On Parade in Iraq

Iraqi and Coalition leaders watched from the stands as soldiers with the 9th Iraqi Army Division (Mechanized) paraded by in refurbished T-72 tanks and BMP armored personnel carriers Nov. 17. (Courtesy of MNSTC-I)
Photo by USAF Senior Airman Mark Woodbury

Mechanized Division puts T-72s, BMPs on parade

TAJI, Iraq – With all the pomp and circumstance befitting the largest NATO-driven equipment donation to date, soldiers with the 9th Iraqi Army Division (Mechanized) paraded a fleet of refurbished T-72 tanks and BMP armored personnel carriers before an audience of Iraqi and Coalition officials Nov. 17.

The 77 tanks and 36 BMPs, along with four recovery vehicles and containers of parts and weaponry, arrived at Taji Military Base a week earlier. The vehicles will equip the 2nd Brigade of the Iraqi Army’s lone mechanized division, formed in January with T-55 tanks, BMP and MTLB personnel carriers. A company from the division’s 1st Brigade helped provide security to polling sites for the Jan. 30 election. The 1st Brigade now consists of one tank and two mechanized battalions that have their own battle space.

The 2nd Brigade was formed in August with a mechanized battalion that now participates in joint operations with Coalition forces in the Taji area, including providing security for the Oct. 15 referendum. A tank battalion is in the final stages of training and is expected to participate in security missions for the December election, while a third battalion of tanks is beginning training.

A third brigade is expected to join the division in the coming year.
(Above from MNSTC-I Public Affairs)