Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation New Dawn.

1st Lt. Dustin D. Vincent, 25, of Mesquite, Texas, died Nov. 3, in Kirkuk province, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

For more information the media may contact the Fort Riley public affairs office by email at matthew.howard1@conus.army.mil, nathaniel.s.smith@us.army.mil, or by phone at 785-240-6359/4928.

Much Improved Iraq Enjoys Liberty, U.S. Commander Says

By Karen Parrish

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2011 – American forces’ efforts in Iraq “have given the people of Iraq a huge gift” through the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of a democratic society, a senior U.S. commander said today.

“We have given them freedom and liberty that they've never known, and we have given them the potential to have a democracy in this part of the world … where it would be a unique institution,” Army Maj. Gen. David G. Perkins, commander of U.S. Division-North and the U.S. Army’s 4th Infantry Division, told Pentagon reporters via video teleconference from his headquarters in Tikrit.

U.S. military forces are slated to depart Iraq by the end of the year. Iraq has experienced significant improvements, although some problems remain to be solved, the general said.

Operation Iraqi Freedom, launched in March 2003, ended the regime of the ruthless Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Iraqi Freedom transitioned to Operation New Dawn in September 2010, marking the shift from combat operations to training, equipping and assisting Iraqi forces. Perkins’ division has led those efforts in the northern provinces of Nineveh, Kirkuk and Diyala since last October.

The 4th was involved in the first troop rotation to Iraq and is now completing its fourth deployment, the general said, adding that every tour there has had unique aspects.

The advise, train and assist mission also has involved transitioning operations, operating areas and bases to Iraqi forces, Perkins said.

Those forces, he noted, now lead their own internal security operations and are focusing much of their training on the military’s traditional mission of defending against external threats.

Iraqi and Kurdish forces now share bilateral responsibility for 22 formerly trilateral checkpoints along disputed territory in northern Iraq, Perkins said, as U.S. forces have pulled back into an overwatch role.

No violence has occurred at any of those checkpoints since U.S. forces withdrew from daily presence, the general said, noting arbitration mechanisms are in place to manage any disputes, the general said.

“At the very senior level of this mechanism, we will have State Department people engaged as well as Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq people engaged, but it's at a much lower level as far as number of people than we had when I first got here,” Perkins said.

Iraqi forces also take the lead against al-Qaida activity in the north, which has long been a main operating and fund-raising area for the group as well as a primary entry point into the region for foreign fighters, he said.

“We've seen a dramatic drop-off in the foreign fighter flow coming into Iraq … [and] instead of foreign aid coming in large amounts, they're resorting to what I would call extortion, black marketing, robbery of jewelry stores, things like that,” Perkins said.

“We are now seeing intra-al-Qaida fighting and disputes [in] the organization itself about how money is distributed,” he added.

Perkins credited al-Qaida’s decline in Iraq to the capabilities and persistence of the country’s soldiers and police.

“They generally are on the pointy end of the spear here going after these folks,” Perkins said of the antiterrorism efforts conducted by Iraq’s security forces “And then when they do that, they are getting much better at getting their own internal intelligence, turning it around and going after the networks.”

The al-Qaida network in northern Iraq is not ineffective, but it has been “highly degraded,” the general said.

“We see now more vehicle-borne explosive devices that are parked and detonated versus being driven and detonated, which means they're having a hard time getting people who are true believers to actually be the suicide folks,” he said.

Perkins said Iranian-backed attacks in the north also have declined recently under pressure from Iraqi security forces.

“But, again, we know that capacity is there, so we keep those pressures on those networks,” he said, adding that historically, most Iranian-backed attacks happen in Baghdad and the southern part of Iraq.

Iraqi forces must be self-sustainable to maintain pressure on criminal and terrorist networks without U.S. military support, Perkins noted.

“From day one, our intent was to build a sustainable capability that on the last day, we can walk away, and then the day after that, it continues,” he said.

In training Iraqi forces, his troops are now focused on the areas of intelligence fusion and logistics, he added.

“We've paid additional attention to developing a logistics system, a supply system and also an ability for them to share intelligence not only within their army but between their police and border organizations … because, again, fusing that intelligence allows them to get after threats both internal and external,” the general said.

Perkins said his troops have spent much time putting together doctrinal and instructional manuals and getting them translated to Arabic.

“After we leave, again, there is something that they can build on,” he said. “We also videotaped and recorded … infantry movements, all the basic kind of things so they can take a very immature force, recruits, show them what right looks like and then move forward on it.”

Iraq’s defense capability will increase with its recently announced purchase of 18 F-16 fighters, the general said.

“I think the significant part is that they have made that commitment to get 18 [fighters] initially, which means they are now going to have a modern air force,” Perkins said. “They're going to have pilot training; they're going to have to have a maintenance program … and then adding aircraft after that is much easier.”

