XVIII Airborne Takes Lead Role in Iraq

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By Sgt. David Foley
Army News Service
February 11, 2005

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Lt. Gen. John R. Vines of XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, N.C., took command of Multi-National Corps-Iraq Feb. 10 in a transfer of authority ceremony Feb. 10 at Camp Victory's Al-Faw Palace near Baghdad.

Outgoing MNC-I Commander Lt. Gen. Thomas Metz and his III Corps troops will return to Fort Hood, Texas.

In another Transfer of Authority ceremony a day earlier at Camp Victory, III Corps Artillery of Fort Sill, Okla., and 3rd Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group from Fort Hood handed over their role in the Joint Fires and Effect Team to the XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery of Fort Bragg and 18th Air Support Operations Group from Pope Air Force Base, N.C.

Vines and the XVIII Airborne Corps have been working with Metz and III Corps for the past few weeks preparing for the transition, and both teams agree it has gone smoothly.

Gen. George Casey, Multi-National Force-Iraq commander, also attended the ceremony and said, "There is never a good time to make a change of this magnitude, but right on the tail of a watershed historical event, is not a bad time either.

"This transfer of authority is the first in a year of critical transitions for Iraq," he said.

Other transfers will include the transfer from the interim Iraqi government to the Iraqi transitional government, the drafting and adopting of an Iraqi Constitution and the elections of an Iraqi government, which will take place at the end of 2005.

The year will also see the transfer of the counter-insurgency campaign to Iraqi security forces, who have been preparing to become more independent in fighting the anti-Iraqi forces.

"Now let there be no mistake about it, each of these transitions and the coalition's role in them is singularly focused on helping Iraq secure the liberty it gained on the 28th of June and that it cemented on the 30th of January," Casey said.

"All of these transitions will be in some way dependant upon the great XVIII Airborne Corps team that General Vines has built," he said. "We welcome the Corps and it's associated units, and we wish them all the best in the year ahead. The future of Iraq and America's significant national interests here rest squarely with J.R. Vines and his team. And I am confident they are up to the task."

Casey said part of what gives him so much confidence in the XVIII Airborne Corps is what he has seen III Corps accomplish in the last year.

"Members of the Phantom Corps, you have made and incredible difference here in Iraq over the past year, and it culminated in the elections on the 30th of January."

While passing the torch to Vines, Metz said he is proud of the job his Soldiers did in Iraq and he has confidence the XVII Airborne Corps will continue the mission successfully.

Metz said he is departing with more confidence than ever that a "free prosperous Iraq that lives by the rule of law and does not harbor terrorists" is in the very near future.

"There are few people wearing the uniform who have personally done more for the Global War on Terrorism than you," Metz said to Vines, "and there is no other commander to whom I would rather have given the colors to."

"Thank you for the truly superbly prepared troops," he said to Vines. "They are truly focused and ready. And thanks ahead of time for the successes you will have in Operation Iraqi Freedom."

Vines said he has been watching with professional admiration as III Corps and coalition forces battled their way toward a free Iraq and said the mission was a "masterpiece of tactical excellence."

"I watched General Tom Metz, who was an absolute textbook example of leadership under pressure," he said. "He never lost sight of his objective, which was to give the citizens of Iraq the opportunity to choose their own destiny and it was absolutely brilliant.

"As General Metz, the Phantom Corps and other members of the great coalition --represented by many nations and all our services who passed those colors tonight -- head back to your home countries for a well-deserved rest, go with the knowledge that you have done something great and noble," Vines said. "Go with the knowledge that the citizens of Iraq admire and appreciate what you have done for them. And on behalf of the coalition and the citizens of their nations, I say "Thank you. Well done.'"

I am looking for a web site that i can place my sons profile and photo on so people can send him messages he is now at Fort Bragg NC BUT WILL SOON BE GOING TO IRAQ