Photo By Sgt. Tiffany Fudge | An Iraqi army soldier and a U.S. Soldier from 67th Forward Support Company, 2-20 Field...... read more read more
By Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson
41st Fires Brigade Public Affairs Office
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq –The 32nd Iraqi Army Brigade immediately offered their help to maintain security in Wasit province when word broke of the 1st Georgian Brigade's redeployment.
"We knew it was unfortunate that the Georgians had to leave, but it provided us with the opportunity to take an active role in securing the checkpoints along the main routes in Wasit," said Brig. Gen. Abed Gabr Mazloum, commander of the 32nd IA Bde.
Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment are partnering with the IA Soldiers at the checkpoints and patrol bases in Wasit.
"We are working hand-in-hand with our Iraqi partners," said Lt. Col. Timothy Bush, commander, 2-20 FA.
"They have the lead in running the traffic control points, and we plan on training them in patrol base operations, temporary traffic control points and presence patrols around their respective patrol bases," said Bush.
"The people of Wasit need to know that the Iraqi army is here to help maintain their safety and security, and we are very fortunate to have our great friends, the Americans, by our side in this mission," said Abed.
Abed began working with Col. Richard M. Francey Jr., the 41st Fires Bde. commander, to develop an actionable plan to sustain the security situation in Wasit. In less than 24 hours, both units sent Soldiers to man the checkpoints and patrol bases previously occupied by the 1st Georgian Bde.
"We began planning with our Iraqi partners to take over the Georgian mission as soon as we found out they may have to go home," said Francey.
"Brig. Gen. Abed was very supportive in sending Iraqi army soldiers out to the different checkpoints to help fill the positions left by the Georgians, ensuring the safe and stable security situation in Wasit remained the same."
The relationships fostered by the 32nd IA Military Training Team enabled Iraqi and U.S. forces to implement a plan rapidly. The MiTT has been working with the 32nd IA Bde. for the last three months.
"The relationships that we have fostered played a vital role in the cooperative effort to take on the immediate security mission in the province," said Maj. Kirk Calloway, 32nd IA MiTT advisor.
"The Iraqi soldiers we have been working with have been very eager and professional in improving how they conduct their day-to-day operations," said Calloway.
These positive relationships further ensured a smooth transition of the Georgians' missions at three checkpoints and Patrol Base Shocker.
"We were able to reposition our forces to enable the Georgians to begin movement back to Georgia in a very short period," said Maj. E.J. Karlberg, operations officer for the 41st Fires Bde.
"All but a small contingent of Georgians were flown back to Georgia by Monday, and those left behind are working on getting the rest of the Georgian equipment loaded up and sent back home," said Karlberg.
| Date Taken: | 08.16.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 08.16.2008 05:50 |
| Story ID: | 22559 |
| Location: | AL KUT, IQ |
| Web Views: | 270 |
| Downloads: | 234 |
This work, Iraqi Army takes vital security role in Wasit, by SFC Joe Thompson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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