Secretary of the Army visits MND-B Soldiers in Baghdad's International Zone
By Staff Sgt. Brent Williams
May 15, 2006
BAGHDAD (Army News Service, May 15, 2006) – The Department of the Army’s senior leader visited Baghdad’s International Zone to check on the progress of Iraqi Army forces and to visit with Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The Honorable Dr. Francis J. Harvey, Secretary of the Army, met with leaders of the 4th Infantry Division’s 4th Brigade Combat Team and the Iraqi army’s 5th Brigade, 6th Division, during a visit to their forward operating bases May 11.
Harvey traveled to the Iraqi army’s FOB Honor to observe military training that demonstrated progress made by Iraq’s Security Forces in honing their skills.
“Our view is that the ISF secured this place,” Harvey said to Iraqi army Brig. Gen. Mohammed Wasif, commander, 5th Bde., 6th Div. “You did a great job on the national election. You also did a great job on the aftermath of the (Al Askari) Mosque bombing.”
Wasif assumed responsibility for FOB Honor back in January, taking over the mission of providing security for the International Zone and Karradah Peninsula, said Col. Michael Beech, commander, 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Div., while talking to Harvey.
“Since that time, his brigade has been operating independently,” Beech explained. “Although we are partner brigades and often assist each other in operations throughout central Baghdad, his jundi (soldiers) work with my Soldiers on all the entry control points.”
“This is a great outfit – very well led, very well trained,” he said of his Iraqi counterparts.
Following demonstrations in first-aid training, small-unit infantry tactics and motorpool maintenance, the Harvey stopped at FOB Prosperity to meet with Soldiers of the 4th Brigade Combat Team.
Joining Harvey for lunch with a group of Soldiers selected by their units to attend the special function at the King Cobra Café were Maj. Gen. J.D. Thurman, commanding general, and Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Riling, both of Multi-National Division – Baghdad, and Beech and Command Sgt. Maj. John Moody, Jr., both of 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
Following the meal, the Soldiers introduced themselves to the Secretary of the Army, who then entertained a question and answer session, during which Soldiers asked a wide array of questions ranging from Iraq’s terrorist threat to the length of deployments for units abroad.
“Right now, the baseline that we are trying to get to for the active regular army is one year deployed for every three years in service,” Harvey responded to one Soldier’s question. “We want to be able to do one year deployed with 24 months at a home station. That is part of the Army’s Force Generation Model.”
Harvey said he foresees units having to deploy for two six-month periods, one at the beginning of their unit’s three year life-cycle and one at the end. Change, he said, will come as the ISF take fuller responsibility for security.
“I know the American people, a vast majority of the people, have a great, high regard for the American Soldier.
“Because of you and your fellow Soldiers, peace freedom and the democratic way of life have been preserved,” Harvey said. “Because of you, 50 million people in Iraq and Afghanistan have been liberated from oppressive regimes; and because of you, the cycle of terrorism in the Middle East is beginning to be broken.”
(Editor’s note: Staff Sgt. Brent Williams writes for the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Public Affairs Office.)
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