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NEWS | May 20, 2016

10th Mountain Soldiers hand over mission in N. Iraq

By Staff Sgt. Peter Berardi 205th Press Camp Headquarters

Soldiers with 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, “Task Force Warrior,” handed over its mission to 2nd BCT, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), “Task Force Strike,” during a transfer of authority ceremony near Erbil, Iraq, May 17, 2016.
    
The 1st BCT’s colors were cased by Col. Scott Naumann, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Rose, the senior most noncommissioned officer, in preparation for the unit’s journey back to Fort Drum, New York. Casing the colors signifies the end of their mission and the beginning for Col. Brett Sylvia, Task Force Strike commander, and his Soldiers who uncased their colors.
    
“Today we recognize the end of Task Force Warrior’s mission here in Iraq and the beginning of Task Force Strike’s next rendezvous with destiny,” said Brig. Gen. Steve Gilland, deputy commanding general – Erbil, Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command – Operation Inherent Resolve.
    
The Warrior Brigade started their deployment nine months ago and had units stationed throughout Iraq and Kuwait in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. During this time, 1st BCT Soldiers led the advise and assist and build partner capacity missions for Iraqi Security Forces and Peshmerga in northern Iraq as part of CJFLCC-OIR.
    
“Every aspect of our mission here, whether you talk about advising and assisting our ISF partners, supporting intelligence collection to target the enemy or providing fire support to enable ISF operations, the Warrior Soldiers have been involved in executing every portion of these tasks,” said Gilland. “Their efforts have enabled ISF to sustain the offensive that began in Ramadi and extended the forward line of troops to their closest point to Mosul since 2014.”
    
Advising and assisting in multiple missions, including the liberation of Ramadi, current operations around Mosul and building partner capacity with the Ministry of Peshmerga, the Warrior Brigade had a lasting impact during their tour of duty.
    
“Our most significant contribution was our advise and assist teams, partnered with the Iraqi ground forces command, the Ministry of Peshmerga, two operational commands and two Iraqi army division,” said Naumann. “Our teams worked tirelessly to enable our partners to defeat Daesh, and on March 24, 2016, after months of planning, coordinating and rehearsing, our teams enabled the initiation of Operation Valley Wolf, an offensive designed to directly threaten Daesh in the northern Tigris River Valley.”
    
During their final weeks in Iraq, Soldiers of the Warrior Brigade helped prepare the Strike Brigade Soldiers for the mission they have now taken on.
    
“Col. Brett Sylvia holds a wealth of knowledge and tremendous combat experience; I know the Soldiers of the Strike Brigade will continue to take the fight to the enemy and build upon what Col. Scott Naumann and his team have done,” said Gilland.
    
The end of the ceremony was also the end of the deployment for Soldiers of Task Force Warrior who bid farewell to Iraq, returning home to Fort Drum and their families and friends.
    
“Today we proudly transition this mission, having assisted our partner nation’s seizure of nearly 100 square kilometers back from Daesh,” said Naumann. “We are fortunate to have served under two legendary division headquarters and benefited greatly from both – the “All Americans” of the 82nd and the “Screaming Eagles” of the 101st Airborne Divisions. More importantly though, the demanding conditions we shared with our Iraqi partners have helped forge genuine friendships that will last a lifetime.”