Signals of success:

Marines support Iraqi Army in Ninewa sweeping operation

 

SAHL SINJAR, Iraq – As Brigadier Gen. Rasheed, commanding general of the 3rd Iraqi Army’s 11 th Brigade, looked down over the open expanses of Ninewa Province, his soldiers swept through towns looking for insurgents and evidence of criminal activity. The operation rendered the capture of several high-value individuals and improved the security of the region. But, ask Capt. John S. Kinitz, assistant operations officer for 1 st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and he’ll explain that another success could be seen from the hilltop.

“I think we need to be proud of just how far Coalition Forces have come from the initial push into Iraq in 2003 to where we are now in 2009,” said Kinitz, 31, from Bethlehem, Penn. “Here are the Iraqi Security Forces, ready to take charge and take over security for their country.”

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Berserkers rejoin 1 st LAR in Ninewa Province

 

SAHL SINJAR, Iraq – As Marines of 1 st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Task Force Ninewa helped support Operation New Hope, a mission to target anti-Coalition and Iraqi Security Force activity near Mosul, Company B, 1 st LAR Bn. rejoined their battalion after several months of operating in other parts of Iraq.

“After the new Status of Forces Agreement was approved, we act as more of an enabler for the ISF to conduct their missions,” said Capt. Dominique B. Neal, commanding officer for Bravo Company. “We have done our part and now it’s their turn and they are doing a magnificent job.”

Company B spent much of their deployment conducting missions in Anbar Province and Madaysis before joining 1 st LAR Bn., which has been conducting reconnaissance and security operations in Ninewa Province for more than 100 days now.

“It is good to be amongst LAR companies again and now we are back in the tempo, following trace of what the battalion has been doing for many days now,” said Neal, 33, from San Francisco. “The Marines of this company have done an outstanding job and have seen Iraq from the Jordanian and Saudi Arabian border to now, all the way up near Syria.”

One of those Marines is Cpl. David R. Burkhalter, a scout with Bravo Company.

“Whenever you operate in a new place, there are certain things that change from one mission to another,” said Burkhalter, 20 from Marian, Tx. “Since we’ve been up here, we have conducted a lot of patrols and movement in the open desert. It’s good to be back with our battalion and we plan to do our job the best we can.”

Part of that job will be to coordinate with ISF over the next few weeks so they can have a greater effect on security, explained Neal.

“They have many checkpoints and patrols in the cities, and the Iraqi people have responded well to that sense of security,” said Neal. “That leaves LAR to do what it does best and that is conducting reconnaissance operations out forward of [other units].”

After many days and thousands of miles, Marines of Company B will continue to do what they do best, said Neal.

“There are some challenges in moving from place to place, but that’s the bread and butter of LAR. We can pick up and go to wherever the Marine Corps needs us, and do the job well.”

For more information on the ongoing mission in Iraq, visit http://www.mnf-west.usmc.mil.

(Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Dean Davis)

SAHL SINJAR, IRAQ – Cpl. David R. Burkhalter, a scout with Company B 1 st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion patrols through a remote village in Iraq’s Ninewa Province.“Whenever you operate in a new place, there are certain things that change from one mission to another,” said Burkhalter, 20 from Marian, Tx. “Since we’ve up here, we have conducted a lot of patrols and movement in the open desert. It’s good to be back with our battalion and we plan to do our job the best we can.”

(Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Dean Davis)

SAHL SINJAR, IRAQ – Lance Cpl. Wade Haffey, a scout with Company B 1 st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion coordinates movement through a small village of northern Iraq. Company B spent much of their deployment conducting missions in Anbar Province and Madaysis before joining 1 st LAR Bn., conducting reconnaissance operations in Ninewa Province for more than 100 days.

 

(Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Dean Davis)

SAHL SINJAR, IRAQ – Lance Cpl. Ivan A. Hernandez, a scout with Company B 1 st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion talks with a local villager about security in his village in northern Iraq. As Marines of 1 st LAR Bn., Task Force Ninewa helped support Operation New Hope, a mission to target anti-Coalition and Iraqi Security Force activity near Mosul, Company B, 1 st LAR Bn. rejoined their battalion after several months of operating in other parts of Iraq.

