Interview with MAJ Matthew McGrew, Part II.
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Interview with MAJ Matthew McGrew, Part II.
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MAJ Matthew McGrew served as team chief on a military transition team (MiTT) advising the 46th Iraqi Army (IA) Brigade during 2008 and 2009 in Kirkuk, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). In his second interview in February 2010, MAJ McGrew discusses his training mission on the MiTT, the change of his mission about six months in to his deployment when the 2-1 CAV came into the area and introduced counterinsurgency (COIN) methods, and some of the challenges and problems with the MiTT program. MAJ McGrew observes, "A MiTT is a series of small successes, to be honest. That's how you have to look at it; cumulative. We went from the Iraqis not being able to execute company level operations without the brigade commander present and when we left they were executing brigade level operations with two or more battalions operating in sector at one time. Unless we want to be there forever it will have to be done. Will we be successful? In 100 years will they still be standing? Who knows? But in 20 years, will they still be standing? I think so. In terms of strategy I'd define that as a success."
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