16 Nov 2007
A U.S. Army Soldier from Delta Company, 1-12th Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Calvary Division and an Iraqi army soldier search a courtyard in Baqubah, Iraq, Nov. 11, 2007. Soldiers are conducting a cordon and search for caches to prevent Al Qaeda activity in the area. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Shawn M. Cassatt)
The key to the “surge’s” success becoming a lasting success will be the ability of the Iraqi Army to maintain security gains, and to take the lead expanding things and solidifying the situation. Only when the IA is capable of this on a large scale will meaningful peace have a chance. Things look good so far and appear to be on the right track, but only time will tell.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:19 am
1-12 Combined Arms Battalion’. Man, I am so ignorant of modern nomenclature. Cue gravelly old man voice: In my day, that unit was 1-12 Cav, which was only the most recent re-flagging of 3-32 Armor, and in any event belonged to the 1st Brigade. Brigade, period; I’m still foggy on what a brigade combat team means. Heh, but hey, 14, 15 years’ll do that.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
It is an AKA situation. 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavelry Division is: 1-12Cav, 3-8Cav, 6-9Cav, 2-82FA, 215BSB, and 3BSTB. http://www.hood.army.mil/1stcavdiv/units/3bct/index.htm The BCT is due to the modularization ment to make the Brigades independently deployable without division assets. (E.G. Engr Bns are disappearing and becoming part of the BSTBs.) All of the Bdes have one Cav Bn minimum in this mix.