The power of partnership: Iraqis take control of Anbar installations in historical transition

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Kissta DiGregorio | Capt. Bradford Gaddy, commander, B Company, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, signs the necessary documents returning the Anbar Police Directorate to the government of Iraq, Oct. 30. Gaddy is a native of Fairmont, N.C. The APD has been a hub for U.S. Forces' mission to advise, train, assist and equip Iraqi Security Forces in the Anbar province since 2006. After the signing of the security agreement two years later, the ISF and the Iraqi government took the lead in providing security for the area. As American Forces withdraw from Iraq, they are relinquishing responsibility of installations in the province to the government and ISF.  

RAMADI, IRAQ

10.30.2011

Story by Sgt. Kissta DiGregorio 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

RAMADI, Iraq – Once known as a breeding ground for insurgents, terrorized by frequent bombings and assassinations, the Anbar province is now considered a shining example of the power of partnership. The cooperation between American Forces and the government of Iraq over the last five years has strengthened the area in many ways, the most prominent being in the capabilities and competence of the Iraqi Security Forces. The climax of that successful alliance has finally come, as the Iraqi government begins accepting responsibility for installations throughout the province from the 82nd Airborne Division’s 2nd Brigade.

Capt. Bradford Gaddy, commander of the Falcon Brigade’s B Co., 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, signed over responsibility of the Anbar Operations Center and the Anbar Police Directorate to the government of Iraq, Oct. 30. This historic event signified the completion of U.S. forces’ role in the province and their confidence in the ISF to protect their home without U.S. assistance.

In 2006, the government of Iraq and the people of Anbar began working with coalition forces to go on the offensive against al-Qaeda. The ‘Awakening’, the collaboration of tribal leaders, citizens and U.S. forces against the terrorist network initiated the development of the Iraqi police. However, the IPs and the Iraqi army lacked the means necessary to fight against such an organized and well-armed terrorist group.

U.S. forces’ mission changed in response to this; troops were now serving as an advise, train, assist and equip entity, with an end state of ensuring the Iraqis could fight this battle themselves, secure their province, and guarantee the safety of their people.

Troops provided the Iraqi Security Forces with everything from uniforms to weapons to vehicles. But giving them the supplies they needed wasn’t enough; they had to learn how to use them. American soldiers began teaching the Iraqis the basics.

Soldiers were then living and working within the AOC and APD compounds, making it easier to train the local forces and interact with government officials at the installations.

Due to the amount of information flowing between government officials, the ISF and the soldiers, being close to the installations ensured there was no loss of communication. “We were a liaison to keep the Brigade up to speed on what the Iraqis were doing,” said Lt. Col. Eric Campany, the 2/82’s Stability Transition Team chief for the AOC.

A native of Adams, N.Y., he said in addition to building and maintaining rapport, their proximity allowed soldiers to support ISF operations on short notice. “We would get calls in the middle of the night to respond to an event,” he said, and they could quickly coordinate with the Iraqis and facilitate their operations as necessary.

With the signing of the security agreement in 2008, security responsibilities in Anbar were relinquished to the ISF. All operations in the area were to be led by Iraqis. American troops took to advising the ISF as the Anbar forces stepped up to secure their province.

The 2/82 continued with this mission in support of Operation New Dawn, gradually reducing their input as U.S. forces prepared their withdrawal from the country’s largest province by the end of the year. In October, they began turning over installations that had been manned by Americans for years.

From the beginning of the deployment, paratroopers began repairing broken equipment and adding items to inventory lists in preparation for handing over property that had been accumulating over nine years, Gaddy said. “A lot of work was put in behind the scenes,” he added.

Now on his second tour to Iraq, the first in 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, this experience has been especially significant to Gaddy. “It was important for me to see how different things are. We’re living and working right beside them,” he said, which would have been unthought of during his last deployment.

Along with the closure of these installations, U.S. operations throughout Iraq are also coming to an end. The people of Anbar now look toward a promising future and remember the vital partnership that helped create it.

Anbar’s Deputy Governor Hikmat Jassim Zaidon said everything they’ve worked for is finally paying off, and it couldn’t have been done without the support of the American troops. “This is all because of the U.S. forces’ hard work and sacrifice,” he said.

• Date Taken: 10.30.2011
• Date Posted: 11.02.2011 09:06
• Story ID: 79413
• Location: RAMADI, IQ