CONTENGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq – First Infantry Division staff leaders from Fort Riley, Kan. are currently visiting their counterparts, the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, at Contingency Operating Base Basra to conduct a pre-deployment site survey.
The 1st Inf. Div. will assume command of Multi-National Division – South from the Red Bulls in a transfer of authority ceremony scheduled early next year.
“We are coming to gather information and watch how the 34th is doing business,” said Lt. Col. Jim Patterson, deputy operations officer, 1st Inf. Div. “Then, when we come in here and assume their mission, we will be able to operate pretty much in the same way that they did.”
Maj. Tony White, officer-in-charge, division automated management office, 34th Inf. Div., said the visit is giving both divisions a good opportunity to plan for what they can expect when it comes time to hand over MND-S operations.
The visit to Basra is also giving the 1st Inf. Div. the knowledge of how they should set up their headquarters during their pre-deployment training operations to be a more realistic representation of in-theatre operations, Patterson, a Fort Riley, Kan. resident said.
“They are asking all the right questions,” said White, a Battle Creek, Mich. resident. “You can tell by the questions they are asking that they have thought hard about what they need to do to be successful here.”
First Inf. Div. staff leaders participated in work groups, meetings and battlefield update briefings to become better prepared to deploy to Iraq.
“We will make sure they have everything they need when they arrive here to replace us and we won’t leave until they do.” said White.
From what he has seen of Basra, Patterson said he is convinced Basra will be a nice place when he and the rest of the Big Red One personnel take over MND-S headquarters in early 2010.
“We have been welcomed here with open arms,” Patterson said. “It has been a great experience so far working with the 34th Red Bulls.”
