Ceremony marks SoI change in Mada'in Qada

Photo By Pfc. Evan Loyd | Lt. Col. Rich Morales, commander of Task Force 1-35 Armor, passes the Iraqi national flag to Col. Ehmad of the 3rd Battalion 1st Division National Police, symbolizing the transfer of control of the Sons of Iraq from the coalition force to the national police, during a ceremony at the NP Headquarters in Tameem, Oct. 8, 2008.  

IRAQ

10.15.2008

Story by Pfc. Evan Loyd 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division

By Pfc. Evan Loyd
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division

COMBAT OUTPOST CASHE SOUTH, Iraq – Iraqi security force officials and coalition forces soldiers met at national police headquarters in Tameem to transfer responsibility of the Sons of Iraq from Jisr Diyala and Narhwan to the government of Iraq.

Abu Mohanned, SoI leader in Jisr Diyala, passed the Iraqi national flag to Lt. Col. Rich Morales, commander of Task Force 1-35 Armor, who in turn passed the flag to Col. Ehmad of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Division NP signifying the transfer of control of the SoIs to the GoI.

This historic moment begins a new era in the SoI program in Jisr Diyala and Narhwan, and illustrates the continuing progress of GoI autonomy in the Mada'in Qada.

"There is no more visible signal of progress than the effective transition of the Sons of Iraq program to the Iraq security forces. The 3-1 National Police Brigade's already strong bond with the community it serves is only strengthened by the integration of security forces under on Iraqi flag," said Morales of El Paso, Texas.

The GoI has assumed full responsibility for the SoI program, to include the payment of wages to the SoI.

This ceremony mirrors one conducted by the 35th Iraqi Army Brigade in Salman Pak just to the south of Jisr Diyala. Together, these transitions are signs of the reconciliation between former insurgent forces and their government.

• Date Taken: 10.15.2008
• Date Posted: 10.15.2008 12:38
• Story ID: 25019
• Location: IQ