Active Unit News

3rd BCT: Dispatch from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team
The entire brigade has arrived in Iraq. We are operating in and around the north-central region of Iraq, including the towns of Tikrit, Ad Dawr and Samarra. Tikrit and the surrounding areas are considered Saddam Hussein’s hometown and there are many reminders of the control and influence that he had when he was in power. For instance, the building where we have our headquarters had numerous pictures of the former dictator on the walls. Also, along some of the major strips there were pictures of Saddam in various poses on billboards and hanging from streetlights. The pictures and other regime memorabilia reminded me of a U.S. town decorated for the holiday season — only there was no holiday. Most of the reminders of the old regime are now gone. We have been involved in a variety of military operations. Recently, most of our efforts have been based on stability and support operations. The various units in the brigade have been conducting security patrols to re-establish law and order in the community. In many cases, this has been conducted hand-in-hand with local law enforcement. Additionally, we have been meeting with civic leaders to assess how we can help the Iraqi people and how they can help themselves. This task involves evaluating financial institutions, legal systems, health care facilities, public educational systems, fire department resources and utility facilities. These are all critical tasks that will help the Iraqi people get back to a more normal, comfortable and stable way of life. The general reception from most of the people has been positive. As soldiers enter and leave urban areas, they often are greeted with waves, thumbs up and “Victory” or “peace” signs. Morale remains high and I think all of us are seeing the utility of the vigorous training we conducted prior to deployment. The equipment is in great shape and allows us to accomplish all of our demanding missions. The soldiers of the brigade remain positive and focused on accomplishing the missions assigned to us. As this dynamic situation develops, we continue to change to meet the challenging and diverse requirements. We would like to send a hello to all our family and friends. Best wishes to you all and thanks for keeping us in your hearts and prayers.
Very Respectfully,
Capt. Kory Brendsel
3rd Brigade Combat Team

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