions before finally taking over current operations at thetransfer of authority. This tack allowed for reduced frictionand increased continuity during the pre- and post-transferof authority periods.

During the Corps’ preparation, personnel and equip-ment arrived at an increasing pace. The Corps upgradedits automated command-and-control systems and pre-pared to deploy its analysis control element. By summer2008, a modified table of equipment and organizationraised I Corps personnel billets above the 800 mark, mak-ing I Corps the largest corps headquarters in the Army in-ventory.

A senior leaders’ conference in September 2008 gatheredcommanders inside and outside the Corps for discussionsabout the mission. Nearly all future MNC-I subordinatecommanders were present. The goal was to build a teamand cultivate a vision that would be tested against realityin Iraq by the commanders who would serve together un-der the MNC-I colors.

By October 2008, I Corps completed its transformation,achieving full operational capability and certification as aJoint headquarters. Its agile soldiers were prepared for anycontingency in Iraq, small or large. After one last coun-terinsurgency-focused mission rehearsal exercise, theCorps would move out to Iraq.

36 ARMY n September 2009

BG Peter C. Bayer Jr. has served in command and staff posi-tions in the United States, Germany and the Middle East. Heserved as the operations officer (G-3) of the 3rd Infantry Divi-sion (Mechanized) at Fort Stewart, Ga., and in Kuwait andIraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom I. While deployed insupport of Operation Iraqi Freedom III, BG Bayer served si-multaneously as commander, 11th Armored Cavalry Regi-ment, and as the Multinational Force-Northwest chief of staffin Mosul, Iraq. BG Bayer is currently serving as the I Corpschief of staff and has deployed with I Corps to be the MNC-Ichief of staff.

LTG Charles H.Jacoby Jr.’s travels

in Iraq gave him in-sights on the MNC-Ioperational environ-

ment that helpedhim prepare I Corps

for its mission.

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Boots on the Ground and Iraqi Army PartneringOne of the first major efforts in assuming command of

MNC-I was to increase the scope and intensity of partner-ship with the Iraqi ground forces command (IGFC). ICorps established a joint presence with the IGFC inside acombined partnership operations center (CPOC) at CampVictory, Iraq, in May.

The CPOC is helping to synchronize efforts, enhance co-operation and create a climate of transparency betweenIraqi and U.S. forces. The center represents an importantmilestone in establishing open lines of communication andcoordination between our militaries. It is a positive reflec-tion of our partnership with the Iraqis and the realizationof the cultural preparation I Corps undertook before its de-ployment. I Corps’ initiative capitalizes on the efforts ofthe Corps previously serving as MNC-I.

One of I Corps’ hallmarks is its depth of experienceworking with other nations’ armed forces, including thoseof Australia, Canada, France, Great Britain, the Philip-pines, South Korea and, more recently, nations of the Pa-cific Rim. The Corps has a history of building interarmypartnership and teamwork.

On June 30, Iraq witnessed a significant milestone asMNC-I and its subordinate elements began implementing

sections of the security agreement that required U.S. forcesto move combat forces out of Iraqi cities.

Urban security responsibilities now fall exclusively tothe Iraqi security forces, while U.S. forces stand ready toadvise, assist and support when requested. Although thechange was spelled out in the security agreement, Ameri-can and Iraqi units conducted detailed coordination to putthe terms of the agreement into practice. An example ofthis cooperation occurred when the commanding generalsof MNC-I and the IGFC conducted a joint video-teleconfer-ence with 52 subordinate commands to explain implemen-tation of the security agreement and the “out of the cities”provision. LTG Charles H. Jacoby Jr., the MNC-I com-manding general, described the meeting as an example of“partnership at the highest level,” where American andIraqi commanders had frank and open discussions regard-ing practical implementation of the security agreement.

The Corps’ partnership is resonating with commandersat division level and below. This is no more evident than inIraq’s capital, where Multi-National Division-Baghdad(MND-B) works closely with Iraqi Maj. Gen. Abboud Qan-bar, the Baghdad operations center commander. During arecent Pentagon press conference, MG Daniel Bolger, theMND-B commander, commented on that relationship.

38 ARMY n September 2009

LTG Jacoby (left) tours the recently opened Abu Ghraib Fire Station in May. The I Corps commanding generalemphasizes the importance of partnership with the Iraqis. The quality of the U.S.-Iraqi partnership will definethe current operational environment as well as lay the foundation for enduring security in coming years.

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“He commands a much larger force [in Baghdad] than Ido,” MG Bolger said. “He has about 150,000 people in all,six complete Iraqi divisions. About a third of [the Iraqis]are in the army and another third in the various kinds ofpolice. The rest are the Sons of Iraq, who are the local ver-sion of neighborhood watch, and they’re very important inthis war. They’re the former insurgents who reconciled toour side … Gen. Abboud refers to them truly as his sons—not just sons of Iraq, but as his sons. He says, ‘I treat themjust like my own soldiers and police,’ and he’s been doingthat.”

The I Corps commanding general emphasized that part-nership is the name of the game, all the way from generalto private, especially in the cities. The quality of our part-nership will not only define the current operational envi-ronment but also lay the foundation for enduring securityin the years to come.

Enormous challenges lie ahead in the coming months.Iraq’s second national election will take place in January.The election represents a milestone on Iraq’s journey towarda stable and secure democracy. Although much rests on theshoulders of the Iraqis, I Corps and Multi-National Force-Iraq will stand by their side to make security gains perma-nent and to see the mission through to its completion. M

40 ARMY n September 2009

Then-COL HeidiBrown (left), deputy

commanding gen-eral for sustainment,

accompanied LTGJacoby on a No-

vember trip toBasra, Iraq.

MNC-I soldiers from Camp Victory work with 1st Cavalry Divi-sion troops and Australian Coalition soldiers to transport new

furniture to a home for handicapped children in Baghdad.

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