WEBVTT 00:05.940 --> 00:08.470 Yeah . Coming up on Freedom's Journal 00:08.470 --> 00:10.470 Rock , a special visitor arrived in 00:10.470 --> 00:12.690 theatre transferring authority at camp 00:12.690 --> 00:14.746 Victory . And knowing you're in good 00:14.746 --> 00:16.857 hands , those stories and more coming 00:16.857 --> 00:20.120 up next Welcome to Freedom Granola rock . 00:20.130 --> 00:22.241 I'm Army Sergeant Melissa Milan . And 00:22.241 --> 00:24.241 here's a look at some of the events 00:24.241 --> 00:26.352 shaping the region . On February 11 , 00:26.352 --> 00:28.408 Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld 00:28.408 --> 00:30.630 took a quick visit to Iraq and met with 00:30.630 --> 00:32.741 the country's top officials . He also 00:32.741 --> 00:34.630 checked the progress of how Iraqi 00:34.630 --> 00:36.797 forces were taking over control within 00:36.797 --> 00:38.963 their nation . Special co evil has the 00:38.963 --> 00:41.130 story on Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld 00:41.130 --> 00:44.970 visit . It seemed like just another 00:44.970 --> 00:47.170 day for most at landings on Washington 00:47.180 --> 00:49.013 inside the international zone in 00:49.013 --> 00:51.069 Baghdad . But that wasn't the case . 00:51.840 --> 00:54.200 There was extra security in disguise as 00:54.210 --> 00:57.110 gunship circled above . Then a fleet of 00:57.110 --> 00:59.110 helicopters seemed to appear out of 00:59.110 --> 01:01.221 nowhere carrying Secretary of Defense 01:01.221 --> 01:03.890 Donald Rumsfeld , he was visiting Iraq 01:03.890 --> 01:05.946 to check the situation on the ground 01:05.946 --> 01:08.460 and said he sees much improvement . Uh 01:08.470 --> 01:10.581 there's no question but that progress 01:10.581 --> 01:13.760 is being made in in their recruiting 01:13.760 --> 01:17.470 and organizing and uh training and 01:17.470 --> 01:19.860 equipment . When Secretary Rumsfeld was 01:19.860 --> 01:22.027 asked what impressed him the most with 01:22.027 --> 01:24.980 Iraqi and US forces , he simply stated 01:24.980 --> 01:26.924 that they were moving in the right 01:26.924 --> 01:30.040 direction . I sense that the 01:30.050 --> 01:33.150 coalition effort is well organized , 01:33.840 --> 01:37.470 uh focused and that 01:37.480 --> 01:40.920 the professionalism of these units 01:40.930 --> 01:44.510 is advancing . Secretary Rumsfeld spoke 01:44.510 --> 01:46.410 on his previous experiences had 01:46.410 --> 01:48.632 elaborated on the new progress with the 01:48.632 --> 01:51.350 Iraqi forces in the past . When I would 01:51.350 --> 01:53.350 visit various units , they would be 01:53.350 --> 01:56.270 tend to be individuals who were fairly 01:56.270 --> 01:59.960 green new in training or just out 02:00.410 --> 02:02.740 today . When the units we visited has 02:02.750 --> 02:06.290 been repeatedly in combat situations 02:06.300 --> 02:08.940 and counterinsurgency situations . He 02:08.940 --> 02:11.040 continued by saying as Iraqi forces 02:11.040 --> 02:12.984 grow into the job of securing your 02:12.984 --> 02:15.320 nation , U . S . Forces will draw down . 02:15.330 --> 02:18.560 We obviously are constantly planning 02:18.570 --> 02:22.130 and we plan at a steady state . We plan 02:22.130 --> 02:25.220 at at a state where for whatever reason 02:25.220 --> 02:28.300 coalition forces have to go up uh and 02:28.300 --> 02:31.230 we plan for a drawdown of coalition 02:31.230 --> 02:34.230 forces including ours and and project 02:34.230 --> 02:36.397 those things out . And then what we do 02:36.397 --> 02:38.508 is watch the conditions on the ground 02:38.508 --> 02:40.370 and watch the evolution of the 02:40.380 --> 02:42.750 political situation . Adding to that In 02:42.750 --> 02:44.660 his closing statement , Secretary 02:44.660 --> 02:46.882 Rumsfeld stated how long U . S . Troops 02:46.882 --> 02:49.490 would remain in Iraq . We've always 02:49.490 --> 02:51.657 said our troops are here while they're 02:51.657 --> 02:53.712 needed and not any longer . While he 02:53.712 --> 02:56.080 gave no definite timetable . He made it 02:56.080 --> 02:58.730 clear that U . S . And coalition troops 02:58.740 --> 03:01.600 will remain in Iraq until the job is 03:01.600 --> 03:04.670 finished . Specialist co level Hey at 03:04.670 --> 03:08.360 the news Baghdad coming up on Freedom 03:08.360 --> 03:10.582 Journal Iraq transferring authority and 03:10.582 --> 03:12.638 theater and the Iraqi National Guard 03:12.638 --> 03:15.260 training Slovakians and why we're here . 