Photo By Staff Sgt. David Strayer | Kirkuk Provincial Director of Police Gen. Jamal acknowledges the significance of the...... read more read more
CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE WARRIOR, Iraq – The final company of Kirkuk expanded combined security force trainees graduated and joined the ranks of the “Golden Lions” eCSF at Kirkuk Training Center, Kirkuk province, Iraq, July 18.
With the graduation and addition of the final company, the eCSF officially became a fully-operational battalion-sized combined security element, with representation from the Iraqi army, Iraqi police, and Kurdish Regional Guard.
Soldiers assigned to 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division, served as instructors and advisors during previous training rotations at KTC.
“We have had two training cycles so far,” said 1st Lt. Dan Campbell, a platoon leader with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st AATF. “Training and now graduating two companies that have been added to the eCSF to form the battalion-sized element that they now have has been our goal from the start, and now it is a reality.”
Soldiers of Company A were the primary source of U.S. assistance and support for the eCSF during their expansion from a single company to a fully operational battalion through the course of the past year.
“This is the second eCSF company we have graduated; the original company was in place when we arrived,” said Pfc. Justin King, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment.
King, a native of Huntington Beach, Calif., said his job is to check and evaluate the eCSF logistic and accountability figures, and then identify where trainees might need support.
“It makes me feel pretty good to have been witness to this eCSF element as it went from one company to a fully-operational battalion,” said King. “Seeing how they addressed issues that have come up along the way and how much these guys really want to become part of the eCSF, it feels good to know I played a part in that.”
After recently moving their operational base to a portion of Contingency Operating Site Warrior, the Golden Lions now look to collectively establish themselves as a battalion-sized security element in the area.
The Golden Lions are responsible for the combined security area, which consists of more than 20 villages, as well as Kirkuk City, said Campbell, a native of Houston.
“Being a battalion-sized element instead of a single company allows the eCSF to be more capable in sector,” he added. “Being out there each day, they will be able to maintain better security of the area. Just as importantly, they will be able to actively display to the citizens of Kirkuk, and Iraq, that cultural barriers can be broken down and that Kurds, Turkomen, and Arabic people have one thing in common – they are all Iraqi.”
| Date Taken: | 07.24.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.25.2011 01:22 |
| Story ID: | 74245 |
| Location: | CONTINGENCY OPERATING STATION WARRIOR, IQ |
| Web Views: | 209 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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