CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq — Transition teams throughout southern Iraq attended a conference June 12, at Contingency Operating Base Adder.

The conference provided a forum for transition team leaders to establish new relationships, share best practices and receive guidance from the commander of 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division. The BCT deployed to Iraq last month as the first “Advise and Assist” Brigade to complete specialized Stability Operations training and be given the job of helping train Iraqi Security Forces.

“You all have the hardest jobs,” said Col. Peter A. Newell, commander, 4th BCT, 1st Armored Div. “Our mission success is based on the ability of the Iraqi Security Forces to accomplish their mission. You are the tip of the spear in paving our way to going home.”

Phi Beta Iota: The Counterinsurgency and Stabilization Operations Center (COINSOC), along with every part of the Army capable of contributing, such as the Strategic Studies Institute, one of the nation's most precious objective think tanks, are beginning to hit their stride.  We have zero inside knowledge, but all indications are that if the military gives up the idea of bringing all the old gear back, we can be out of Iraq before summer 2012.