Rakkasans hand over control to Panthers

Photo By Staff Sgt. Russell Klika | Maj. Roger Stark of the 402nd Civil Affairs Battalion and Lt. Jeffery Wright of Headquarters and Headquarters Company 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division talk with children in the city of Samarra, Iraq as other Soldiers look over a soccer field that is in need of repair.  

TIKRIT, IRAQ

09.09.2006

Story by Spc. Joshua Ford 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

Spc. Joshua R. Ford
Public Affairs
3rd Brigade Combat Team
82nd Airborne Division

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq - (Sept. 9, 2006) Brigades from two Divisions that are infamous for their exceptional duty and call to action found themselves fighting side-by-side once again in a foreign conflict.

They are both known for their unique capabilities on the battlefield - one is air assault and the other airborne. The Rakkasans from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and the Panthers from the 82nd Airborne Division have proven themselves time and again in every American involved conflict since World War II.

As Task Force Rakkasan prepared to redeploy, Task Force Panther prepared to assume responsibility of the Salah ad Din Province - an area in which the Rakkasans spent more than 12 months deployed to. After several weeks of joint missions and operations, the Paratroopers of Task Force Panther officially assumed responsibility Sept. 9, 2006, at COB Speicher.

"It is going to be a challenging year, but a very rewarding one as we assist the Iraqis in making progress," said Col. Bryan Owens, commander of the 3rd BCT, 82nd Abn. Div. "This is an extremely complex environment to work in and our Paratroopers are up to the task."

During their time at COB Speicher, the 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div., worked with the 4th Iraqi Army Brigade, stood up police departments and continued to develop Iraqi Security Forces into a self sustaining force, said Maj. Timothy P. Sullivan, executive officer, 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div.

Paratroopers from 3rd BCT will pick up where the 101st left off, continuing to train Iraqi forces and run joint patrols with the Iraqis.

"Our primary focus is to work by, through, and with the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police to provide security in the area. As the Iraqi Security Forces take the lead, we will assist them with their efforts to protect the citizens of Iraq and allow the fledgling government to blossom into a functional entity," Owens added.

The Iraqi security forces in the Salah ad Din Province have been conducting operations independently with Coalition Forces supervision over the past three months.

"Iraqi Forces have taken the lead in Multi-National Division - North," said Sullivan.

The Panthers have entered a critical phase in Operation Iraqi Freedom; determining if the Iraqi Forces are ready to take full control of Salah ad Din Province without supervision from Coalition Forces, said Command Sgt. Maj. Charles E. Hawkins, 3rd Brigade Support Troops Battalion, 3rd BCT, 82nd Abn. Div.

"Standards that were set for Iraqi Forces already will definitely be elevated," Hawkins added.

During their 12-month deployment here, Task Force Panther will fall under the 25th Infantry Division, which is the command and control element for MND - North.

"The Panthers are going to be able to take the Iraqi Forces to the next level, continue their development and provide the reinforcement they need to get them through the critical next phase of development ... the economic welfare of the province," Sullivan said.

"We are not only trained and ready, but are excited about getting started and accomplishing our mission here," said Owens. "I believe the key to success is to get the Iraqi Security Forces and the Government officials to embrace their duty to the greater good of the Iraqi population and not just for themselves, their families or their tribes."

• Date Taken: 09.09.2006
• Date Posted: 09.18.2006 11:00
• Story ID: 7760
• Location: TIKRIT, IQ