1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division arrives in Iraq

Courtesy Photo | 1st Lt. Brandon Shelley, left, and Maj. Chad Sullivan, center, both of 1st Battlion, 87th Infantry Regiment, talk with local Iraqi children 20 August in the Kadamiyah district, north of Baghdad, as part of an orientation convey with their 256th Brigade Combat Team counterparts.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

09.01.2005

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

Pvt. Jason Jordan
1st Brigade Combat Team Journalist

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq -- After several days of training and acclimatization in Kuwait, the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division began arriving in Iraq last week.

Over the last several days, the Soldiers from Fort Drum, N.Y., have been setting up equipment and preparing their operation centers for the mission that lies ahead.

"Our initial goal is to receive all incoming flights with positive accountability of Soldiers and equipment," said 2nd Lt. Laron Somerville, 1st BCT assistant S-1, from Lithonia, Ga. "As far as the future, we expect to move smoothly into a steady state operation as we relieve in place our counterparts and continue the mission with the same hard work and dedication of those before us."

The immediate task ahead for the 1st BCT Soldiers is to shadow their counterparts from the 256th Brigade Combat Team of the Louisiana National Guard and learn how they have conducted operations in Baghdad over the past year.

"As we prepare to head into Iraq, I want you to keep your head up and your mind open," Maj. Christopher Laneave, 1st BCT S-3, told Soldiers as they readied to enter the country. "We still have a lot to learn before taking over this operation," he said.

"These guys [256th] have been doing it for a year, and they've been doing it right," added Laneave, of Pittsburgh, Pa.

Already, the Iraqi citizens in the area are noticing the Fort Drum Soldiers and reacting to their presence.

"The Iraqi people in this area recognize the 10th Mountain patch, and they are excited to see it again," said 1st Lt. Ronnie Mildren, from Davenport, Ohio, with 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment Fire Support Officer and S-5. "They know the history and capability of our Soldiers to get things done, and they are glad to have us back."

Soldiers from each 1st BCT unit will remain busy during the deployment, especially with essential services in the country.

"There is much work to be done with things like electricity and the sewage system, but with the proper resources and cooperation among all the organizations here, I am confident that we can leave this place better off for the Iraqi people when we leave," Mildren said.

"The cooperation between 1st BCT Soldiers and their 256th counterparts has been smooth so far, and our Soldiers will be ready to take over the operation and run with it," said Sgt. 1st Class William Hobgood, Information Operations NCO.

"Shadowing our counterparts for the hand-off has been very beneficial," said Mildren. "They have been very receptive and helpful. That, along with productive projects, will set us up for success."

• Date Taken: 09.01.2005
• Date Posted: 09.01.2005 13:18
• Story ID: 2884
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