Commander's Update, January 21, 2007
2/12th Cavalry
James Nickolas, LTC, Commanding Officer
21 January 2007
COL Dingeman,
I wanted to give you a SITREP having completed our first month of combat operations.
We’re still operating under the 1st Cavalry Division in Baghdad, but we have been detached from our parent brigade, 4th BCT, 1st CAV, and are now attached to the Dagger Brigade, 2/1 ID, out of Germany. Our parent brigade is conducting operations in Mosul.
Our first fight was to piece together our equipment set from 5 different units in multiple locations, the farthest being from Ramadi. The operational readiness of this fleet delayed our relief in place / transfer of authority approximately 10 days. Although delayed, the Soldiers and NCOs managed to get us into fighting shape 5 days earlier than anticipated.
We fell in on a great group of Soldiers in the Tomahawk Battalion, 1-23 IN, 2ID, out of Fort Lewis. They did an outstanding job helping us get our feet on the ground operationally and logistically. Not only did we put together our equipment set, we also had to find and resource battalion and company headquarters facilities. Every other battalion in the division did a one for one exchange with units from the 4th ID. As the odd man out, we replaced a Stryker battalion on the ground, but they remained under 1CD control.
As we began conducting operations in our zone, the locals certainly noticed our arrival. 1-23 IN is a Stryker battalion and we rolled out into the zone in a combination of M1A2 tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Up-Armored HMMWVs. Not vehicle bound, we also began conducting extensive dismounted patrols throughout our zone.
Our initial operations have already positively impacted our AO. We’ve seized several major caches of mortars, 155 rounds, and IED and VBIED making materials. The majority of our operations have been joint missions with our partner battalion, 4/1/6 IA. LTC Sabah and his men know how to fight. We’ve already been under fire together on numerous occasions.
This past week, we executed a first in Baghdad since the initial invasion. We established a new combat outpost in the heart of our AO. A joint venture, we’re living side by side with some of our Iraqi Army brothers-in-arms. We can execute combined patrols directly into our AO, as well as, teach, coach and mentor the Iraqi officers, NCOs and soldiers on a day-to-day basis.
The CSM keeps after our NCOs to uphold the standards and by all accounts, they have done a tremendous job. Soldier morale and discipline are excellent. Our young lieutenants have all been through their initial firefights and are turning into experienced veterans. With the Good Lord keeping a watchful eye on us, we’ve only experienced some minor injuries.
Attached are some photos from our initial operations. I’ll send another SITREP next month. Until then, we remain, ALWAYS READY,
THUNDER 6
LTC Jim Nickolas
Commander
2/12th Cavalry