That sort of capability-building already has taken place in the Iraqi intelligence-gathering community, Perkins said.

“They weren't asking for their own [intelligence and surveillance] platforms because they didn't even know they had them,” he said. “And so once we told them that they had them, once we showed them how to ask for them, then that became self-sustaining because they generated a demand signal which then had to be met by their institution.”

Over the past year U.S. forces in northern Iraq have decreased from around 10,000 in 38 bases to about 5,000 in 14 locations, Perkins said.

“We have tried to do it in a very deliberate manner, in going over in a very deliberate way how they are going to conduct security,” he said.

“We've been very pleased, I think, with their ability to stand up and not only control the base and equipment, but keep security under control here in the north,” he said.

The United States has invested “a lot of treasure, both human and financial” in Iraq, the general said.

“Each day we hand more and more of the responsibility off to the Iraqis … [and] they are grabbing hold of and running with it,” he said.

Iraq’s leaders will determine how successful their country will ultimately be, Perkins said.

“It is up to the [Iraqi] political leadership to make this thing work and do the kind of tough work, selfless service, to make those hard decisions that are for the benefit of their country to make sure that this is a viable democracy,” he said.

Face of Defense: Soldier Gives Back to Supporters

By Army Staff Sgt. Joshua Quick

U.S. Division North

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE WARRIOR, Iraq, May 3, 2011 – Smiles crossed the faces of students at Kingman Academy in Kingman, Ariz., as their anticipation and excitement finally ended and they put a face to the name.

As the door to the auditorium opened, the students watched as a man in an Army uniform entered -- a man they did not know by name, but who they regarded as an American hero.

Army Pfc. Kenneth Johnson, a Las Vegas native, spent an afternoon with students of the Kingman Academy earlier this year discussing the Army’s mission in Iraq during Operation New Dawn.

An intelligence analyst serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, Johnson took a day during his environmental morale leave from Iraq to thank the people who supported him from afar.

“They took the time to put together care packages and write letters to the soldiers of the battalion, so I wanted to give them something back to let them know their efforts were appreciated,” Johnson said.

Johnson presented the students and staff with the flag flown over the 2nd Battalion’s headquarters at Contingency Operating Site Warrior in Kirkuk, Iraq. He also gave students 12th Cavalry Regimental crests in appreciation of their continuous efforts to support the “Thunderhorse” Battalion soldiers.

“I asked permission to thank them before I left [Iraq],” Johnson said. “My chain of command thought it was a great idea, and they fully supported it.”

Johnson spoke to the students about the role and mission the Army fulfills during Operation New Dawn as American forces continue to advise, train, and assist their Iraqi counterparts as well as the challenges, experiences and realities of being a deployed soldier. He wrapped up his discussion with a lively question-and-answer session with the students.

“They were very excited, and [my visit] motivated them to continue to do what they are doing for us,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s unit recently recognized his efforts to give back to unit supporters, presenting him with an Army Achievement Medal. But the real reward, he said, was to know how much people care.

“Throughout the whole experience, I felt slightly overwhelmed and prideful to know people at home still care about us,” he said.

Live from Iraq

By Capt. Randall Ramm

Detachment Commander, C Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment

Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs

Operations may be drawing down here in Iraq, but nearly 600 Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers remain on duty, including the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment — and while bases may be closing and U.S. and coalition forces departing, our mission continues.

Our small unit of about 30 Soldiers spent months training in Wisconsin before heading to Fort Hood, Texas to join the rest of the C Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation, from Lincoln, Neb.  From there we went to Kuwait to finish up our training, and finally to our respective bases in Iraq.

About 30 days ago 80-90 degree temps welcomed us to our new home for the next 10 months or so.  Here in Iraq our unit operates from four different locations.

Some Company C and D Soldiers live at Camp Speicher. Our Medevac compound and maintenance hangar is located tucked away from everyone else and has everything a soldier needs — living areas, work areas, shoppette, gym and dining facility are all a short walk away from each other. The folks in Company C have been busy with medical transport missions and training flights. Of all the sites where our Soldiers are located, Camp Speicher is the busiest in regards to flying medical missions.

Many of the Company C Soldiers at Mosul live and work in a building just off the airport. They have running water and flush toilets in the building, which is a great convenience. Other Soldiers live in metal containerized housing units, or CHUs, which are decent quarters but lack plumbing — Soldiers there use separate latrine and shower facilities nearby. The unit we replaced there has left and we are into a routine and ready for the months ahead. Northern Iraq is pretty quiet these days, but we stay sharp by conducting regular training missions.

The Soldiers stationed at Kirkuk spent February training with the outgoing unit, and now have assumed the medevac support mission. Living quarters here are large steel trailers divided into four equal 10 by 10 rooms, complete with Internet, TV, heat and AC, flushing toilets and hot showers. Soldiers there have also begun adding personal touches to their living quarters. So far the mission load has been low, which means things are calm. This part of the country seems very safe and is actually quite beautiful — there is lots of vegetation, and mountains about 50 miles away that make for a wonderful view on clear days.

