BASRAH, Iraq – As part of the ongoing turnover of Iraqi security to Iraqi forces, U.S. military leaders in United States Division-South signed over facilities to the Government of Iraq in Basrah Province, Jan 9.
Task Force Thunderbolt, 17th Fires Brigade, leaders met with leaders from the Iraqi Army’s 14th Division and the Department of Border Enforcement’s 51st Brigade to return Camps Hutch and Area 51 located within the Shaibah Training Center.
Iraqi Security Forces will continue to use the facilities to train and operate out of as American forces continue to drawdown.
“The handover highlights Iraq’s growing confidence, capacity and capability to provide a stable and self-reliant country,” said Lt. Col. Charles Roede, 17th FB executive officer and the senior U.S. leader of the day’s events.
“The base returns do not mean we are ending our partnership with Iraqis,” Roede said. “It just means U.S. partners will not be living and working with their Iraqi counterparts twenty-four-seven.”
U.S. Forces pulled out and transferred tents and other life-support property to the Iraqis at Camp Hutch. However, American military trainers and a battery of Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment, 17th FB will remain as tenants at Area 51 until Feb. 10.
According to Maj. Jon Dyer, 17th FB engineer and brigade coordinator of the camp returns for the taskforce, these are just two of nine scheduled returns early this year.
He went on to explain the three types of facility returns: the complete return, the partial return and the return with tenancy.
Duting a complete return, U.S. forces transfer equipment to the Iraqi forces and depart from the camp, such as with Camp Hutch. Duting a partial return, American forces retain control of part of the facilities or camp.
In the case of a return with tenancy, U.S. forces return ownership of the facility to the Iraqi Government, but remain as tenants to continue to train and provide security support to the Iraqis.
The handovers provide physical proof of the progress made by American forces to adhere to the Iraqi security agreement to withdrawal U.S. combat forces from Iraqi cities, villages and localities.
“The returns serve as visible proof of the U.S. Government abiding by the security agreement,” Roede said.
These are the first of many closures under Task Force Thunderbolt, he said, and four camps were handed back to the Iraqi Government under 2nd Infantry Division.
According to a Department of Defense press release, more than 150 U.S. bases have been closed or returned to the Iraqi government since January 2008. U.S. troop strength has decreased to 131,000 from a high of 165,574 in September 2007. Additionally, more than $15 million of property has been transferred to the Iraqi Government.
Under the agreement, the U.S. will continue to reduce both number of bases and combat forces through the end of 2011.
