The II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), U.S. Force - West color guard stands at parade rest just prior to the beginning of the transfer of authority ceremony in which II MEF yielded command of Al Anbar province to 1st Armored Division, U.S. Division-Center at Camp Ramadi Jan. 23. The ceremony marks the end of nearly six years of Marine command of coalition forces in Iraq. (U.S. Army photo/Spc. Kayleigh J. Cannon)

The first major indicator of the responsible drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq occurred in Ramadi Jan. 23 when II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) transferred authority of Iraq’s largest province to 1st Armored Division.

Before the ceremony, 1st Armored Division’s area of operations, as U.S. Division-Center, encompassed Baghdad and its surrounded communities. The historic transfer of authority ceremony, held at Camp Ramadi, extends the division’s reach throughout Al Anbar Province; a vast western landscape spanning more than 53,000 square miles.

The ceremony also marks the closure of a nearly six-year U.S. Marines Corps command presence in Iraq and comes at a pivotal time when U.S. forces are transferring from combat operations to stability operations.

Since its activation as II MEF (Forward) on July 2, 2008, the Marine division worked with the people of Al Anbar and tribal sheiks to help secure peace and stability for the province and all of Iraq. The efforts of II MEF (Forward) built upon the developments made during two previous Marine Expeditionary Force rotations.

“This is a pivotal moment in the history of Iraq,” said Maj. Gen. R.T. Tryon, II MEF (Forward), commanding general of U.S. Force-West.

Marines have been at the heart of almost every major Iraq campaign period since February 2004, from the early battles in an-Najaf and Fallujah, along the western Euphrates River Valley which extends from Al Qa’im to Rawah; and continuing with the pivotal Awakening Movement which many historians and diplomatic experts credit as the turning of the tide against al Qaeda in Iraq.

“Since early 2004, the U.S. Marines serving in Al Anbar have consistently exemplified their motto, Semper Fi – Always Faithful,” said Lt. Gen. Charles Jacoby, deputy commanding general for operations and I Corps commanding general, U.S. Forces-Iraq. “They have been especially faithful to the people of Al Anbar; the focal point of their mission in Iraq. Anbaris are resilient people who have sacrificed dearly but now emerge as stronger people.”

As the Marines say their goodbyes to the citizens and tribal leaders of Al Anbar, Iraqi soldiers and police officers in the region will begin working closely with 1st Armored Division, under the continued leadership of 1st Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist Brigade) who have been operating there for about six months. Army leaders with 1st Armd. Div., said they are eager to build on II MEF’s reputation; Tryon expressed confidence in their ability to do so.

“Today’s ceremony is certainly an example of continued positive change as we transition and consolidate U.S. forces under the flag of USD-C,” said Tryon. “Over the last several years, we have seen a logical and a desired progression in Anbar, moving from combat operations to counter insurgency operations, and now to stability operations.”

Tryon praised the efforts of the Iraqis and tribal sheiks in Al Anbar for their courage in standing against tyranny and violence in their streets.

“These things have not been accomplished over the course of the past several years because of what U.S. forces have done alone,” said Tryon. “Rather, these achievements are a result of what we have done together in partnership with one another and with the leadership of the Iraqi civil sector.

“We see over and again that we are at our best when we partner together to achieve our mutual objectives and goals working side-by-side, hand-in-hand,” he said,” “learning from one another in accomplishing our mutual mission.”

The casing of the II MEF colors signified completion of the Marine Corps mission in Iraq. As the Marine color guard marched their colors off the stage, the Army color guard replaced them. Maj. Gen. Terry Wolff, 1st Armored Division, U.S. Division-Center commanding general, said the accomplishments of the Marines in the region will not be in vain.

“For many of us who have served with you on multiple tours across Iraq, we’ll never forget your sacrifices and all that you have given on our behalf,” Woolf said.

He emphasized that his division will match Al Anbar’s changing environment by assisting the region’s tribal sheiks and Iraqi security forces to ensure all Iraqis in the region enjoy the security and peace they deserve.

“Today is one of those transition points in the evolution of military operations as the 1st AD and USD-C takes over responsibility for partnering with Iraqi security forces and the provincial government of Al Anbar,” said Wolff. “As we move forward, we understand the importance of this year in Iraq, and the USD-C team has dedicated ourselves to that mission and the tasks ahead.”

DVIDS
By Spc. Kayleigh Cannon

This is a very big deal, considering the terrorist problems in the region just two years ago.

Camp Ramadi was signed over to the Iraq government in a memorandum of agreement signed by Iraqi army and U.S. military officials at Camp Ali, Iraq Tuesday.

Camp Ali, which is a segment of Camp Ramadi occupied by the Iraqi army, is located about 70 miles west of Baghdad in Ar Ramadi, the provincial capital of the Al Anbar Province. The MOA was signed by Staff Brig. Gen. Adel, the commander of the First Quick Reaction Force Brigade, Iraqi army, headquartered at Camp Ali, and U.S. Army Col. Ronald Kapral, the commander of Camp Ramadi and the 81st Brigade Combat Team, Washington Army National Guard. The memorandum was a tenant agreement of sorts. It outlined the areas that will be used by Coalition forces through 2011.

The signing over of Camp Ramadi is a step toward Coalition forces pulling out and handing complete responsibility and control back over to the Iraqis.

“Signing over of Ramadi is more symbolism than it is an actual event,” said Kapral. “It shows that the U.S. military and the Coalition forces are starting to prepare to turn over and demilitarize the bases that we have been using for the past five years.

“If you look at what has been done in the past five years, the Iraqi army has started taking responsibility for their actions. They’re starting to support themselves.

“They are proving training we have given them over the past three years is starting to pay off,” Kapra said. “The Iraqi Army wants to take charge of their country, wants their bases and wants to provide the security for the people of Iraq.”

Ar Ramadi was a center of Sunni insurgent resistance in the years following the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. The area is now better known as one of Iraq’s biggest success stories.

Coalition forces took possession of Camp Ramadi, formerly known as Camp Junction City, in 2003 shortly after the ground offensive. Since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Ar Ramadi has had a handful of bases occupied by Coalition forces returned to the Iraq government. Camp Ramadi is now one of the last Coalition-only bases left in the Ar Ramadi area.

Although the signing marks a big step for the Iraqi government and leaders of Coalition forces, the majority of the troops stationed on Camp Ramadi will notice little change, if any.

“For those of us who physically live on Camp Ramadi, it really doesn’t change the normal day-to-day operations. What it does mean, from a long-term perspective, is that Coalition Forces are giving back the bases and land to the Iraqis, due to their sovereignty,” said Lt. Col. Kevin McMahan, the Camp Ramadi operations officer.

Force protection measures will not be changed. All camp improvement projects will continue. Iraqis will take a look at the buildings on Camp Ramadi to see if it is something they want to keep. The physical structures built on Camp Ramadi will either be prepared to be handed over in 2011 or torn down. Part of the agreement is for Coalition forces to put the base back to the way they found it.

The Iraqi army and the Iraqi Police have been taking control much more, as Coalition Forces have been stepping into the background.

“From my personal opinion, it is the beginning of the end. We are posturing to give back bases to the Iraqis. This will allow us to take a more supportive role,” said McMahan.

MNF-I