The transfer of authority (TOA) from the previous units to our task force and the Brigade Comabt Team (BCT) occurred yesterday.
These occasions were marked with a casing of the colors ceremony and uncasing  of the collors ceremony on each level. The BCT ceremony was much more interesting. There was an Iraqi translator translating the ceremony for the Iraqi guests who were present.Â
I think that it is great to see the Iraqi government take shape the way it has. One of the benefits of returning to Iraq for a second deployment is that I am able to see the progress that is being made on all fronts. Are there problems? Yes, but isn’t there problems with other democracies? Especially with the attention from the enemy and the opposition to this war there has been added pressure here–that is probably uncommon of new democracies. The Iraq people are doing very well. The American Soldiers are helping this to happen.Â
It is good to be apart of something great and historical.