The Ground Forces Command at Victory Base Complex near Baghdad Airport was the most important fighting formation in the Iraqi Army.

Their formation had been managed by the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team, which then became part of Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq.

The Iraqi Army command and control center opened in a ceremony at the IFGC headquarters at Camp Victory.

The Advisory Support Team's mission was described as to 'mentor and assist the Iraqi Joint Headquarters in order to become capable of exercising effective national command and control of the Iraqi Armed Forces, contributing to the capability development process, and contributing to improving the internal security situation within Iraq in partnership with coalition forces.

On 7 September 2006, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki signed a document taking control of Iraq's small naval and air forces and the 8th Division of the Iraqi Army, based in the south.

U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said it would be up to al-Maliki to decide "how rapidly he wants to move along with assuming control.

2007 plans included, MNF-I said, great efforts to make the Iraqi Army able to sustain itself logistically.

From late 2008, United States personnel were worried by Prime Minister Maliki's "attempt to exert control over the Iraqi Army and police by proliferating regional operations commands.

Initially coalition leaders welcomed the idea of regional commands that could create unity of Iraqi effort, but their enthusiasm faded as Maliki began to use the new headquarters to bypass the formal chain of command,"[8] which came to resemble the operating mode of the Saddam Hussein regime.