TIKRIT, Iraq, July 2, 2004 — During a brief ceremony at Forward Operating Base Speicher June 30, the 30th Iraqi National Guard Brigade unfurled its colors and received more than 60 brand-new vehicles from Coalition Forces, according to 1st Infantry Division officials.

Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team handed over 31 Mitzubishi 2004 diesel four-wheel pickup trucks and 35 Czechoslovakian-made jeeps. Price tag for each pickup was $23,000 and $14,000 per jeep. Funding for the pickup trucks was supplied by the 1st Infantry Division with the Multinational Corps Iraq covering the costs for the jeeps.

About 150 of the 2,500 members of the 30th Iraqi National Guard Brigade were on hand to pick up the vehicles.

“This will help to more fully equip the Iraq Security Forces to do the job that they need to do here in Iraq,” said Maj. Eric C. Frutchey, officer in charge of the Iraqi Security Force for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

Based in Tikrit, the 30th Iraqi National Guard Brigade umbrellas three separate Iraqi National Guard battalions which provide security for the region.

Two pickup trucks can carry an 11-man guard squad with the option of mounting a machine gun in the bed of the vehicle.

Frutchey said by having four-wheel drive pickups for the rough desert terrain, the Iraqi National Guard has higher mobility.

“They are efficient and reliable,” he of the pickups.

Col. Randal A. Dragon, commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, said it was “certainly a good day” to have the 30th Iraqi National Guard Brigade and its battalion colors unfurled.