By Staff Sgt. Brent Williams
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad
FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – The commander of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, conducted a Pentagon press brief at Camp Liberty Aug. 4, 2008, to address the current security situation in southern Baghdad.
Col. Ted Martin, commander of the 1st "Raider" BCT, provided members of the Pentagon press corps a progress report on Iraqi security and coalition forces operating at Forward Operating Base Falcon and 15 combat outposts and joint security stations located throughout the Rashid district of southern Baghdad.
"The mission of my brigade is to protect the population," Martin said. "We accomplish this by standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our ISF brothers defending the people of Rashid. Together, we conduct relentless offensive operations designed to kill, capture or drive from Rashid anyone who threatens the safety and security of the people we have sworn to protect."
The Rashid district is roughly the geographical size of Orlando, Fla., and has the population of Dallas, said Martin, who hails from Jacksonville Beach, Fla. The predominately mixed Sunni and Shia community that is home to approximately 1.5 million Iraqis sits astride the main north-south highway from Basra and serves as the southern gateway to Baghdad.
"There's been a measurable improvement in the security in the Rashid district since our arrival here in March," said Martin, who is on his third deployment to Iraq. "When we arrived, we averaged five attacks per day in the Rashid district. By July, we've reduced that average to 1.5 attacks per day."
Martin, a 1983 graduate of the United States Military Academy, noted the marked change in security and credited much of the accomplishments to the recent surge of forces and combat power in 2007.
He said that little more than one year ago, there were 824 attacks in the month of July at a daily average of 27 acts of violence per day, making Rashid one of the most dangerous places in Iraq.
"We built on this success and have seen a dramatic reduction in violence in the past four months," he said.
Martin noted that improvised explosive device attacks in Rashid have decreased 46 percent in the Rashid district, from 69 attacks in April to 37 attacks in July.
He also said the number of attacks against coalition forces dropped from 122 in April to 48 in July, a 61 percent reduction.
Of note, Martin said there were only three incidents of indirect fire in July, reducing rocket mortar attacks from 18 in April, when the brigade first assumed its mission in Rashid.
"When we look at direct-fire attacks, we saw 30 in April and five in July," Martin said. "This represents an 83 percent decrease."
Soldiers of the Raider BCT, working with Rashid ISF, have detained 56 al Qaida in Iraq operatives and captured more than 170 special group criminals and militia members in the past four months, said Martin.
"We continue to pursue them relentlessly," Martin said. "It is my firm belief that the decisive defeat of the special group criminals and militias in May and June of this year has opened a window of opportunity for us to make substantial and lasting improvements in the Rashid district."
Martin also recognized the ongoing efforts by the ISF, which he said has played a significant role in sustaining the current level of security in Rashid.
"I've seen substantial improvement in the performance of the ISF," he explained. "They are well-equipped, well-led and very aggressive. They performed exceptionally well during offensive operations against the militias. The fact is, the Iraqi security forces are increasingly carrying the load in southern Baghdad."
As the security situation improves across Rashid, Martin said that there will be an eventual transition of security responsibilities to the ISF, with Raider Brigade Soldiers moving into the role of providing tactical over watch.
The current stability also allows coalition forces the opportunity to work with local community leaders to better the quality of life for the Iraqi people working on essential services in Rashid, added Martin.
There have been 22 completed projects and 78 ongoing reconstruction projects coordinated with the leadership of the Rashid district council, working with Raider Brigade Soldiers to meet the needs of the community, he explained.
Martin closed the brief by thanking the American people for their support and said that he was thankful for the Soldiers of the 1st BCT.
"It's a real honor for me to serve as the commander of the Raider Brigade Combat Team," he said.
The 1st BCT has been in Iraq for more than four months and is currently scheduled for a 15-month deployment in support of MND-B and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"The Pentagon press brief was an excellent opportunity for the Raider Brigade commander to recognize the many accomplishments of the 4th Inf. Div.'s premier Raider BCT," said Maj. Dave Olson, spokesperson, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B. "The leadership of the 1st BCT especially appreciates the families and friends back at Fort Hood, Texas. We would not do as well as we do without their love and understanding."