Changing of the guards

Photo By Sgt. Gregory Snyder | Lt. Col. Edmond M. Brown of Honea Path, S.C., commander of 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division and Command Sgt. Maj. Jim Cabrera of Natalia, Texas, uncase the colors in the transfer of authority ceremony held at Contingency Operating Site Echo.  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE ECHO, IRAQ

08.07.2011

Story by Sgt. Gregory Snyder 

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE ECHO, Iraq — While one historic story ends for the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, another begins for the 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment.

Sunday marked the day that the Dragons Battalion officially took control of the area of operations around Diwaniyah, Iraq, and praised the 3rd Squadron, 3rd ACR for the tremendous successes achieved. 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment arrived at COS Echo two weeks prior and spent that time learning the operational tempo, and adjusting to the environment. The Dragons wasted little time in completing final preparations for executing their mission.

The Battalion mission is new to the soldiers of the Dragon Battalion: the responsible drawdown of U.S. Forces and complete transition to the Iraqi security forces.

The Transfer of Authority ceremony is a significant and historic milestone for units that marks the beginning for the inbound unit, and the end for the outbound unit. In front of guests from around the Army, commanders and command sergeants major from 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment took turns casing and uncasing their regimental colors respectively.

After brief remarks from both commanders, soldiers and friends from COS Echo enjoyed refreshments and spent time sharing stories from the past year-long deployment.

The Dragons look forward to their new mission at hand and embrace the opportunity to make history while being one of the last units to leave Iraq by years end.

• Date Taken: 08.07.2011
• Date Posted: 08.24.2011 07:47
• Story ID: 75829
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE ECHO, IQ