TIKRIT, Iraq, June 15, 2004 —The first Joint Quarterly Training Brief with the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps’ 30th Brigade and the 2nd Brigade Combat Team was held on June 13 at Forward Operating Base Dagger, according to 1st Infantry Division officials.

Maj. Gen. John R.S. Batiste, 1st Infantry Division and Task Force Danger commander, received the brief from the 30th Brigade Commander, Brig. Gen. Ahmed, his three battalion commanders and explosives ordnance division company commander. The purpose of the brief was to gain approval for the unit’s training plan for the next 90 days.

The commanding general pointed out that the 30th Iraqi Civil Defense Corps Brigade will play a critical role in Iraq’s transition to sovereignty. In the future, when coalition forces are gone, the 30th Brigade will be responsible for security in the Salah Ad Din Province and training their own forces.

In his closing comments, Maj. Gen. Batiste set a target date of Oct. 1 to have the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps in full control of security to help set favorable conditions for the elections in January.

Col. Randal Dragon, the 2nd Brigade Combat Team Commander, has been in partnership with Brig. Gen. Ahmed since the brigade combat team assumed the area of responsibility in March. The two commanders are developing the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps into a fully functional force that will be able to provide security as Coalition Forces eventually move out.

This event was a big step in bringing the Iraqis closer to being able to provide their own security and in strengthening the partnership between the 30th Iraqi Civil Defense Corps Brigade and the 2nd Brigade Combat Team.