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Iraqi Intervention Force Assumes Mission

1st Cavalry Division

By Cpl. Bill Putnam
122nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

     CAMP FERRIN-HUGGINS, Baghdad, Iraq -- The Iraqi Intervention Forces' 2nd Battalion, "Leopards," formally took responsibility for part of the 5th Brigade Combat Team's area of operations during a short ceremony July 31.The Iraqi Intervention Force's 2nd Battalion, "The Leopards," display their battalion guidon for the first time at an uncasing and assumption of mission ceremony at Camp Ferrin-Huggins July 31. The Leopards are the first IIF battalion to take over an area formally controlled by American troops.
     This is the first time that an IIF unit has taken control of a sector.  "What they bring to the table is new capabilities," said Col. Stephen Lanza, 5th BCT commander.  The Leopard's leadership uncased the battalion's colors to signify the unit's activation and assumption of Abu Dashir of the Al Rashid district. The 1st Cavalry Division's 5th BCT patrols Baghdad's Al Rashid.
     The 5th BCT's Company C, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, used to patrol the area.
An American advisor to the unit, Marine Maj. Eric Davis, said the Leopard's main mission will be combat operations. They'll take on the missions that are beyond the capabilities of the Iraqi National Guard like arresting high profile terrorists, or large cordon-and-search operations, he said.The Iraqi Intervention Force's 2nd Battalion company guidons on display at the uncasing and assumption of mission ceremony at Camp Ferrin-Huggins July 31.
They've already taken on such missions, Davis said. The battalion has been patrolling Abu Dashir for about a month now and conducted several large operations, one of which resulted in the in the arrest of one of the Multi-National Force's most wanted terrorists, he said. The Iraqi Soldiers are motivated to do this mission, Davis said. Several times the Leopard's commander has asked the advisor not to go with them on missions, he said. "They're ready for this and want go out and do their mission," Davis said.