Military transition team A Military Transition Team , or Transition Team , is a 10 - 15 soldier team that trains local forces . The term has been used in the context of the " War on Terror " to design groups training in particular the Iraqi Security Forces . Afghan Army Afghan security forces were mentored and trained by Embedded Training Teams or ETTs . Mission . The primary mission of transition teams is to advise the security forces of Iraq in the areas of intelligence , communications , fire support , logistics , operations and infantry tactics . The aim is to make the ISF capable of conducting independent counterinsurgency operations , tactically , operationally , and logistically . When executing military operations with their Iraqi partners , transition teams call for U . S . close air support , indirect fire , and medical evacuation , whenever necessary . They also perform the critical role of liaising between the foreign unit and nearby U . S . units to ensure that each unit is aware of and can assist the other in their operations . Transition teams also monitor and report on the capabilities of the fledgling security force . They work with their Iraqi counterparts to enhance the understanding of the rule of law and fundamental human rights . < br > In Operation Iraqi Freedom , the transition teams are a central part of the strategy to train and equip national security forces . One of the primary missions of U . S . military in Iraq is the training of competent Iraqi security forces . By the end of 2006 , transition teams assisted in the training and equipping of approximately 326 , 000 Iraqi security services . That figure includes 138 , 000 members of the Iraqi Army and 188 , 000 Iraqi police and national police forces . Types of Transition Teams in Iraq . Military Transition Teams , MiTTs . The preponderance of transition teams are known as Military Transition Teams , MiTTs . These teams are responsible for training and advising the Iraqi Army ( IA ) . Federal Police Transition Teams , FPTTs . In 2005 , in order to provide similar mentorship to Iraq ’ s other security forces , the Multinational Corps - Iraq ( MNC - I ) began to embed transition teams with the Ministry of the Interior ’ s paramilitary Iraqi Federal Police ( FP ) and regular Iraqi Police Service ( IPS ) . Formerly known as Special Police Training Teams , SPTTs , these national police teams - called Federal Police Transition Teams , FPTTs - are nearly identical to those supporting the Iraqi Army . Unlike MiTTs , however , these teams are traditionally augmented with a contracted U . S . civilian police officer called a Law Enforcement Professional , LEP . The LEP provides expertise in civilian law enforcement functions to the teams . Police Transition Teams , PTTs . Police Transition Teams , PTTs provide a similar function for the Iraqi Police . These teams vary greatly in size based on area of responsibility and level of threat . They may include military police units and contracted civilian personnel . The Team leader is normally a Staff Sergeant teamed with enablers . The Enablers are usually one interpreter , and an IPA ( usually a civilian police officer ) . The prerequisite for the IPA is 5 years of sworn state service , and the interpreter is usually a local national . These teams travel to the local police stations working with the Station Commanders . These teams assist with logistics , training , and maintaining supplies on hand . The Team leader acts as both an Advisor , and a Liaison . The Team leader does not run the station he simply provides advice . Border Transition Teams , BTTs . BTTs are transition teams embedded ( COP Shocker ) with the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior ' s Directorate of Border Enforcement ( DBE ) forces at the brigade and battalion levels . These teams assist the DBE in patrolling and controlling illicit border crossings on Iraq ' s international borders . Specifically , these teams focus on assisting the DBE in preventing infiltration of insurgent , terrorist , and criminal elements into Iraq . Because of the relative remoteness of these assignments , BTTs traditionally include maintenance and communications personnel not found on other TTs . Port of Entry Transition Teams , PoETTs . PoETTs are transition teams embedded ( COP Shocker ) with the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior ' s Port of Entry Directorate ( POED ) forces at the major ports of entry around the borders of Iraq . These teams assist the POED in controlling the illegal shipments and smuggling of goods and individuals on Iraq ' s international borders . Specifically , these teams focus on assisting the POED in preventing infiltration of insurgent , terrorist , and criminal elements into Iraq through the border as well as assisting the POED in monitor the . Like the BTT ' s , the relative remoteness of these assignments enable the PoETTs to include maintenance and communications personnel to their staff . Other TTs . The U . S . military also embeds a small number of specialty transition teams in low - density administrative , logistics , base security , and transportation units . Transition Team Structure . Iraq Transition Team Structure . Transition team soldiers are generally mid - to senior level officer and non - commissioned officers , with the ranks from Sergeant to Colonel . This ensures that the team is sufficient experienced tactically to properly mentor and train their foreign counterparts . Teams are formed from all components and branches of the U . S . military , including the Active Army , Army Reserve , Army National Guard , U . S . Marine Corps , U . S . Navy , and U . S . Air Force . The usual size of most Iraqi TTs is 10 - 16 soldiers . However , the number of members in a team can range from as few as three to as many as 45 . Many teams are supplemented in theater with security or other support . Each team is also provided with 1 - 6 local interpreters to assist in communicating with their Iraqi counterparts . Although the overwhelming majority of transition teams are provided by the U . S . military , Coalition partners in Iraq have fielded teams in support of the U . S . effort to train the ISF . Once in Iraq , transition teams are assigned administratively to the Iraq Assistance Group ( IAG ) ; however , once embedded with their unit in Iraq , U . S . transition teams fall under the operational control of the local U . S . ground forces commander . Transition Team Training ( Iraq ) . Since October 2006 , the U . S . Army ' s 1st Infantry Division , based at Fort Riley , Kansas , is responsible for training all transition teams for service in Iraq and Afghanistan . Previously , transition teams had been trained at several U . S . Army installations , most notably Fort Carson , Colorado ; Camp Atterbury , Indiana ; Fort Hood , Texas ; and Camp Shelby , Mississippi . However , in early 2006 , the U . S . Army decided to consolidate all training at Fort Riley in order to standardize and improve training for that critical mission . In August 2009 , the 162nd Infantry Brigade , based at Fort Polk , Louisiana , will be responsible for providing tough , realistic , combined arms and services joint training for Foreign Security Forces - Transition Teams in a mid - to high - intensity environment . Teams will participate in a 60 - day rotation for United States Army Personnel with classes operating on a six - day a week schedule . United States Air Force and United States Navy teams will endure a 45 - day rotation with a six - day a week schedule . The first teams began training in Fort Carson Colorado , September , 2005 . The 1st Brigade , 1st Infantry Division took over command and control of the TT mission in October 2006 . The brigade is responsible for the formation and training of the TT teams . This training operation is centered on Fort Riley ' s Camp Funston , where thousands of U . S . soldiers once trained before shipping off to World War I . The Marine Corps trains their teams in Twentynine Palms , California . In 2009 , the 342nd Military Police Company out of Ohio , became one of the most historical company ' s taking place in the PTT process . These soldiers were present while the Al Alam district in Tikrit , Iraq was successfully handed over to the Iraqi Police . Their hard work and effort is just one of many in the success of OIF . The United States Marine Corps approach toward training consists of 2 components . The first is conducted a home station locations at either Camp Pendleton , CA or Camp LeJeune , NC . The second component is 3 – 6 weeks at 29 Palms Marine Corps Base , CA referred to as Enhanced Mojave Viper ( EMV ) . While at EMV , Marines conduct scenario , immersion , and tactical training in their final phase to training before deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan . The Future of Transition Teams . As of December 2006 , more than 5000 U . S . military personnel were assigned to transition teams in Iraq . This number , however , is expected to increase as MNC - I expands the size of the Iraqi Security Forces . In its 2006 report , the Iraq Study Group ( ISG ) recommended the following : “ … United States should significantly increase the number of U . S . military personnel , including combat troops , embedded in and supporting Iraqi Army units . As these actions proceed , we could begin to move combat forces out of Iraq . The primary mission of U . S . forces in Iraq should evolve to one of supporting the Iraqi army , which would take over primary responsibility for combat operations . ” ( Iraq Study Group Report , 2006 , pg 48 ) < br > Furthermore , the ISG also concluded that “ the number of embedded personnel … should be large enough to accelerate the development of a real combat capability in Iraqi Army units . Such a mission could involve 10 , 000 to 20 , 000 American troops instead of the 3 , 000 to 4 , 000 now in this role . ” ( Iraq Study Group Report , 2006 , pg 49 ) < br > In general , the U . S . military reports that it has been satisfied with the results of the transition team strategy in the Iraq war . It is believed that if the U . S . Military can transition from fighting the insurgents to advising national security forces , U . S . casualty rates may come down . The handover of battlespace to Iraqi Security Forces is an often cited benchmark of progress in the Iraq war . In the National Strategy for Victory in Iraq , victory is defined as " " An Iraq that is in the lead defeating terrorists and insurgents and is providing its own security . " " References . Links ( Iraq TTs ) .