Throughout the month of August, the last of the U.S. Soldiers stationed at COB Cobra departed the base, signing property over to the Iraqi army, said Capt. James Ray, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cav. Division, U.S. Division -- North.
Soldiers from 4th Sqdn., 9th Cav. Regt., spent weeks unloading containers, clearing buildings, packing, prepping and shipping material goods remaining on COB Cobra, said 1st Sgt. Michael Williams, HHT first sergeant.
"It has been a long and tedious process of playing 'What's in the connex?'" said Williams.
With the base fully operational for more than two years, mass amounts of supplies accumulated, explained Williams.
Since U.S. and Iraqi forces shared the compound, large numbers of supplies were kept on site for the IA and the Iraqi Security Forces, said Ray.
The transfer of the remaining equipment to the Iraqis is part of the Federal Excess Personal Property Program, designed to re-utilize all types of items purchased by federal entities.
The battalion left behind buildings, t-walls, and other non-military equipment, said Williams.
"They are going to get a lot of great gym equipment, fully functioning dining facility … some of the things we left behind (have) provided so much to us," said Ray.
Leaving behind equipment is only part of what took place during the transition, said Ray. "Dark Horse" battalion helped control multiple checkpoints within the Combined Security Area throughout northern Diyala province.
Companies from the battalion worked for weeks transitioning each checkpoint to the IA and Kurdish Peshmerga, he added.
Combined efforts like the checkpoints are lasting memories that many U.S. Soldiers can take joy in when thinking about how their hard work has paid off, said Williams. Training the Iraqi Security Forces played a part in transition as well.
"Soldiers of (the battalion) have invested quite a bit of time in training the Iraqi Army and getting them set up to be able to stand on their own," said Williams. "So it's gratifying to see and do that (training) and to be able to hand them a facility like this, they can use after we are gone to train future generations of the Iraqi Army."
Ray, who agreed with Williams, said the transition was successful, and it allowed the battalion to leave the IA with something that will help to improve the IA's training and security.
"It's a nice area for them to … conduct training and continue to build up their security forces in support of their government," said Ray.
Security was an issue associated with the transition, said Lt. Col. Paul Garcia, commander of the 4th Sqdn., 9th Cav. Regt. There is always an added risk when troops maneuver from site to site.
"We were transitioning out of here and we were in a period of increased risk for all forces involved," said Garcia.
In light of the risks, Dark Horse Soldiers remained vigilant and kept an offensive posture through the last days of closure, explained Garcia. His team assisted the ISF in providing security as the last convoys of U.S. Soldiers left COB Cobra.
Dark Horse pride was seen through their tireless efforts as they successfully transitioned the base to Iraqi control, said Ray.
"In the end, this (transition) is extremely satisfying … it's more than just another notch in the belt. It's a successful mission; something we can hang our hats on as we move on," he added.
Social Sharing