TOA

Transfer Of Authority - This is a BIG deal!!! This is the equivilant of a two star change of command. The 4ID tranfered control and authority of all military units inside Baghdada proper to us, the 1CD and everybody who is anybody was there. Not only were all of the required military people there, but all of the local and regional Sheiks were also there and getting them all there, passed all of the security checkpoints was no small feat.

As a symbol of how far we have come, here is our National Colors along with the Iraqi National Colors in the same colr guard during the ceremony. Additionally, the color guard is mixed with US Soldiers and Iraqi Soldiers. Quite a site.

Every military ceremony has to have general officer flags and this was no exception. There were both US and Iraqi generals present during this transfer.

And no proper miltary unit worth its salt goes anywhere without its band. Here, the 1CD band entertains before and provides music during the ceremony.

After the ceremony, all of the local sheiks and generals say goodbye to the outgoing Commander and hello to the incoming one.

Some of the local leadership.

At Fort Hood, before we left, and expertly chronicled by Household 6, the Division held a Casing Ceremony where we put the division colrs away ans we would uncase them when we arrivved in Iraq. This was that ceremony. Here, the Division Commander waits for the Division Colors to be lowered so he can pull the case off and announce the Division's arrival.

Here he is actually pulling off the case. This was somewhat emotional because I actually saw them being cased and now this is the other half of the process.

Here they are, blowing proudly along side the National Colors of the two countries.

Once we officially took over, all of the old 4ID look had to come down and we had to make the place home. This is the front door of the office building where I work. Notice the Iraqi Soldier that happens to be in the picture.

Recently, the local Baghdad government presented the Command, Multi-National Division Baghdad (MND-B) with the Eagle's Head statue that now sits proudly and prominently just outsid ehte front door.

As we continue to make the building ours, we had to bring in some of the Cavalry tradition. Here is Trigger and this carpet that normally sit inside the foyer of the Division HQs at Fort Hood.

All in all a very good day. "First Team - Team First, Live th Legend!!!"