CPT Monte C. Hibbert
116th BCT Public Affairs
FOB WARRIOR, Iraq- The 116th Brigade Combat Team's mission in north-central Iraq includes helping local Iraqi leadership establish and improve security, develop the economy, solidify government and improve communication.
The period from May 21 to June 3 was marked by progress in each aspect of the brigade's mission. First, great milestones were reached in the transition of security responsibility to Iraqi security forces (ISF).
On May 31, the former coalition safehouse in Dibis, Iraq, was transitioned to 100% Iraqi control. Also, the stand-up of the 3rd Iraqi Army (IA) Brigade on June 1 effectively turned over the security of the entire province of Sulaymaniyah to Iraqis.
While these are great milestones, and the first of their kind in Iraq, the 116th BCT continues training ISF in both traditional and practical ways to reach the goal of transitioning all security operations to Iraqi forces.
Other IA milestones the past two weeks included the 2nd and 3rd Brigades" drawing dozens of vehicles, hundreds of uniforms and weapons May 24, and also sending 120 soldiers to begin Initial Entry Training at the Tikrit Training Center May 29.
On May 30, the IA's 2nd Brigade assumed responsibility for the Oil Pipeline Infrastructure and Oil Security Battalions. Task Force 1-148 Field Artillery continued training IA units on medical, civil disturbance, and combat skills the past two weeks. TF 1-163 reports training tactics to IA units.
Iraqi Police Services (IPS) report that on May 24 Kirkuk IPS police chief, the Kirkuk Provincial Joint Coordination Center (PJCC) officer in charge, and the 116th BCT police liaison officer attended an Elections Security Conference in Tikrit, where they outlined strategies for another successful elections process.
On May 27, the Kirkuk PJCC and Sulaymaniyah PJCC received $30,000 each for operations budget. They have conducted meetings where the budget process was addressed and planning for expenditures was outlined and initiated.
On June 1, Kirkuk IPS purchased 42 police vehicles with funding provided to IPS from Iraq's Ministry of Interior. The 116th BCT's police liaison officer believes the purchase of the 42 vehicles will strongly influence vehicular police patrols in Kirkuk Province.
The Kirkuk IPS Automation Officer conducted automation course for senior IPS leaders June 2. Topics covered were spreadsheets and the budgetary process. Task Force 2-116 Armor reports that the Domies police conducted weapons training and the Aruba police received training on first aid.
TF 2-116 Armor reported the Kirkuk IPS headquarters completing a force protection assessment.
ISF continue to apply pressure on insurgents across the 116th BCT's area of operations. TF 1-148 Field Artillery reports Iraqi Army soldiers discovering and turning in unexploded ordnance (UXO) to coalition forces.
TF 1-163 Infantry conducted very successful combined operations with ISF and also reported an Iraqi Army soldier turning in UXO and the Hawijah police finding an improvised explosive device (IED).
TF 2-116 Armor reported that the Qoria police investigated an IED attack. TF 3-116 Armor also reported a successful ISF response to a Tuz Road IED strike.
The 116th BCT has continued to see economic progress in the area from May 21 to June 3. Large-scale projects, like the Kirkuk Regional Landfill, continue to move through planned stages of development. TF 2-116 Armor reports that the Azadi Hospital negotiated improvements.
TF 3-116 Armor reports that mosque reconstruction is nearly complete and that a new girls" secondary school is complete in Taza. TF 3-116 Armor also reports road repairs that made is easier to traveling to a local Mosque.
Kirkuk's Director General of water continues to report above-average water flow from Lake Dokan to the farms of the region the past two weeks.
The 116th BCT's leadership continued working with local government officials as they work toward establishing their new democracy. The 116th BCT's governmental liaisons continued to monitor Iraqi efforts to form a provincial government.
They have participated in numerous meetings with Arab, Assyrian, Kurdish and Turkoman council members to lower rhetoric and work toward a common goal of creating a functioning government.
Several claims of detainee movement were forwarded to Arbil and Sulaymaniyah to the command which resulted in the return of several prisoners. Task Force leaders continue to meet with Iraqi leadership in their areas to talk about issues of local concern. A special Hawijah working group met to work on several issues affecting that community and surrounding area.
Iraqi leadership, with 116th BCT support, continues to leverage local media to inform their constituents of timely topics. Kirukuk Governor Mustafa recently condemned "Zarqawi-ism" in a media engagement.
The Iraqi Media Network Talk Show has featured the new Iraqi constitution, transition of security to Iraqi forces, current events and release of detainees over the past two weeks.
Working together with media, the 116th BCT and Iraqi leaders have consistently highlighted the fact that almost all insurgent attacks claiming to have targeted coalition forces have actually killed or injured innocent Iraqi civilians or ISF.
Besides its headquarters and staff sections, the 116th BCT is comprised of the 2nd and 3rd Armor Battalions, the 1-148th Field Artillery Battalion, the 1-163rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion, the 145th Support Battalion, the 116th Engineer Battalion, and various intelligence, signal, and specialized units.
With component units from the states of Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Utah, North Dakota, New Jersey and Maryland, the 116th BCT is one of several Army National Guard units deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.
| Date Taken: |
06.06.2005 |
| Date Posted: |
06.06.2005 10:13 |
| Story ID: |
2004 |
| Location: |
KIRKUK, IQ |
| Web Views: |
96 |
| Downloads: |
13 |
PUBLIC DOMAIN
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