03:46.440 --> 03:48.830 I'm therefore Sergeant Melissa Allen . 03:48.840 --> 03:52.050 And this is why we're here 03:52.940 --> 03:55.640 Slovakian soldiers gather ammunition at 03:55.640 --> 03:59.190 a destruction site in Iraq . You 03:59.380 --> 04:02.400 know , the destruction of unexploded 04:02.410 --> 04:04.430 ordinances is part of the Iraqi 04:04.430 --> 04:06.486 military's role in the multinational 04:06.486 --> 04:07.270 forces . 04:07.280 --> 04:11.590 They 04:11.600 --> 04:13.720 destroy the found weapons to maintain 04:13.730 --> 04:16.040 order and security in South Central 04:16.040 --> 04:17.984 Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi 04:17.990 --> 04:19.240 freedom . Yeah . 04:23.190 --> 04:25.412 And they work together to make sure the 04:25.412 --> 04:26.810 mission gets done . The 04:26.820 --> 04:31.270 third 04:31.280 --> 04:33.790 day ends with a big bang one for the 04:33.800 --> 04:37.660 good guys and 04:37.660 --> 04:40.150 that's why we're here . Thanks to joint 04:40.150 --> 04:42.440 combat camera Iraq for the photos . I'm 04:42.440 --> 04:44.218 therefore Sergeant Melissa Alan 04:47.140 --> 04:48.862 on february 10th , third Corps 04:48.862 --> 04:50.973 transferred authority to the incoming 04:50.973 --> 04:53.084 18th Airborne Corps at Camp Victory . 04:53.084 --> 04:55.029 The ceremony had many attendees to 04:55.029 --> 04:56.862 include general Casey specials . 04:56.862 --> 04:59.029 Matthew coffee was there to attend the 04:59.029 --> 05:02.670 ceremony . The setting of one of 05:02.670 --> 05:05.200 Saddam's former palaces was more than 05:05.200 --> 05:07.422 enough to accommodate all the attendees 05:07.422 --> 05:09.144 at the ceremony , transferring 05:09.144 --> 05:11.460 authority to the 18th Airborne Corps . 05:11.840 --> 05:14.320 Yeah . With third quarter leaving , it 05:14.320 --> 05:16.600 looks like 18th Airborne Corps will 05:16.600 --> 05:19.310 have some pretty big shoes to fill or 05:19.310 --> 05:21.366 we've got a long history and a great 05:21.366 --> 05:23.477 history and we feel like we can build 05:23.477 --> 05:25.930 on the foundation of three core and uh 05:25.940 --> 05:27.718 carry this mission forward to a 05:27.718 --> 05:30.100 successful conclusion . The 18th 05:30.110 --> 05:32.220 Airborne Corps is ready to carry out 05:32.220 --> 05:35.080 the mission for the Iraqi people gave 05:35.080 --> 05:37.140 the Iraqi people uh , something for 05:37.140 --> 05:41.030 them to be proud of and that is the 05:41.040 --> 05:44.230 freedom uh for them to choose their own 05:44.240 --> 05:47.080 only government but their own future . 05:47.090 --> 05:50.400 That to me it was important . Uh we're 05:50.410 --> 05:53.170 doing preparation and training . I can 05:53.170 --> 05:56.060 tell that my soldiers , uh that's the 05:56.060 --> 05:58.004 reason why we're coming out here . 05:58.004 --> 06:00.060 That's the reason we trained so hard 06:00.060 --> 06:02.282 and that's our mission , we are here to 06:02.282 --> 06:04.470 do it and we're proud to be part of it 06:04.480 --> 06:06.600 and hopefully within the coming years 06:06.610 --> 06:08.721 I'll be able to tell my grandchildren 06:08.721 --> 06:11.050 hey . Well as part of that , Not only 06:11.050 --> 06:13.272 were members of the 18th Airborne Corps 06:13.272 --> 06:15.161 President , the sober third corps 06:15.161 --> 06:17.910 members and had seen both groups were 06:17.910 --> 06:20.400 impressed with the ceremony . I know 06:20.400 --> 06:22.550 the ceremony was very professional um 06:22.560 --> 06:25.360 to see the amount of distinguished 06:25.360 --> 06:27.940 visitors here and the representation of 06:27.940 --> 06:31.180 all the nations . Um The gift Iraqis 06:31.180 --> 06:33.550 presented , General Metz was a very , 06:33.560 --> 06:37.320 very sincere to actually kind of feel 06:37.320 --> 06:40.000 as a soldier . The transfer of 06:40.000 --> 06:42.430 authority Is a marking point for 3rd 06:42.430 --> 06:45.280 court And the final step for them to 06:45.280 --> 06:48.210 return home . I'm excited right now . 