Courtesy Photo | Staff Colonel Abdalah Ramadan, commander of the 55th Brigade, 17th Iraqi Army...... read more read more
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By Spc. Jamie Vernon
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division Public Affairs Office
BAGHDAD – In support of the Security Agreement implementation, Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers and their Iraqi security force partners conducted a combined rehearsal of their security plan for the upcoming provincial elections at Combat Outpost Meade in the Mahmudiyah Qada Jan. 25.
Leaders from the 55th Brigade, 17th Iraqi Army Division, and Task Force 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, participated in the combined arms rehearsal.
The election is scheduled for Jan. 31, with 14,300 candidates running for 440 seats to fill the various provincial councils. It will mark the first nationwide election held in Iraq since 2005.
The rehearsal was held at COP Meade, southeast of Baghdad, in an area once known for sectarian violence. In the past year, there has been a significant decrease in attacks on Iraqi civilians as the Sons of Iraq, the Iraqi army and the reconciliation program have greatly increased security and helped to reinstate a sense of normalcy.
The area has also seen an increase in tips from Iraqi citizens to the 17th Iraqi Army Division, which has resulted in numerous weapon caches being seized and destroyed.
The Iraqi security forces have overall responsibility for election security with the MND-B Soldiers in a supporting role.
The 55th Bde. conducted a rock drill rehearsal on a large sand table. In this type of rehearsal, the unit acts out friendly and enemy actions and the soldiers rehearse their actions. While acting out the security plan, the Iraqi soldiers talked through their mission, critical tasks, actions and decisions to their leaders. This provided the leaders an opportunity to identify any potential problems.
Rehearsals such as the one conducted illustrate the growing level of professionalism and readiness in the 17th IA Div.
Maj. Eric Savickas, of Newton, Mass., the executive officer of Task Force 4th Bn., 27th FA Regt., provided assistance to the 55th Bde., 17th IA Div., as he facilitated the sand table rehearsal and explained what operations will be conducted in specific areas of the operational environment.
"We are asking the coalition forces for air support, especially in medivacs, should we need them; however, the coalition will have very little involvement in this operation," said Staff Colonel Abdalah Ramadan Atia, commander, 55th IA Bde. "We have experience from the 2005 elections. The units are trained and prepared."
The Iraqi army is establishing security around 16 polling sites in the area in the vicinity of COP Meade. The Soldiers from Task Force 4th Bn., 27th FA Regt., will provide a quick reaction force if requested by the 17th IA Div. for medical emergencies.
"At this point, we're trying to enable, not to direct the Iraqis in how to accomplish their mission. The complexity of the display may seem a little elaborate, but it's all just a tool we're providing to our allies to aid them in securing their own democratic future," said Capt. Nicholas Doerr, Task Force 4th Bn., 27th FA Regt., and a native of Syracuse, N.Y.
| Date Taken: | 01.30.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.30.2009 01:40 |
| Story ID: | 29444 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 287 |
| Downloads: | 264 |
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