FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq — Third Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment hosted a visit by retired Gen. Jack Keane, former Army vice chief of staff, at Patrol Base Assassin near the town of Narwahn on Aug. 8.
Keane visited the Troop A, 3-1 Cavalry, command post before proceeding to the four-corners area. The four-corners area is named for a main intersection between Jisr Diyala, Narwahn, Baghdad, and FOB Hammer. The intersection is surrounded on all corners by a bustling marketplace. During the past month, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team has been building up checkpoints at each corner to improve security for the shops surrounding the intersection.
Keane visited the Iraqi National Police responsible for the security of the commercial zone. He continued his tour by visiting several shop owners to gain awareness of the area.
Upon completion of the tour, Keane went to FOB Hammer to meet with the brigade leadership. At Hammer he received briefings about ongoing operations and projects in the brigade’s area of operations.
According to Capt. Aaron Schwengler of Bismarck, N.D., the brigade’s current operations officer, among the topics discussed, Keane spent the majority of his time talking about Jayaish Al-Mahdi influence and Iraqi Security Forces capability in the brigade’s area of responsibility.
“Gen. Keane wanted to understand what the standards were for the ISF and if they were being met,” Schwengler said.
The 3-1 Cavalry is assigned to the 3rd HBCT, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning. The 3rd HBCT has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom V since March.
Riley is a reporter with the 3rd HBCT Public Affairs
Keane visited the Troop A, 3-1 Cavalry, command post before proceeding to the four-corners area. The four-corners area is named for a main intersection between Jisr Diyala, Narwahn, Baghdad, and FOB Hammer. The intersection is surrounded on all corners by a bustling marketplace. During the past month, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team has been building up checkpoints at each corner to improve security for the shops surrounding the intersection.
Keane visited the Iraqi National Police responsible for the security of the commercial zone. He continued his tour by visiting several shop owners to gain awareness of the area.
Upon completion of the tour, Keane went to FOB Hammer to meet with the brigade leadership. At Hammer he received briefings about ongoing operations and projects in the brigade’s area of operations.
According to Capt. Aaron Schwengler of Bismarck, N.D., the brigade’s current operations officer, among the topics discussed, Keane spent the majority of his time talking about Jayaish Al-Mahdi influence and Iraqi Security Forces capability in the brigade’s area of responsibility.
“Gen. Keane wanted to understand what the standards were for the ISF and if they were being met,” Schwengler said.
The 3-1 Cavalry is assigned to the 3rd HBCT, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning. The 3rd HBCT has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom V since March.
Riley is a reporter with the 3rd HBCT Public Affairs