Col. A’amer Khamees Hameed, commander of the 1st Brigade, 1st National Police (NP) Division, Maj. Gen. Riyadh, commander of the 9th Iraqi Army Division, and Gen. Kareem, commander of the 1st NP Div., step over a freshly killed sheep before a meeting between leaders of the 1/1 NP brigade and the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Nov. 13, at the 1st NP brigade headquarters in Salman Pak. Stepping over the sheep is a cultural practice believed to bring good luck. Photo by Sgt. Natalie Rostek, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs.

COMBAT OUTPOST CLEARY

“This meeting is the first step in all three directions,” Hameed said through a translator.

The leaders met at the 1st NP brigade headquarters in Salman Pak, to welcome the new commander. Hameed took command of the unit in early November, assuming command from Brig. Gen. Hassan.

“Our purpose here is to observe the transfer of authority,” said Lt. Col. Jack Marr, from Minneapolis, commander, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment. “When Col. Hameed meets with his battalion commanders, he will get an impression of the readiness of his brigade.”

Maj. Steve Delgado, from Los Angeles, the executive officer of the 1-15th Inf. Regt., said the meeting also affords the regiment the opportunity to strengthen the rapport, communication and trust with the unit’s Iraqi counterparts.

“Every joint effort improves our communication and helps us establish common standards when working together to disrupt and destroy insurgents and to secure the populace,” Delgado said. “The more we communicate, the more we strengthen our personal and professional relationships. The more we do that, the better our joint operations become.”

During the meeting, the group discussed future joint operations involving Iraqi and Coalition forces.

Hameed’s battalion commanders encouraged their new boss and offered advice on how to run the brigade.

“Rely on God,” one NP battalion commander said. “Always do the right thing and you will be fine.”

Hameed said his plan is to isolate terrorists and separate them from the citizens of Salman Pak.

“Terrorists cause a lot of problems,” he said. “They interfere with the people’s personal lives, and they are always trying to recruit.”

The 1-15th Inf. Regt. is assigned to the 3rd HBCT, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March.

(Story by Sgt. Natalie Rostek, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division)

In Other Recent Developments Throughout Iraq:

•           TIKRIT — Iraqi Army and Police units involved in Operation Iron Hammer discovered weapon caches containing more than (2,900) liters of nitric acid, a car bomb factory, and more than (340) mortar and artillery rounds of various caliber in addition to large quantities of military equipment in the al Jazeera desert, Western Salah ad Din Province, Nov. 10.

•           BAGHDAD — Coalition forces killed (25) suspected terrorists and detained (21) suspects, four of whom were wounded, late Tuesday and early Wednesday during operations targeting senior terrorist leaders in central Iraq.