Have you read this in your paper? Nope. The third of five surge brigades will be coming home in the next several weeks. Umm… misson accomplished!

Approximately, 3,500 Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division are redeploying to Fort Benning, Georgia, in the next several weeks.

The 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team deployed in March 2007 to secure the Mada’in Qada in Baghdad Province east of the Diyala River.

The brigade was one of five units deployed in support of the surge.

The 3rd HBCT’s operations in Mada’in Qada helped improve the safety and quality of life for approximately 120,000 people living there. Its contributions over the last 14 months have led to improvements in security and the capture of more than 600 criminals, numerous cache finds, and a remarkably lower number of attacks in the area.

The improvements in security enabled merchants to reopen shops, and the local government to establish rule of law and employment through programs such as the Sons of Iraq.

“The 3rd HBCT, 3rd Infantry Division inherited battle space with a history of sparse security force presence prior to 2004,” said Brig. Gen. Dan Allyn, chief of staff, Multi-National Corps – Iraq. “Their aggressive efforts in partnership with the Iraqi Security Forces and comprehensive initiatives like the Sons of Iraq, successfully reduced sectarian violence and attacks against Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces, producing economic growth and restoration of essential services in Mada’in Qada.

“We are extremely proud of the Sledgehammer Brigade Soldiers, and their success in creating a safe and secure environment while instilling hope for the future within the people of Mada’in Qada,” Allyn said.

Many of the leaders in 3rd HBCT attribute their success to veterans of the Brigade. Nearly 65 percent of the Brigade’s Soldiers are serving their second or third deployment in Iraq.

“The mission given to us by Corps and Division was to interdict lethal accelerants coming into Baghdad,” said Col. Wayne W. Grigsby Jr. of Prince George County, Md., the commander of the 3rd HBCT. “I’d say we achieved mission success.”

Grigsby also feels his veterans’ professionalism was as important as their experience, bringing mentorship and confidence to newer Soldiers. This is the 3rd Brigade’s third tour in Iraq since January 2003.

The 3rd HBCT is the third of the surge Brigades to redeploy.

The remaining two brigades will redeploy by the end of July.

“The continued drawdown of surge Brigades demonstrates continued progress in Iraq. After July, commanders will assess our security posture for about 45 days and determine future force requirements based on these conditions-based assessments,” said Allyn.

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Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers killed 12 criminals and detained three in separate events in Baghdad April 20.

At 6:40 a.m., MND-B Soldiers witnessed five individuals emplacing an improvised explosive device in the Adhamiyah district. The Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment engaged the criminals as they were emplacing the IED. The IED detonated during the engagement killing three and wounding one.

Also in Adhamiyah at approximately 8 a.m., the 1st Bn, 21st Inf. Soldiers engaged and killed seven criminals carrying three PKC machine guns, three AK-47s and a rocket propelled grenade launcher. A Stryker element supporting the mission killed two more criminals carrying AK-47s on a nearby rooftop.

In another incident, Soldiers with the 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment detained two men in possession of various illegal weapons and bomb making material at approximately 4 a.m. in the East Rashid district in southern Baghdad.

“We are not initiating these engagements,” said Lt. Col. Steve Stover, 4th Infantry Division and MND-B spokesman. “Coalition forces will continue to defend ourselves against criminals who ignore the Iraqi rule of law.”

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A Multi-National Division – Baghdad aerial weapons teams killed seven criminals and Soldiers seized weapons in separate incidents in eastern Baghdad April 19.

At approximately 8:27 p.m., Coalition forces were attacked by criminals with small-arms fire. They returned fire killing one.

At approximately 8:39 p.m., in another section of the Sadr City district, Coalition forces engaged attacking criminals, killing one.

At approximately 9:40 p.m, an aerial weapons team identified four weapons crates in an open field of the Sadr City district. The AWT engaged and destroyed all four weapons crates.

In a separate incident, three criminals with weapons were identified driving a truck at approximately 10:13 p.m. in the Sadr City district of eastern Baghdad. An AWT engaged with a Hellfire missile, killing the five criminals.

“We are making a statement with these engagements,” said Lt. Col. Steve Stover, MND-B and 4th Infantry Division spokesman. “Criminals violating the Rule of Law by committing violent acts or with the intent of committing violence will be targeted.”

At approximately 8:50 a.m., Soldiers from 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment seized weapons in a fire station while conducting clearance operations in the southern portion of the Sadr City district. The weapons included more than a dozen AK-47 rifles with multiple loaded magazines, a PKC machine gun with magazines, more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition as well as various miscellaneous weapons parts.

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