News From USJFCOM: USJFCOM prepares U.S. and coalition forces for Iraqi deployment

USJFCOM prepares U.S. and coalition forces for Iraqi deployment

U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) recently conducted a mission rehearsal exercise to help prepare the 21,000 U.S. service members scheduled for rotational deployment to Iraq later this year meet their upcoming mission.

By USJFCOM Public Affairs

(FORT HOOD, Texas - June 23, 2006) -- U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) conducted a mission rehearsal exercise June 19-25 here to help prepare the 21,000 U.S. service members scheduled for rotational deployment to Iraq later this year meet their upcoming mission.

Exercise Unified Endeavor 06-2 (UE 06-2) provided realistic training scenarios for U.S. Army III Corps' command staff, as well as elements of the 25th Infantry and 1st Cavalry Divisions, and individual augmentees assigned as part of Multinational Corps-Iraq.

The exercise included subject matter experts from U.S. Central Command and multiple interagency organizations. A group of USJFCOM and Army observer/trainers also helped the training audience accomplish their training objectives.

"We develop a complex environment so the commander and his staff can appreciate how they will have to operate when they get there," said Army Col. Mike Formica, director of the USJFCOM Joint Warfighting Center's Joint Exercise Control Group. More than 300 USJFCOM military personnel, civilian employees and contractors participated in UE 06-2.

According to III Corps officials, the training scenario provided opportunities for U.S. and coalition forces to plan for issues they will soon face such as in-theater logistic support and security transition to the Iraqi forces.

Army Maj. Gen. James E. Simmons, III Corps' deputy commander, commented on the advancements USJFCOM has made in its joint training program.

"This is an extraordinary exercise that has been put together by USJFCOM," said Simmons who participated in the III Corps train up to go to Iraq the first time, approximately 30 months earlier.

"The significant improvements made by USJFCOM since that exercise have better prepared us to assume our role in this very important operation that we are currently conducting in Iraq," said Simmons.

Prior to UE 06-2, the 25th Infantry Division participated in Phantom Round-Up, an Army Battle Command Training Program lead exercise. It was a specialized mission rehearsal exercise conducted June 9-14 to prepare the division for its rotation to Iraq.

Exercise planners emphasized that UE 06-2 and Phantom Round-Up were examples of the strong partnership between the Army and USJFCOM and provided an opportunity to reinforce joint force and multinational operation partnerships.

Planners said the exercises were also an opportunity to reinforce joint and multinational partnerships.

"This is an opportunity too good to miss and a chance to build better relationships among coalition forces," said UK Royal Marine Capt. Nick Cavill. "There could be no better training than this to prepare us to go in theater. I am in awe of what lengths have been taken to reproduce real life scenarios in Iraq. Training with coalition forces really enriches the experience and provides different perspectives."

Military personnel from the United Kingdom, the Republic of Korea, Italy, and Poland participated in both exercises.

Planning for Unified Endeavor 07 (UE-07) is scheduled to begin next month.