Moving

The news media is reporting that Stryker Brigade is moving from Samarra to Mosul. The first forward units left Saturday morning for Mosul. 121 men and women drove from Samarra to Mosul without incident. Ten convoys have been attacked along this route in the past several weeks.

Samarra has a population of 210,000 and between Stryker Brigade and the 4th ID had a coalition over watch of approximately 30,000 troops. Mosul, Iraq's third largest city, has a population of 1.2 million. The 101st Airborne is being relieved by Stryker Brigade. The 101st is going home. They were one of the first units to move into Iraq when fighting started. The coalition force in Mosul will be reduced drastically when Stryker Brigade moves in. The 101st has been doing the job with 25,000 troops - Stryker Brigade has 5000.

A Brigade spokesman said that their mission is to work themselves out of a job. The Brigade will be handing over a little more control to local Iraqi units every week. The intent is to have Mosul self policing before June's scheduled handover of sovereignty to a new provisional Iraqi government.

The SBCT is excited about the move - hot showers, hot meals and a roof over their heads (and hopefully easier communication with home).