OIF: The Drive to Baghdad

Army University Press presents part one of the OIF series, “OIF: The Drive to Baghdad.”
This documentary addresses the opening stages of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in March and April 2003, and includes lessons from current U.S. Army doctrine.

On 19 March 2003, President George W. Bush announced the beginning of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, authorizing the use of armed force to overthrow Iraq’s dictator Saddam Hussein. U.S. Central Command had been working non-stop since 9/11 on a plan to eliminate Saddam Hussein’s regime. The film begins in Summer 2002 with CENTCOM's plans for the possible invasion of Iraq and the creation of the Coalition Forces Land Component Command as the main ground command for the planned invasion. The film then covers the crossing of the berm, the seizure of Tallil Air Base, the battle for As Samawah, the fight for An Najaf, and the movement through the Karbala Gap. The film ends on 1 April with V Corps and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force preparing to move to the next objective on the way to Baghdad. The Soldiers of V Corps had advanced over 300 kilometers into Iraq in 11 days, fought both regular and irregular Iraqi forces, withstood sandstorms, and lost comrades.

At 50 minutes in length, this film is full of historical footage and photographs, virtual terrain, animated maps, and one-on-one interviews with Veterans of the conflict.

Chapters:
Introduction – 0:00
Preparing for the Invasion – 5:17
Iraqi Armed Forces – 9:53
The Fight for Objective FIREBIRD – 11:11
The Fight for Objective RAMS – 18:49
‘Mother of all Sandstorms” – 26:55
Five Simultaneous Attacks – 28:34
The Fight for An Najaf – 33:03
The Fight for Objective MURRAY – 42:00
Opening the Door – 44:44
Credits – 49:30

Doctrine:
Operational Initiative (ADP 3-0) – 4:47
Shape Activities (FM 3-0) – 5:38
Training and Rehearsals (ADP 6-0) – 7:28
Forward Passage of Lines (ADP 3-90) – 9:23
Combined Arms (ADP 3-0) – 12:22
Supply during LSCO (FM 3-0) – 15:10
Feint (FM 3-0) – 16:30
Forward Arming and Refueling Point (ATP 3-04.17) – 19:03
Sustainment (ADP 4-0) – 21:43
Deep Area (FM 3-0) – 23:33
Risk (ADP 6-0) – 24:38
Center of Gravity (ATP 5-0.1) – 29:07
Consolidating Gains (FM 3-0) – 30:17
Deception at the Corps Level (FM 3-0) – 31:10
Raid (FM 3-0) – 38:30
Reconnaissance in Force (FM 3-0) – 39:18
Security Forces (FM 3-0) – 44:05
Operational Art (FM 3-0) – 45:37

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[JackBQuick]

I can't think of one documentary, movie or any other form of media where the details were sequenced and narrated in such a manner. Outstanding production and without all the sugar coating. Thank you I am appreciative.

[trashpanda]

3rd ID absolutely steam rolled their way to Baghdad. I went through Infantry OSUT not long after the invasion and had a DS that was a 3rd ID veteran. He was in his first cycle on Sand Hill and the lessons he taught us were valuable to me when I got to Iraq. It was great having Drills that were so recently in the wars.

[tammyowens]

I was a 20 y.o. signal soldier with 3ID and by far, this was the most unreal time of my life.
Thank you for this video. It's been almost 19 years and it still feels unreal.

[sgtmayhem]

Former 11B2P here. This was my first time at your channel and I subscribed. Thank you for a fantastic documentary, the narrative, interviews and visuals all just clicked. It was especially refreshing to hear historical fact, not opinions or editorials.

[Noroscou]

26:17 Hey those are the POWs we rescued while heading towards Tikrit. I was with 3rd LAR, one of my Marines was selected to escort them on the helo ride back to Kuwait. Fun times.

[reddeathdelta]

That sandstorm was a Godsend. It allowed us to get rest, refit, and fix broken shit. It was also the first chance I got to sleep since crossing the berm.

[jerrysullivan]

My son went in with the 101fst airborne division crossing into Iraq on the third day he would serve three tours of duty in Iraq .

[klsc]

I was a 49 year old Signal Soldier then from Alpha Company, 156 Signal Battalion attached to Iowa's 234 Signal Battalion. We arrived in July 2003. Once at BIAP, we did a 3 day FTX to test our Signal Equipment, MSE. After that, we split up to with each team going to their mission. I was part of a SEN team, K-13. Our mission was comm support to the quarters of Lt. Gen Sanchez.
Our deployment orders were for 6 months. We got extended for 3 more months. I wasn't terribly surprised. It turned out that Alpha company was so good, we almost got 3 more months!
Us old Soldiers sure showed the young kids how to do Signal!
I am still very proud of the Soldiers from Michigan I was fortunate to serve with.

[LuvLight]

Yall forgot 4ID we arrived in 2003 as well and I know because I was with them💯💯💯

[mikeflo]

I was there with 5th core attached to bravo 3/15 infantry of 3rd ID. Checkpoints Larry, Curley and Moe. I was 22 at that time. I remember that red day very well along with all the small arms fire and big booms. Nobody slept for weeks until we got to Balad.

[theblankettruth]

I stumbled across the documentary recently. In the past, I have seen various documentaries done covering OIF. Most were related to personal stories, movement of individual units, or what amounts to personal diaries which often provided little clarification to strategies or doctrine. I enjoyed the manner in which this documentary describes movements as well as objectives and the specific doctrine for why said movements and objectives were set. In all compared to previous documentaries I have seen covering OIF, this is by far the best I have watched!

[MikeDonner]

Oh boy have I been waiting for this! You guys are awesome! That Stalingrad series was amazing, so looking forward to this!!

[jt]

I’ve always searched for OIF with miles and miles of tanks and US soldiers waving to the news before the invasion. I yet to see that footage ever again. Like EVER

[santini]

12C Bridge Builder and we patrolled the rivers with our boats. April 2003- April 2004. 671st Engineering Company. 🤟❤️🇺🇸

[m.d.bishop]

On the Marine side we didn't sleep and drove for 3 days strait at the slowest speed possible before we finally got a break and all the units started leap frogging each over. Then everything turned red. It unreal.

[yasirhasan]

Great documentary, great authorship and lots of in-depth details.

[bryans]

Truly well done with this production Sir. As ex Army, I do appreciate the content. War is horrible but I miss my ARMY.

[manhalen]

This was really well done, I was 1/187 inf 101st AASLT and the great commanders always did a good job of explaining the battlefield, and our role in it, to all the soldiers whether you were the battalion CSM or Pvt Joe Snuffy. That really helped you take pride in what you were actually doing and accomplishing out there. But this was a really great breakdown of how and why a big force moves and operates like it does and all of the aviation, commo and logistics train moving with it.

[killervito]

Wow time flies I was there 18 years ago!

[chrisdude]

This is an awesome video. I was with 3rd ID 2nd brigade the whole time and just finished the book Cobra 2 and Take Down. Glad to see this in a video format.