by Mark Schapiro and Stephen Petzold
Download the Full Article: Team Ninewa Models Successful Civilian-Military Unity of Effort
Over the past year within the restless province of Ninewa Iraq, the "Team Ninewa" concept was born. This concept is a highly successful model of U.S. civilian-military cooperation that resulted in an unprecedented unity of effort among the State Department and U.S. military goals/objectives in the region. This unity of effort led to tens of millions of dollars in savings on redundant projects and a highly effective use of Defense and State Department funding streams targeted at very specific local communities. Key to this strategy was "thinking small" -- de-prioritizing large infrastructure projects in favor of income-generating activities for neglected economic actors among Ninewa's myriad ethnic groups and business associations. Team Ninewa, which consisted of TF Spartan (2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division), the State Department-led Ninewa Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), and the Ninewa Reconstruction Cell (NRC), all gathered around a table once per week to discuss, assess and de-conflict all U.S. government assistance and program spending in the province. For these meetings, the PRT was the lead in articulating specific U.S. policy and development goals for the province. TF Spartan would communicate any specific security related goals of the brigade and express any concerns with the potential impact of PRT initiatives on security in the region. These "de-conflicted" objectives would then be communicated to the TF Spartan units for execution throughout the province.
Download the Full Article: Team Ninewa Models Successful Civilian-Military Unity of Effort
Mark Schapiro, a career foreign service officer with the State Department, recently completed an assignment in Iraq as the Economic Chief in the Ninewa Provincial Reconstruction Team.
Major Stephen Petzold is the S9 of 2nd "Spartan" AAB, 3rd Infantry Division, currently deployed in northern Iraq.
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Note: We produced one subsequent final version of the article which specifies that "Team Ninewa" actually came into being in early 2009, in partnership with the 25th Infantry Division, the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division, and the 130th Army Engineer Brigade. The "Team Ninewa" foundation was created then, and in 2009-10 evolved into an unprecedented level of civ-mil integration under the 3rd Infantry Division, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd ID, the 130th Engineers, and of course, the State Department-led Provincial Reconstruction Team.
A minor yet significant point of clarification, to honor the work of all of our military partners in Ninewa Province, 2009-2010. This article focuses on this latter period, with thanks to those soldiers and diplomats who paved the way.