Capt. Mark Terwilleger, 67th Forward Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Fires Brigade signed over the JSS to Maj. Jabbar Juma Abid, 3rd Company, 3rd Battalion, 32nd Iraqi Army Brigade.
“We celebrate today the occasion of receiving JSS Ezdehar at Shaykh Sa’ad from the Coalition forces and the handing over of the security and the responsibilities to the Iraqi Armed Forces who are represented by the 3rd Company,” said Lt. Col. Majid Feza’d Sekhi, 3rd Bn., 32nd IA Bde. commander. “We hope this is a charitable beginning of our Armed Forces, establishing a new prosperous and stable Iraq and continuing dignity under the umbrella of the new democratic government and the sovereignty of law,” added Majid in his speech during the ceremony.
“One year ago today, the Soldiers of the Deep Strike battalion deployed into the Iraq theater of operations, ready to take on whatever challenges lay in front of us, but ultimately uncertain of our mission, our role and most importantly what conditions we would face,” said Lt. Col. Timothy Bush, 2nd Bn., 20th FA Regt., commander. “Today, exactly twelve months later, we take a brief moment to celebrate the spirit of the Iraqi people, specifically our brothers in the Iraqi Army,” added Bush.
The Soldiers of 67th FSC took over control of the JSS in August 2008 after the Georgian Army pulled out of Iraq. The Iraqi Army joined the the JSS operations in the days that followed.
“Today, ten months later, we depart not as strangers, but as brothers,” said Bush of the partnership between the two armed forces. The 3rd Battalion, 32nd Iraqi Army Brigade now controls and manages two joint security stations from which they will continue securing and patrolling the areas surrounding the JSSs. JSS Mutanabe was handed over to Iraqi control May 28.
“In my capacity as the commander of the battalion and whose responsibility of the JSS falls under my command, I pledge before God and the audience that I will do my best to maintain the security and stability of this city and all the cities within the area of my responsibility,” said Majid.
The last joint security station that 2nd Bn., 20th FA Regt., has Soldiers partnered with Iraqi Security Forces is scheduled to be handed over within the next couple of weeks.
