Camp Taji
← Back to the bases map · Roll call · Message board
| Also known as | Camp Cooke; Al Taji Army Airfield (ICAO: ORTI); Forward Operating Base Gunner; Camp Bennet (Iraqi side); Taji National Depot |
|---|---|
| Location | Near Taji, Baghdad Governorate, about 27 km north of Baghdad |
| Type | Army airfield and enduring forward operating base |
| Category | U.S. installation in Iraq |
| Opened | 2003 (U.S. control from April 2003) |
| Closed or transferred | Northern section handed to Iraq in December 2010; U.S. forces left Iraq by 18 December 2011. After later coalition use, the base was handed to Iraqi security forces on 23 August 2020. |
| Coordinates | 33.52944, 44.27750 (33°31′46.0″N 44°16′39.0″E) |
Overview
Camp Taji sits in a rural area about 27 kilometers north of Baghdad. Before 2003 Al-Taji airfield was an Iraqi Republican Guard base, a center for chemical weapons manufacture where UN inspectors found 6,000 empty canisters meant for 122mm chemical rockets, the site of a Sector Operations Center and Iraq's largest tank maintenance facility. Thirteen targets on the base were hit during Operation Desert Fox in December 1998.
U.S. forces seized the airfield and supply depot in April 2003. Engineers attached to the 4th Infantry Division cleared most of the buildings, and the base was captured by the division artillery of the 4th Infantry Division and called FOB Gunner. In early 2004 elements of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division held the camp for six weeks and renamed it Camp Cooke for the division's command sergeant major, who had been killed in the first rotation. A later order that bases carry Arabic names returned it to Camp Taji.
Taji typically hosted one to three brigade combat teams, the combat aviation brigade supporting Multi-National Division-Baghdad and the sustainment command that supported the division. The 1st Cavalry Division, 4th Infantry Division and many National Guard and Reserve units rotated through, and a series of units ran the base 'mayor cell,' later called the Garrison Command. By 2007 it was considered one of 14 'enduring' bases among about 106 U.S. sites in Iraq.
The camp came under frequent rocket and mortar fire. A rocket attack on 24 April 2004 killed four soldiers of the Arkansas National Guard's 39th Support Battalion, and on 6 June 2004 two vehicle bombs at Castle Gate caused about 40 casualties. A barrage on 15 August 2007 killed two U.S. soldiers and two civilians, and on 4 May 2011 a barrage of some 120 rockets, mortars and artillery rounds wounded three soldiers.
Taji also became a hub for building Iraq's forces, including helicopter training for the Iraqi Air Force and Iraqi Army support schools; the Iraqi side of the camp was known as Camp Bennet. The base had what was reported to be the largest PX in Iraq and up to 2,500 civilian contractors. A detention center opened in 2008 was transferred to Iraq in March 2010, the north section was handed over in December 2010, and U.S. forces left in 2011. Coalition trainers returned from 2015, and the base was handed to Iraqi security forces on 23 August 2020.
Timeline
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 4th Infantry Division engineers and division artillery cleared and captured the airfield in April; it was known as FOB Gunner. |
| 2004 | 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division held the base in February-March and renamed it Camp Cooke; the 1st Cavalry Division and 39th BCT arrived in March; a rocket attack on 24 April killed four Arkansas soldiers. |
| 2005 | 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division returned in March under the 3rd Infantry Division (MND-Baghdad). |
| 2006 | 4th Infantry Division elements relieved 3rd BCT, 1st AD; the 1st Cavalry Division took control again in November. |
| 2007 | Ten OH-58 Kiowa helicopters arrived in April for Iraqi Air Force training; nine rockets killed two U.S. soldiers and two civilians on 15 August. |
| 2008 | The 4th Infantry Division returned; 1-206th Field Artillery became the Garrison Command Cell in March; a detention center opened. |
| 2009 | The 56th Stryker Brigade arrived in January; the 1st Cavalry Division relieved the 4th Infantry Division in April; the 155th HBCT took over garrison duties in July. |
| 2010 | The Taji detention center was transferred to Iraq in March; the 278th ACR and then the 256th IBCT ran the garrison; the north section was turned over in December. |
| 2011 | A barrage of about 120 rounds hit the camp on 4 May; U.S. forces completed their withdrawal from Iraq on 18 December. |
| 2015-20 | Coalition trainers, including Australia's Task Group Taji, operated at the base until it was handed to Iraqi security forces on 23 August 2020. |
Units stationed at Camp Taji
Units documented in public sources as based at or operating from Camp Taji. This list is not complete; units rotated frequently and many smaller elements were never reported. Veterans can add their unit on the message board below.