 

(Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Dean Davis)

SAHL SINJAR, IRAQ – Lance Cpl. Wade Haffey, a scout with Company B 1 st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, dirty from patrolling, enjoys a cup of chai during a meeting in a small village of northern Iraq. Company B spent much of their deployment conducting missions in Anbar Province and Madaysis before joining 1 st LAR Bn., conducting reconnaissance operations in Ninewa Province for more than 100 days.

“It is good to be amongst LAR companies again and now we are back in the tempo, fallowing trace of what the battalion has been doing for many days now,” said Capt. Dominique Neal, commanding officer of Co B. “The Marines of this company have done an outstanding job and have seen Iraq from the Jordanian and Saudi Arabian border to now, all the way up to near Syria.”

 

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Marines secure city for Iraqi transition

Sgt. Dean Davis

1 st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion

Multi National Force-West

 

BIAJ, Iraq – Operating from a small compound on the outskirts of Biaj, Military and Police Transition Teams have been assisting Iraqi Security Forces take control of their area with the help of a small detachment of Marines from 1 st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion.

With a team of less than 20 men, the only Marines in the area have maintained a presence that helps not only soldiers here accomplish their mission, but the Iraqi people to enjoy security in an area where few U.S. forces have been, explained Sgt. Ernest C. Browne IV, designated marksman with 1 st LAR Bn.

“It is a great privilege to be the only ones operating in a battle space that has been almost completely untouched by Marines,” said Browne. “While the rest of our battalion and Marine forces as a whole have moved out of urban areas, it has been a unique opportunity for us to have tactical employment in some of Iraq’s northern cities.”

Partnership with the Iraqi Security Forces in the area has also allowed this small unit a look at how other services are handing responsibility over to the Iraqis, said Browne.

“This has been an awesome opportunity to have the chance to work with some of the leadership from the Army,” said Browne. “Their role here has caused some big changes in the efficiency of the Iraqi Army and it’s been a pleasure to work with them.”

Because they are an independent team, the Marines must use their down time to conduct classes and rehearsals on their own, explained Staff Sgt. Jack Smith, operations chief for Headquarters and Service Company, 1 st LAR Bn.

“We are always busy with weapons and training to stay at the ready. We afford the Military Transition Teams the opportunity to look in while we are looking out, allowing them to do their job knowing that their back is covered,” said Smith. “Being an independent platoon is great. What we are doing here just shows that the ISF are taking their country back.”

As the Iraqi Security Forces take over the area the Marines will remain for now, until the mission is done, said Browne.

“Every time we go out we learn something. This is a great chance for my Marines to take in what can be learned in urban operations and our role here shows just how far [Coalition Forces] have come as a whole,” said Browne. “These men have represented the Marine Corps to its utmost, and made way for the Iraqi Security Forces to take the lead.”

For more information on the ongoing mission in Iraq’s Al Anbar province, visit www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil/iimeffwd.

 

For more information or contact MULTINATIONAL FOrCE – WEST PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE AT  CE_PAO_WATCH_OFFICER@CEMNF-WIRAQ.USMC.MIL

(Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Dean Davis)

BIAJ , IRAQ – Lance Cpl. David J. Klindworth, a rifleman of 1 st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion looks out over Biaj from a guard tower on the Military Transition Team compound here.With a team of less than 20 men, the only Marines in the area have maintained a presence that helps not only soldiers here accomplish their mission, but the Iraqi people to enjoy security in an area where few U.S. forces have been.

(Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ernest C. Browne IV) 

BIAJ , IRAQ – Cpl. Dennis Merritt, a scout with 1 st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion watches over Coalition Forces patrolling through Biaj from a roof-top observation point here. Operating from a small compound on the outskirts of Biaj, Military and Police Transition Teams have been assisting Iraqi Security Forces take control of their area with the help of a small detachment of Marines from 1 st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion.

 

(Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ernest C. Browne IV)

BIAJ, IRAQ – With a team of less than 20 men, the only Marines in the area have maintained a presence that helps not only soldiers here accomplish their mission, but the Iraqi people to enjoy security in an area where few U.S. forces have been, explained Sgt. Ernest C. Browne IV, designated marksman with 1 st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. “It is a great privilege to be the only ones operating in a battle space that has been almost completely untouched by Marines,” said Browne. “While the rest of our battalion and Marine forces as a whole have moved out of urban areas, it has been a unique opportunity for us to have tactical employment in some of Iraq’s northern cities.”