In August 2008, OPA confirmed that the ePRTs formally report up through their respective provincial PRTs to the Office of Provincial Affairs at the U.
Another senior commander on the ground suggested that "ePRTs could become the main effort," and that even as some BCTs redeploy, their partner ePRTs could remain to continue their work.
Embassy Baghdad, the office to which PRTs and ePRTs report, viewed that initiative as stepping on their prerogatives.
In Baghdad, for example, the full Baghdad PRT interacts with the Governor, the Mayor, and the Provincial Council Chair, while ePRTs are tasked to work with the district- and neighborhood-level councils.
Although exposed to the same risks as combat troops, these ePRTs brought two huge advantages to the U.
On the other hand, the ePRTs do share the same province with the provincial team, and thus geographic diversity is less of a problem at their level.
With the departure of the "surge" brigades of 2007, in which the new PRTs were embedded, some of their forward operating bases used by ePRTs will be employed by fewer troops, closed, or turned over to Iraqi units.
This coordination of effort can be achieved with ePRTs because although they are subordinate to their military commander, they continue to have greater access to the civil-military SSTR technical chain.
That situation continued as the ePRTs were established.
Another senior commander on the ground suggested that "ePRTs could become the main effort,"and that even as some BCTs redeploy, their partner ePRTs could remain to continue their work.
Officials of OPA, to which PRTs and ePRTs report, viewed that initiative as stepping on their prerogatives.
49) Whether the ePRTs are to be dissolved or redeployed elsewhere following the draw-down on "surge" forces is not yet apparent.
