Courtesy Photo | The color guard, led by Command Sgt. Maj. John Jones, 1st Advise and Assist Task...... read more read more
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By Spc. Kandi Huggins
CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE WARRIOR, Iraq – The color guard, comprised of Iraqi army soldiers, Iraqi police, Kurdish Peshmerga and American soldiers, standing before an equally mixed audience of distinguished guests and military officials annotated the beginning of a mission and an ever-evolving partnership between Iraqi and U.S. forces.
Deployed in support of Operation New Dawn, soldiers of the 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division, from Fort Riley, Kan., conducted a transfer of partnership ceremony with the “Ready First” Combat Team of the 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Armored Division at Contingency Operating Site Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq, Nov. 7.
Col. Larry Swift and Command Sgt. Maj. James Daniels, command team of 1st AATF, part of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Div., from Fort Bliss, Texas, furled the Ready First colors ceremoniously marking the end of their 12-month tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.
Following Ready First’s lead, Col. Eric Welsh, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. John Jones, senior enlisted leader of 1st AATF, 1st Inf. Div., unfurled the brigade colors, marking the official transfer of authority to the soldiers of “Devil” Brigade, and the beginning of their mission to advise, train and assist Iraqi security forces in the northern province of Kirkuk.
“Great U.S. Army soldiers can do anything and go anywhere,” said U.S. Division-North Commanding General Maj. Gen. David G. Perkins, who served as the reviewing officer for the ceremony. “Col. Swift, you and your folks have done a phenomenal job that exceeded everyone’s expectations in what some could argue as being some of the most difficult problems that we have to deal with.”
Perkins, commander of Task Force Ironhorse and 4th Infantry Division, from Fort Carson, Colo., praised the work of both units and said the progress that has been made in Kirkuk is nothing short of phenomenal.
“Col. Welsh, as you and the ‘Devil’ Brigade come on board there is no better leader, nor team to follow in the footsteps of ‘Ready First.’
“You have the experience, the leadership and the capability to not just solve the problem now, but to solve it in a way that sets the foundation for your legacy that will live on for generations,” Perkins said.
Out of respect for their subordinate commanders and their brigades, Maj. Gen. Vincent Brooks, commanding general of the 1st Inf. Div., based at Fort Riley, Kan., and U.S. Division-South, and Maj.
Gen. Terry Wolff, commanding general, U.S. Division-Center and 1st Armored Div., joined Iraqi officials, military officers, and a wide range of local Iraqi leaders to show their commitment and support to the soldiers of the two participating units and their mission.
The outgoing commander, Swift, said he felt that the Iraqi security forces in Kirkuk had made tremendous progress even if it had been a long and tough year.
“Today, I stand here representing the 6,000 troops of the Ready First Combat Team from the nine battalions that served under this headquarters over the past year,” said Swift. “I would like to say thank you.”
As the Devil Brigade assumes its role in support of Operation New Dawn, it will focus on supporting the ISF as they enforce the Iraqi rule of law and governing capability, said Welsh.
“With the shadows of Operation Iraqi Freedom to our back, we stand ready to forge ahead with Operation New Dawn, and welcome an era in Iraqi history that will endure in the free world,” he said. “To our Iraqi partners, we will move forward to maintain this lasting bond that we have worked so hard to build … it is my true belief that we will not only complete this mission, but our partnership will stand the test of time.”
“Soldiers of the Devil Brigade,” said the task force commander, “you will leave a legacy here … and I know you are prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. And to our Iraqi partners, we look forward to helping you achieve peace and prosperity.”
| Date Taken: | 11.07.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 11.14.2010 13:01 |
| Story ID: | 60120 |
| Location: | CONTINGENCY OPERATING STATION WARRIOR, IQ |
| Web Views: | 127 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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