We also have some Company C and Company D Soldiers stationed at Forward Operating Base Sykes near Tal Afar. They have been busy improving their base. The days are long, but they get by with friendship, fun and hard work.

Know that we are all very proud of the work we are doing here, but we also want you to know how much we miss you and appreciate your support. What’s going on back in the Badger State?

Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation New Dawn.

Sgt. Vorasack T. Xaysana, 30, of Westminster, Colo., died April 10 in Kirkuk, Iraq, of injuries sustained April 9 in a non-combat related incident.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, Fort Hood, Texas.

For more information, the media may contact the Fort Hood public affairs at 254-287-9993 or 254-287-0106.

Kirkuk Example Provides Hope Despite Terrorist Attacks, Commander Says

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

June 8, 2007 – Kirkuk, Iraq's northern oil center, is an example of people of all sects, tribes and religions being able to live and work together in the Middle East, said Army Col. Patrick Stackpole, commander of 3rd Brigade 25th Infantry Division. That's why it is a terrorist target. Stackpole briefed the Pentagon press corps today via teleconference from the northern Iraq city. His brigade has been in Kirkuk since August 2006 and is working with Iraqi security forces to improve safety and security throughout the province.

Kirkuk is a rich prize with roughly 10 billion barrels of oil, which represent approximately 40 percent of Iraq's oil reserve and 70 percent of its natural gas production.

Saddam Hussein tried his version of ethnic cleansing in the city. He forced Arab families to move to Kirkuk to dilute the power of Kurds and Turkomen who constitute the majority of people in the province, Stackpole said.

"Kirkuk boasts a long history of peaceful coexistence," Stackpole said. "Kurds, Arabs, Turkoman and Assyrians comprise both the ethnic and religious diversity of the region, and we have not seen the same level of ethnic nor sectarian strife that we've seen in other parts of Iraq."

Part of this is millennia of living together and part of it is "the overall resilience of the people of Kirkuk not to allow ethnic differences to divide them," the colonel said.

The U.S. brigade is partnered with Iraqi security units, including the 2nd Brigade of the 4th Iraqi Army Division, the local provincial police and also the 1st Strategic Infrastructure Brigade. "We work closely with each to assist in training the forces and to maintain security, protect the people, infrastructure and natural resources throughout the province," he said.

The U.S. and Iraqi forces have conducted more than 900 partnered operations at the brigade, battalion and company level. There have been literally thousands of platoon and section patrols.

"These operations have served not only to provide security to the people of the province but also to prepare the Iraqi army and the police to eventually achieve self-sufficiency," Stackpole said. He said the Iraqi Army brigade is becoming a truly effective, capable force.

Police presence is also growing in capability and size, he said. There are now almost 2,000 police province wide, and the local police have primary responsibility for security in the city of Kirkuk, he said.

But the enemy is ruthless. "Across the province, we face Islamic extremists, former regime elements and Baath loyalists," he said. "While these organizations offer nothing but violence and rhetoric, attempts to discredit the government and coalition forces continue.

"Each day, through our partnership with the security forces, we work to counter these violent attacks by also extending the reach of the elected government. The Iraqi people's prosperity is the key," Stackpole said.

The Iraqi national government is working to improve basic services in the province, Stackpole said, and it is also working to spur economic development.

The straqtegy in Kirkuk calls for expanding presence in the province. The coalition brigade has created and manned several small patrol bases.

"With this increased presence, we are better able to deny insurgents freedom of movement and sanctuary while integrating more closely with the local population in building relationships that demonstrate our objectives are in line with their security and safety," Stackpole said.

And the strategy is paying off. "We've established freedom of movement on major routes in our area of operation, with focus on a road from Kirkuk south to Tikrit," he said. "We've identified and filled nearly 400 road craters and have increased our discovery rate of (improvised explosive devices) from 33 percent in September to 64 percent today."

The brigade has also captured 15 high-value individuals, who were responsible for financing, controlling, planning and providing weapons. "We continue to gather actionable intelligence targeting cell leaders and their conspirators," he said. "We're also seeing an increased commitment to security by the civilian population."

The road ahead in Kirkuk may be bumpy - thanks in part to Saddam's 'Arabization' of the city. An article in the national constitution allows the residents of the city to vote on their future. To be effective there must be a period of normalization, a census to get a handle on the people in the area and finally a vote.

The enemy does not want a stable Kirkuk. "We see daily IEDs, rocket attacks, kidnappings, murders and drive-by shootings, all used to intimidate the population and keep them out of the political process," Stackpole said. "Despite this, we see a resilience in the people, dedication on the part of the Iraqi security forces, and overall determination not to let the terrorists succeed."

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