Infantrymen take over responsibility for supporting operations to rebuild Afghanistan.
By Army Spc. Jeremy Todd
4th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs
FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, Afghanistan, Nov. 30, 2006 — The soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, have trained the past two years for this moment -- the chance to prove to their country they are willing and able to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.
The infantrymen met their moment during a transfer of authority ceremony conducted Nov. 17 at Forward Operating Base Warrior.
The 2-30th soldiers relieved another battalion of infantrymen based at Fort Polk, La. The Warriors of 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, were scheduled to depart for their home base soon after the ceremony.
The 2-30th infantrymen will serve with Task Force Spartan alongside fellow 10th Mountain Division soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team. The 3rd BCT, from which the Task Force derives its name, forms the task force main body.
The ceremony, punctuated by the casing of the 2-4th Infantry colors and the unfurling of the 2-30th battalion colors, officially transferred authority for Ghazni Province to the incoming Wild Boars. Ghazni Province is roughly the size of Maryland.
Army Lt. Col. Ronald Metternich, the incoming battalion commander, said his soldiers are more than prepared to take over this area of responsibility.
“We are committed to protecting the people of Afghanistan and we will stay here as long as that takes,” Metternich told soldiers and guests attending the event.
He recalled telling families during the deployment ceremony preceding the mission that “the battalion colors would soon run high in the foreign skies, and until they return to know that their soldiers are doing their part on the global war on terror. Now that the colors are flying high…let’s get on with it.”
Metternich expressed confidence in his soldiers’ ability to accomplish the mission. He also praised their loyalty, which he said was demonstrated by their volunteering to do their part in fighting the war on terror when many would not.
The incoming commander said it is his responsibility to listen to the concerns of the district leaders and, ultimately, the people of Ghazni Province. He also pledged to build on predecessors’ reconstruction efforts.
“There are Provincial Reconstruction Teams spread throughout the country,” he said, “and we will continue to support their operations in rebuilding the infrastructure of Afghanistan.”
Metternich said he hopes the people of Afghanistan know he and his soldiers are here to help and support the Afghan government
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