06:48.220 --> 06:50.442 You know you're ready to go home . It's 06:50.442 --> 06:52.498 been a long 13 months . I have three 06:52.498 --> 06:54.609 girls is waiting and nothing drinking 06:54.609 --> 06:58.430 way 18th Airborne Corps is now in place 06:58.430 --> 07:00.820 and ready to take charge . Over the 07:00.820 --> 07:03.370 next four months we can expect nothing 07:03.380 --> 07:06.600 but the mission to go forward . I'm 07:06.600 --> 07:08.870 specialist matt coffee . Hey , is the 07:08.870 --> 07:11.250 news Baghdad 07:12.840 --> 07:14.951 the patients coming into the hospital 07:14.951 --> 07:17.118 at the Light airbase . No , they're in 07:17.118 --> 07:19.340 good hands but many may be surprised to 07:19.340 --> 07:21.284 find out whose hands they are Army 07:21.284 --> 07:23.396 sergeant leave behind shows us one of 07:23.396 --> 07:25.618 the unique aspects of the hospital that 07:25.618 --> 07:27.729 make it work so well . It's a typical 07:27.729 --> 07:29.784 busy day for the 332nd Expeditionary 07:29.784 --> 07:31.840 Medical Group at the air base in the 07:31.840 --> 07:34.173 live work to be done in patients to see . 07:34.640 --> 07:36.362 But what's not typical are the 07:36.362 --> 07:38.418 caregivers at this hospital . It's a 07:38.418 --> 07:40.473 joint effort between the U . S . Air 07:40.473 --> 07:42.751 Force and the Australian defence Force . 07:42.751 --> 07:44.862 Although from different backgrounds , 07:44.862 --> 07:46.751 their level of professionalism is 07:46.751 --> 07:48.862 exceptional . They are so very highly 07:48.862 --> 07:51.029 trained . Um their experience level is 07:51.029 --> 07:53.029 so high and very impressed with how 07:53.029 --> 07:55.760 they select people for deployment and 07:55.760 --> 07:57.816 set the right person to the job . So 07:57.816 --> 07:59.927 the people that show up here are very 07:59.927 --> 08:02.260 highly skilled when they arrived and um 08:02.270 --> 08:05.240 and very very able to go to work right 08:05.240 --> 08:09.100 away save live problems . And 08:09.110 --> 08:11.930 uh and they're very very nice people . 08:11.940 --> 08:14.710 Just nice . They're coming to be with 08:14.720 --> 08:18.120 their uh it's an honor to work with . 08:18.130 --> 08:19.852 The two groups have faced many 08:19.852 --> 08:21.741 challenges together and gained an 08:21.741 --> 08:23.686 appreciation for the high level of 08:23.686 --> 08:25.852 skills and knowledge that each possess 08:25.852 --> 08:28.400 for some of the death , death without 08:28.400 --> 08:30.710 exception medical personnel I have ever 08:30.720 --> 08:32.831 worked with . And I've worked in many 08:32.831 --> 08:35.110 places , civilian and military and 08:35.110 --> 08:37.910 they're absolutely outstanding . Their 08:37.910 --> 08:39.966 time together has been valuable both 08:39.966 --> 08:42.040 professionally as well as personally 08:42.050 --> 08:44.161 were very closely aligned and lots of 08:44.161 --> 08:46.161 ways . And uh for at the end of the 08:46.161 --> 08:48.217 tour we even understand each other a 08:48.217 --> 08:50.272 little bit more facts . Yeah I think 08:50.272 --> 08:52.106 all of us have made friends here 08:52.106 --> 08:54.161 through shared experience and uh the 08:54.161 --> 08:55.994 way that people meet under under 08:55.994 --> 08:59.100 certain circumstances and uh plenty of 08:59.100 --> 09:01.500 addresses exchanged and hopefully quite 09:01.500 --> 09:03.444 a few people coming to visit us in 09:03.444 --> 09:05.111 Australia at the end of their 09:05.111 --> 09:07.111 deployment together draws near this 09:07.111 --> 09:08.889 diverse group of people brought 09:08.889 --> 09:11.056 together by circumstances . We'll take 09:11.056 --> 09:12.889 away more than just professional 09:12.889 --> 09:15.111 experiences from Iraq . We'll take away 09:15.111 --> 09:17.222 a lifetime of friendship for Alison . 09:17.222 --> 09:20.310 I'm army sergeant , lisa a lot . That's 09:20.310 --> 09:22.254 it . But it's additional freedom . 09:22.254 --> 09:24.310 General Rock . I'm ari party melissa 09:24.310 --> 09:26.532 Lauren , thanks for being with us today 09:26.532 --> 09:27.620 from all of us here have a great day .