| # | Unit | When | Role at the base | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14th Engineer Battalion and 5th Engineer Battalion (attached to 4th Infantry Division) | April 2003 | Pushed from Kuwait and cleared most of the buildings at Al Taji | link |
| 2 | Company B, 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry, 45th IBCT (Oklahoma Army National Guard) | 2003 | Cleared and secured the airfield perimeter with C Company, 5th Engineers | link |
| 3 | Division Artillery, 4th Infantry Division (2-20th Field Artillery; 1-44th Air Defense Artillery) | April 2003 - February 2004 | Captured the camp and ran stability and security operations around FOB Gunner | link |
| 4 | 44th Rear Area Operations Center (Illinois Army National Guard) | 2003 - 2004 | Ran the Base Defense Operations Center and mayor cell | link |
| 5 | 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment | May - late fall 2003 | Airfield security before moving to Tallil | link |
| 6 | 751st Quartermaster Company (Arizona Army Reserve) | May 2003 - April 2004 | Ran captured-enemy-materiel warehouses, handling more than 180,000 captured weapons | link |
| 7 | 878th Engineer Battalion (Georgia National Guard) | November 2003 - May 2004 | Supported the 1st Cavalry Division and 1st Armored Division | link |
| 8 | 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division (4-1 Field Artillery, 70th Engineer Battalion, 1-69 Armor) | February - March 2004; March 2005 - 2006 | Held the camp and renamed it Camp Cooke; returned in 2005 under the 3rd Infantry Division | link |
| 9 | 39th Brigade Combat Team (Arkansas National Guard), incl. 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery | March 2004 - March 2005; 2008 | Controlled the surrounding area and base defense; 1-206th FA returned as Garrison Command Cell in 2008 | link |
| 10 | 1st Cavalry Division (Division Support Command; 4th Brigade (Aviation); 27th Main Support Battalion; 615th ASB) | 2004 - 2005; November 2006 - December 2007; from April 2009 | Division elements stationed at Camp Taji | link |
| 11 | 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment (New York), 256th BCT | 2004 - 2005 | Stationed at Camp Taji with the 1st Cavalry Division | link |
| 12 | 51st Rear Area Operations Center (South Carolina National Guard) | 2004 - 2005 | Mayor cell and base defense support | link |
| 13 | 593rd Corps Support Group | 2004 | Headquartered at Camp Taji | link |
| 14 | 1st Battalion, 151st Field Artillery (Minnesota National Guard) | 2005 | Took over mayor cell duties | link |
| 15 | 4th Infantry Division (4th Sustainment Brigade; 4th Combat Aviation Brigade) | 2006; 2008 - April 2009 | Division elements stationed at Camp Taji | link |
| 16 | Company B, 404th Aviation Support Battalion, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade | December 2008 | Armament soldiers supporting Apache helicopters at Camp Taji | link |
| 17 | 115th Field Artillery (Tennessee Army National Guard) | September 2006 - September 2007 | Gun-truck security for supply convoys | link |
| 18 | 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division | 2006 - 2007 | Ran the Base Defense Operations Center | link |
| 19 | 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade | August 2007 | Apache attack helicopter battalion at Camp Taji | link |
| 20 | 756th Transportation Company (POL) | 2007 | Delivered bulk fuel across Multi-National Division-Baghdad | link |
| 21 | 621st Troop Support Command (Arkansas National Guard) | October 2007 - March 2008 | Garrison Command Cell | link |
| 22 | Coalition Air Force Transition Team (U.S. Air Force) | From July 2007 | About 125 airmen trained Iraqi Air Force helicopter crews and maintainers | link |
| 23 | 104th Training Division (U.S. Army Reserve) | 2007 - 2008 | Advisers to the Iraqi Army Services and Support Institute under CMATT | link |
| 24 | 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery, 25th Infantry Division | 2008 | Ran the Base Defense Operations Center | link |
| 25 | 949th Brigade Support Battalion (Texas National Guard) | December 2008 - July 2009 | Garrison Command Cell | link |
| 26 | 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team (Pennsylvania Army National Guard), incl. 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry | From January 2009 | Combat patrols and area security | link |
| 27 | 155th Heavy Brigade Combat Team (Mississippi National Guard) | July 2009 - March 2010 | Garrison Command and Base Defense Operations Center | link |
| 28 | 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment (Tennessee Army National Guard) | March - July 2010 | Garrison Command and BDOC; began downsizing the camp | link |
| 29 | 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Louisiana National Guard) | From July 2010 | Garrison Command and BDOC | link |
| 30 | 68th Transportation Company | 2008; 2011 | Partnered with and trained the Iraqi Army General Truck/Transport Regiment at Camp Taji | link |
Notable events and facts
- UN inspectors found 6,000 empty canisters for chemical 122mm rockets at Taji before the war.
- The 751st Quartermaster Company handled more than 180,000 captured enemy weapons at Taji in 2003-2004.
- On 24 April 2004 a rocket attack killed four Arkansas Guard soldiers, the state's deadliest day since the Korean War.
- Camp Taji was reported to have the largest PX facilities in Iraq from December 2004 until October 2010.
- Of some 106 U.S. bases in Iraq in 2007, Taji was considered one of 14 'enduring' bases.
- A barrage of about 120 rockets, mortars and artillery rounds hit the camp on 4 May 2011; the attack was later attributed to the Promised Day Brigade.
Photographs
Roll call: who served at Camp Taji
No names have been added yet. This roll call is built from the people who served here, one post at a time.
Message board: Camp Taji
Served here? Share a memory, name your unit, or send a correction. Posts are reviewed before they appear. The full community board is on the Message Board page.
Sources
- Camp Taji - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Taji
- Wikimedia Commons: 26JUNE2006 Camp Taji sign. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:26JUNE2006_Camp_Taji_sign.jpg
- Wikimedia Commons: Keep 'em Flying DVIDS52116. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Keep_'em_Flying_DVIDS52116.jpg
- Wikimedia Commons: Dragon red legs vie to be best field artillery crew in Top Gun competition DVIDS63051. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dragon_red_legs_vie_to_be_best_field_artillery_cre
- Wikimedia Commons: Washing of Iraqi military trucks. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Washing_of_Iraqi_military_trucks.jpg
- Wikimedia Commons: Armament Soldiers get into Christmas spirit (DVIDS134755). https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Armament_Soldiers_get_into_Christmas_spirit_DVIDS1
- Wikimedia Commons: U.S. Army Transporters Mentor Iraqi Army Transporters (DVIDS135978). https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:U.S._Army_Transporters_Mentor_Iraqi_Army_Transport