[October 5, 2025] Several lessons learned came from our first few days in the Iraq War. We had too many meetings with too many people to get things done efficiently or effectively. And, yet there was a need for additional planning to ensure success when we occupied an expanded combat footprint.
At the same time, we learned about the 1st Cavalry Division area and that there were no base Master Plans outside Victory Base. The design and hierarchy among bases were great for Victory, as it received the lion’s share of resources.
Still, other bases had not progressed, retarding their ability to accommodate more Soldiers. We also discovered that if something could go wrong in a combat zone, it inevitably went wrong. For example, large commercial generators from popular manufacturers failed when you needed them the most – during peak loads in hot weather.
American manufactured generators were undeniably the very best; long-lasting, easy to maintain, and would keep running even when their capacity rating was exceeded. Thumbs up to our American workers. Quality matters, and these generators were worth the extra cost.
Similarly, we learned a few tidbits about Iraqi and Middle Eastern culture, the pitfalls of working with them, and how to overcome problems and misunderstandings with the Iraqis. Their engineers, who we employed, used both the British Imperial (U.S. customary system) and the Metric System together in their design work on projects. That was unusual. It got confusing, and misunderstandings happened, to our great embarrassment and frustration. We learned to check all their work closely.
Most importantly, we learned who the leading Coalition (foreign) military and civilian players were and with whom to speak to solve big problems that would inevitably crop up. Networking inside the Coalition and with contractors would be essential if we were to get anything done speedily to meet mission mandates.
One piece of good news, unlike in the peacetime Army, authority was pushed well down the chain of command. As a Lieutenant Colonel, I had great leeway in developing plans and carrying them out. At least until I screwed up, that would be that.
Food went a long way toward cementing relationships, and the Iraqis were experts at it. I had my first Middle East food in early March.
Soldiers and Iraqis are naturally attracted to good food. This first occasion was at the insistence of the Iraqi company’s owner, who wanted to meet the new 1st Cav Engineer. Lamb and a variety of spicy dishes were served along with canned soda to drink. I was honored by sitting at the head of a long table, and I thoroughly enjoyed the company as well.
Lt. Commander Davis, a U.S. Navy JAG officer who accompanied me to this luncheon, was violently ill shortly after returning to our headquarters. I also had yet to develop an immunity to the little critters contaminating the food, but at least I could function the next day.
After being in Iraq for four days, on 13 March 2004, we conducted our first convoy from Victory Base to Camp Taji. Taji was a 45-minute drive north and the largest 1st Cav base outside of Baghdad.
This base was once the home to Saddam’s Air Force training center, an elite Republican Guard division, and his chemical weapons research, manufacture, and storage facilities. The base also had a large airfield that we used for rotary-wing American UH-60 Blackhawks and AH-64 Apache Attack helicopters.
Coalition forces (mostly U.S.) occupied the west side, while Iraqi Army units occupied the east with two checkpoints, one north and one south. There was no vetting of who joined the Iraqi army ranks and little control over their behavior that we could see.
We learned never to fully trust the common Iraqi army soldier, insurgents had infiltrated them. Later, in a visit to Taji, my driver and I would nearly get ourselves killed by some of their soldiers.
These lessons we learned quickly. More to come.
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Please read my books:
Yep, anytime I see “lessons learned,” I immediately click and read.
🇺🇸 I can take more of these lessons. Thx. 🇺🇸
What I really like about this article, besides it being taken from “Our Longest Year in Iraq,” is that it captures the spirit of what went on in this new battlefield. Like so many places where chaos reigns or there is considerable confusion, one must take care that the right information and analyses are distributed to the right people and at the right time. Screw up and people die. And that, we do not want. Gen. Satterfield takes us on a journey with his book “Our Longest Year in Iraq.” While many here have hyped his last book “55 Rules for a Good Life” and that is a great book , it is his book on the war in Iraq that is the most consequential.
Greg, exactly right. This was his first and best book and about something we all should value. What is it like to be a senior leader on a battlefield. Now that is impressive.
Lessons of war. I immediately click on the article.
SWEET ⟭⟬𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐘
Biggest lesson learned. “Most importantly, we learned who the leading Coalition (foreign) military and civilian players were and with whom to speak to solve big problems that would inevitably crop up. Networking inside the Coalition and with contractors would be essential if we were to get anything done speedily to meet mission mandates.” Don’t get fooled by this, Gen. Satterfield means business. If you want to get anything accomplished in a rocking combat zone, who you know matters and those you know who can get things done is most important, thus the lesson learned.
Cool, got it right Doc. Gen. Satterfield is on it. =✪=
Now this is interesting.
This a real classic look into the internal workings of a higher headquarters, early in a war where the staff and commander are trying to get on their feet and be effective. They are over sharing information because they have yet to figure out who needs what and when. That’s why I’m calling this a classic. After reading your book “Our Longest Year in Iraq,” I can see your early concern and – spoiler alert – your unit quickly figures out how to operate and very well. The 1st Cavalry has a tremendous reputation and deservedly so. 🫡
Well said, Army Capt. We see eye to eye on this. An excellent book. Link at Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Our-Longest-Year-Iraq-Construction/dp/1737915510/
Best book on the IRAQ WAR. Anyone not reading this book will not get a chance to learn about the inner workings of what it takes to make a battlespace work. It’s not just the door kickers, altho they are the most exciting. Gen. S. tells stories that need telling.
Yusaf, got that right. My man! You and I see eye to eye on this. Gen. Satterfield does tell those stories that must be told or will be lost. What I like also is that he has dedicated his book to his grandchildren. They will know what it was like to be in combat. Somethng few of us know about our relatives.
False, right!!!! Most of us are real fans of this website and Gen. Satterfield.