In this edition: Army’s top medic visits “Lifeline” crew
Iraqi Army uncovers weapons cache in Diyala
Multi-National Force-Iraq Announces Force Reductions
Iraqi Police Complete Air Assault Training
Multi-National Division – Joint IA, MND-B Patrol nabs suspect in Kadamiyah
At approximately 4 a.m., Iraqi Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 22nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division working with Soldiers from the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, detained the individual with a warrant and seized firearms, a computer, several cell phones and other materials.
Sons of Iraq
Multi-National Division – North PAO - Iraqi Army uncovers weapons cache in Diyala
The cache included 47
blasting caps, 36 pressure plates,10 pounds of homemade explosives, nine rockets, two bags of propellant, and two hand grenades.
The cache was discovered while Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces investigated a site where a cache was previously found.
“This discovery marks a significant step forward for the Iraqi Army,” said 1/25th SBCT spokesman Maj. Chris Hyde. “With every cache they find, Iraqi Security Forces become better and better at maintaining a consistent and comprehensive appraisal of their area of operations, particularly when monitoring historic sites for weapons caches.”
Hanging Out
Multi-National Force-Iraq Announces Force Reductions
BAGHDAD - Multi-National Force-Iraq announced today that two Brigade Combat Teams, who are scheduled to redeploy in the next 6 months, along with associated enabling forces such as logistics, engineers, and intelligence, will not be replaced. Additionally, an F-16 squadron recently redeployed and will not be replaced.
This drawdown of forces from Iraq will reduce the total number of U.S. Brigade Combat Teams from 14 to 12. Additionally, a British Combat Brigade will also redeploy without replacement. The reduction is possible due to the increased level of security and stability that Iraq has achieved over the last 12 months, the growth in capability and capacity of the Iraqi Security Forces, and the transition from counterinsurgency to stability operations throughout most of Iraq.
Gen. Ray Odierno, Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq, made the recommendations to reduce these forces within the next 6 months. When complete, approximately 12,000 fewer U.S. and 4,000 fewer British forces will be in Iraq. This is a significant step in the implementation of the Security Agreement between Iraq and the United States that took effect on January 1, 2009, and President Obama’s recent announcement concerning the responsible drawdown of U.S. combat forces in Iraq.
"The time and conditions are right for Coalition forces to reduce the number of troops in Iraq," said General Ray Odierno. "The successful provincial elections demonstrated the increased capability of the Iraqi Army and Police to provide security. In the coming months, Iraqis will see the number of U.S. forces go down in the cities while more and more Iraqi flags will go up at formerly shared security stations."
Iraqi Police Complete Air Assault Training
By Pfc. Rebekah Lampman, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs, COB ADDER — Seven Iraqi Police (IP) jumped out of UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters and hit the dirt at Camp Cedar’s landing zone during an air assault training exercise, March 2.
"I am very happy," said Maj. Gen. Sabah, Dhi Qar’s Iraqi provincial chief of Police. "With this training from the Coalition forces, my men are going to be able to use the air as well as the ground to go after the terrorists and arrest them. Without this we would not be as knowledgeable and trained as we are now."
During the exercise, the IP’s secured four buildings and detained three suspected criminals after exiting the helicopters. They also found a weapons cache, important documents and treated one injured Iraqi.
“We are always trying to increase their abilities to plan and conduct missions," said Capt. Christopher Kelshaw, a 1st Cavalry Division company commander. "They met all of our goals, but we will still train them to an even higher standard of tactical operations."
This training demonstrated the Iraqi’s abilities to issue warrants according to Iraqi law, develop target packets for high-value individuals and conduct air assault missions Kelshaw, from Wharton, N.J., explained.
"It shows the Iraqi Security Forces are one step closer to becoming independent," said Kelshaw, a two-time combat veteran with 14 years of military service. "Little by little, we are taking less of a direct role in this effort."
Sheik Feast
Army’s top medic visits “Lifeline” crew
Multi-National Division –
Command Sgt. Maj. Althea Dixon, senior enlisted advisor to the Army Surgeon General, U.S. Army Medical Command, paid a visit to medical Soldiers serving with the 299th Brigade Support “Lifeline” Battalion, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, at the Riva Ridge Troop Medical Clinic on Camp Liberty March 5.
“One of the [reasons for] my visit was to see our medical people and to take a look at the services they are providing. Everybody knows the great medical support the Soldiers get when they are deployed,” said Dixon, who was also there to update the troops on what’s going on in the Army medical department. “As the senior medic in the Army, I try my best to meet and talk with each and every medical Soldier, or as much of them as I can, and hear their concerns and ideas.”
To better understand their own rolls as medical NCOs, Dixon informed the Lifeline leaders about the recently released Army Medicine Strategic Map, which shows the key tactics and objectives for the medical corps in terms of leading, guiding and developing Soldiers.
“I want them to know where they fit in that strategy,” said Dixon. “Our mission is to train, develop and equip a medical force that supports full spectrum operations.”
Dixon also detailed the various aspects of being a leader in a Warrior Transition Unit, where many Soldiers in the Army’s medical field may find themselves working.
WTU’s were created in 2007 to provide critical support to Soldiers wounded in combat and are expected to require at least six months of rehabilitation care and mental health management for themselves and their families.
“Working in a WTU is one of the toughest leadership jobs there is. In addition to taking care of injuries and medical problems they are taking care of emotional and family issues,” said Dixon. “There are many challenges to being a leader in a WTU; it’s not a ‘take a knee’ kind of job.”
Also a stressful but rewarding job, said Dixon, is being a medical Soldier working in combat operations because of the long hours of medical service to Soldiers.
“I am so proud of what these folks are doing out here,” Dixon said. “They are well trained, they are highly motivated and they are all about service, so I am really pleased at what I have seen so far.”
In a deployed environment, Soldiers have to constantly make sure they are “combat-ready” and Dixon said the Soldier-medics are one of the reasons why missions outside of the wire are successful.
Dixon added that sometimes the American people wonder why young people are not afraid to volunteer to serve knowing that they could possibly be deployed in harm’s way.
“I think one of the reasons why Soldiers don’t hesitate to serve is because if they are deployed and should they become ill or injured, there are great medics out there to make sure that they are taken care of,” she said. “Army medicine helps keep the Army Strong.”
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