Synopsis "Assessment of the Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq Mission Capabilities"
This is the third in a series of Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG), Special Plans and Operations reports regarding establishment of an Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq (OSC-I). The first two assessments reported on planning and establishing the OSC-I, respectively, which occurred prior to the end of contingency operations and DoD transitioning the responsibility to train and equip the Iraq Security Forces (ISF) to Department of State (DOS). This third report deals with OSC-I mission capabilities and its post-contingency operating procedures including conducting security cooperation programs under the U.S. Mission in Iraq authority. This third assessment was conducted in coordination with DOS Office of Inspector General (DOS OIG), Office of Audits.On August 25, 2011, the DoD IG issued Report No. SPO-2011-008, "Assessment of Planning for Transitioning the Security Assistance Mission in Iraq from Department of Defense to Department of State Authority." The report determined that, despite some shortcomings, detailed planning to accomplish the transition of the security assistance function to U.S. Mission authority was sufficiently developed and operative.On March 16, 2012, the DoD Inspector General issued Report No. DODIG-2012-063, "Assessment of the DoD Establishment of the Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq." The report determined that, although the establishment of the OSC-I was on track to meet its full operating capability target date and to operate independently as an element of the U.S. Mission to Iraq by January, 2012, key areas required management attention.DoD OIG and DOS OIG collaborated on a joint project to facilitate portions of this third DoD IG OSC-I report and to assist DOS OIG with its more comprehensive audit of the realignment of the U.S. diplomatic presence in Iraq. Two DOS OIG members accompanied the DoD OIG assessment team that visited Iraq in late 2012.The objective of the joint DoD and DOS OIG project was to assess the process used to establish the short- and long-term staffing requirements for DoD elements assigned to the U.S. Mission in Iraq. It was conducted at U.S. Embassy-Baghdad, selected field locations in Iraq, and in Washington, D.C. The joint assessment included interviews in Washington, D.C., with DoD and DOS officials in bureaus and offices involved with staffing in Iraq, and interviews in Iraq with DoD and U.S. Mission program and management officials. DoD OIG and DOS OIG included relevant joint assessment aspects in their respective reports. There is no separate joint report.
