Commander Outlines Black Jack Mission in Fallujah
Fallujah, Iraq - Even with the majority of combat operations over and victory declared, elements of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division in Fallujah remain persistent in dealing with the aftermath.
The cavalry brigade's combat power was needed in the 10,000-troop assault on Fallujah named 'Operation Phantom Fury,' according to 2BCT 'Black Jack' commander, Col. Michael Formica.
"We brought the armored protection and mounted combat fire power to the fight," Formica said. "We could penetrate inside the city with the tanks and the Bradleys, take the sniper fires, take the [rocket-propelled grenade] fires and destroy the buildings with direct fire. The key piece we brought was precision combat power with our Abrams and Bradleys."
He said the Black Jack mission now is truly cavalry: noting the fact that his team is tracking down the remaining enemy forces.
"This brigade will have a prominent role in what we consider in cavalry terms, a pursuit operation," he said "We will hunt down the enemy and destroy him before he can reestablish operations.
"We don't know where the enemy is going. Many of them died in the city, but some may have left, and at this point we are denying him sanctuary," Formica said. "We will continue to track him down and kill or capture him. It's a classic cavalry mission."
Units assigned to the combat team for the operations included many elements outside 2BCT such as 25th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry; 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion from 2nd Marine Division and 759th Military Police Battalion.
Second Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment was logistically attached to 2BCT for the operation, and brought cavalry power to the fight in the city. Having the cavalry in the attack was a necessity in Fallujah because the type of enemy they fought here, he said.
"This enemy is well equipped, apparently well trained and well organized," Formica commander said. "They fought us pretty much straight up: a staunch opponent.
"The enemy was trying to get out of the city, but when he couldn't he returned fire; then we had an opportunity to defeat him."
The primary 2BCT mission continues outside the city, taking care of the insurgents who try to escape, the colonel explained.
"The mission here was to isolate Fallujah so the enemy could not reinforce his positions," Formica said. "Surround the town, keep them in, and keep them out so the 1st Mar Div [Marine Division] could attack the enemy."
Black Jack's commander said many of the attached units who assisted his brigade's cordon mission during the initial assault, which began early November, have since relocated. But as multinational forces round up insurgent hardliners still in Fallujah, 2BCT will remain to keep the cordon around the city.
Three days into the operation, 25th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment had to leave the Black Jack cordon mission. The 2BCT 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry's combat power has since been stretched, Formica said.
"We had to spread 1-5 Cav across 55 kilometers and they are doing a fantastic job," the Pennsylvania native said. "They have been there 24-7 for the last ten days. They are holding the line to enable this attack and final operations to be completed."
Insurgent forces who manage to escape Fallujah are likely to move to Baghdad, according to Formica.
"What happens in Fallujah, I believe will have a direct effect on Baghdad. We have seen, historically, the enemy moves from west to east into the capital," he said. "What we can destroy or capture here will ultimately lead to better circumstances in Baghdad proper."
As the brigade keeps the cordon around Fallujah, they are helping to usher in a new phase of operations there.
"We have the most important part of this operation," he said, "which is the humanitarian part of the effort and to help the people of Fallujah have their city given back to them after it's been liberated of the terrorists."
Formica said security will play a significant role in bringing aide into the Fallujah area.
"Nothing goes into that city without being inspected," the colonel said. "We will make sure that what goes in is genuine humanitarian supplies and is not contraband or munitions or things that may be used against us. By all accounts things are going well as far as humanitarian efforts."
Once Fallujah and the surrounding Al Anbar providence has been liberated, Multi-National Forces will give it back to its people, according to Formica, where they can commence with elections.
"Rebuilding the city will be a big job, but in the end it will belong to the people of Fallujah," Formica said. "All the horrors and all the tortures and all the inhumane things that took place in that city in the last six months are behind them. The rest is physical reconstruction."
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