‘Charger’ troops and IA conduct Neighborhood Watch

Courtesy Photo | Soldiers from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division work their way through busy streets to ensure security stability in Basra province near Contingency Operating Base Basra, Iraq, Oct. 1, 2011. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Thompson)  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRAH, IRAQ

10.01.2011

Courtesy Story

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRAH, Iraq – With the end of Operation New Dawn getting closer and the inevitable reposturing of United States Forces-Iraq nearing, the soldiers of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division have been hard at work protecting fellow soldiers and ensuring the future stability of Iraq, through a joint operation known as Operation Neighborhood Watch.

Neighborhood Watch is unlike any other mission conducted in the ‘Charger’ area of operations. These operations enable the soldiers of Company A to not simply train and mentor their partners from the 14th Iraqi Army Division Commando Battalion in the comfort of a garrison, but to train them in the adversity of a tactical, real life environment. This on the job training also promotes public confidence in the Iraqi Security Forces. With more than twenty joint missions, the 14th IA Commandos have been able to gain invaluable experience patrolling, establishing traffic control points, searching vehicles and gathering intelligence.

“Operation Neighborhood Watch gives the people of Basrah the chance to see their own organic security forces in action,” said Sgt. 1st Class Michael White, platoon sergeant for 1st Platoon. “The people here in Basrah see the Commandos out on the street, taking the lead with patrols and it lets them know that the security in Basrah is taken care of when the U.S. forces are
gone.”

With a primary focus on force protection, the soldiers of Company A have played an integral role in maintaining security both on and off Contingency Operating Base Basrah. Since the inception and execution of the first Neighborhood Watch operation in mid June, COB Basrah and the ‘Charger’ soldiers that live and work there have seen a significant decrease in the amount of indirect fire attacks on the base.

The insurgent forces still present and active in Basrah have long since gone into hiding amongst the local populous and continue to stay out of sight as the Iraqi Security Forces become more and more visible while patrolling the neighborhoods of Basrah.

Operation Neighborhood Watch, and its resulting decrease in attacks, has been effective in demonstrating to the people of Basrah that the security situation is stable and will continue to
be for a long time to come.

“Working with the Commandos has given us a great opportunity to ensure that we are leaving Iraq with a capable and competent security force.” said 1st Lt. Brandon Schmidt, Company A., executive officer.

• Date Taken: 10.01.2011
• Date Posted: 10.17.2011 08:20
• Story ID: 78587
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRAH, IQ