1-35 Armor Regt. Leaders Meet Jisr Diyala Nahia Council Members

Lt. Col. Ricardo Morales, from El Paso, Texas, commander of the 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment, introduces himself and key members of his staff to leaders of the Jisr Diyala Nahia Council, April 28. (photo by/3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment)

By Pfc. Evan Loyd
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armor Divison

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – The commander of 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment, introduced himself and key members of his staff to leaders of the Jisr Diyala Nahia Council, April 28.

Lt. Col. Ricardo Morales, from El Paso, Texas, stressed the need to maintain positive momentum and continue working closely with the council as the 1-35th Armor Regt. takes responsibility for operations in Jisr Diyala.

The meeting took place as part of a planned transition between 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment to 1-35th Armor Regt.

The 1-35th Armor Regt. is assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armor Division, which will take responsibility of the Mada’in Qada from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team.

The Jisr Diyala Nahia Council – comprised of local and Iraqi security force leaders and local business managers – has enjoyed a good working relationship with 3-1st Cav. Regt. for the past 14 months, said 1st Lt. Kellan Blithe, from Paso Robles, Calif., fire support officer for 1-35th Armor Regt.

“Members of the Jisr Diyala Nahia Council expressed a desire to see city ordinances enforced, as opposed to early times when they were unwilling to or perhaps frightened to enforce them,” Blithe said. “It’s exciting to see council leaders take the initiative to better the community.”

The 3-1st Cav. Regt. is assigned to the 3rd BCT, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March 2007.