Capt. Adam Ropelewski, commander, Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment, signs over control of Joint Security Station Mutanabe to Capt. 'Ali Abdual Zaharra Hussain, 4th Company, 3rd Battalion, 32nd Iraqi Army Brigade, at a transfer ceremony, May 28. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson, Multi-National Division-South.

FOB DELTA

Capt. Adam Ropelewski, commander of Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Fires Brigade, signed over the JSS to Capt. Ali Abdual Zaharra Hussain, commander of 4th Company, 3rd Battalion, 32nd IA Brigade.

"The U.S. forces leaving this base are giving the opportunity to the Iraqi forces and the 4th company to take their place and to take complete control of this base which indicates a new era for the Iraqi armed forces," said Lt. Col. Majid, 3rd Bn., 32nd IA Bde. commander.

"This also indicates the strength of the Iraqi Army in fighting the terrorists and the people who cause harm to this country and we thank the American forces for all their efforts at this base," added Majid.

The Soldiers of Btry. B took over control of the JSS in August 2008 after the Georgian Army pulled out of Iraq.

"Today, ten months later, we depart not as strangers but as brothers," said Lt. Col. Timothy Bush, 2nd Bn., 20th FA Regt., commander. "Through ten months of living together, training together and operating together, we are not two armies, but we are one team who have provided security and stability to the people of Badra district.

"We are leaving the JSS in accordance with the security agreement, but we will never step away from our friends and we will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you against our common enemies," Bush added.

The troops of 2nd Bn., 20th FA Regt. remain partners with Iraqi Security Forces at two other stations. Those are scheduled to be handed over within the next month.

(By Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson, Multi-National Division-South)