SUPER BOWL TOSS - U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander, U.S. Central Command, gets ready to toss the coin at Super Bowl XLIII here Feb 1, 2009, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Bradley Lail

Labels: CENTCOM, General David H. Petraeus, Super Bowl, US Army

Release Date: 9/28/2007
Release Number: 07-01-03P

Soldiers of the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment “Polar Bears,” 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) discovered the cache while conducting Operation Rock Sweep V and VI.

The purpose of the mission was to target specified al-Qaeda operatives identified to be planning and coordinating attacks against Coalition Forces and concerned local citizens in the area.

While conducting the operation, Soldiers searched the targets’ houses looking for illegal weapons.

In one house they discovered a cache that consisted of three blasting caps, a ski mask, a terrorist manual which included directions on constructing vehicle improvised explosive devices, propaganda featuring the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, two cell phones and a card to activate the cell phones.

The propaganda was a small booklet featuring images of the attacks and a script praising the attacks.

“Our assessment is that these guys were getting ready to launch attacks during the Ramadan celebration,” said Lt. Thomas Ceislak, battle captain for 4-31 Inf. Regt. “We got the intelligence for this raid from earlier questioning of detainees and from tips provided by our source network”

The owner of the house was detained and is being held for questioning.

The blasting caps were destroyed during a controlled detonation and the other items are being inspected for further intelligence value.


FOR QUERIES, CONTACT THE MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION – CENTER PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT MND-CENTER_PAO-AT-IRAQ.CENTCOM.MIL OR BY PHONE AT DSN 318-822-7482 OR COMMERCIAL 912-767-4114.

Labels: "Polar Bears", 10th Mountain Division, 4-31 Infantry, 9/11, CENTCOM, Iraq, Operation Rock Sweep V, Operation Rock Sweep VI, terrorism, US Army

Adm. William J. Fallon addresses service members and other attendees for the first time as commander of U.S. Central Command. Fallon took over for Gen. John P. Abizaid at a Change of Command ceremony held at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla. Photo by Spc. Patrick A. Ziegler.


16 March 2007
By 1st Sgt. Marvin Baker
US CENTCOM Public Affairs

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Adm. William J. Fallon took charge of United States Central Command here Friday replacing the retiring Gen. John P. Abizaid.

Fallon, the former chief of the U.S. Pacific Command, now leads more than 200,000 service members deployed in CENTCOM’s area of responsibility, which includes 27 nations throughout Southwest Asia, the Middle East and the Horn of Africa.

Fallon is the first naval officer to assume command of CENTCOM, which began as the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force in 1980.

Secretary of Defense, Robert M.Gates, presided during the ceremony, paying tribute to both Abizaid and Fallon during his keynote remarks.

He thanked Abizaid and his wife Kathy for the wonderful job they’ve both done for the United States and wished them well in their retirement. Abizaid wraps up 54 months at CENTCOM as both deputy commander and commander.

Following Fallon’s review of the troops, who included members of the CENTCOM component commands, Gates talked about the admiral. He said this is Fallon’s fourth, four-star assignment after being nominated for the CENTCOM post by President George W. Bush in January and getting confirmed by the Senate in February.

“Nobody would begrudge you if you asked for a well-deserved rest but me,” Gates said to Fallon. “We need you again.”

Fallon spoke about the way ahead. He said he puts a premium on good, strong relationships. The admiral added he will work hard to make that happen, especially in the AOR.

“We have been entrusted with a great responsibility in this part of the world,” Fallon said. “And despite the challenges, we have a lot going for us. The five branches serve so well around the world, around the clock. We have the support of the American people who want us to succeed.”

Fallon began his naval career in 1967 and has an impressive list of accomplishments since then. He flew the RA-5C Vigilante with a combat deployment to Vietnam , transitioning to the A-6 Intruder in 1974. He served in flying assignments with attack squadrons and carrier air wings for 24 years, deploying to the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans embarked in USS Saratoga, USS Ranger, USS Nimitz, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and USS Theodore Roosevelt. He has logged more than 1,300 carrier arrested landings and 4,800 flight hours in tactical jet aircraft.

Fallon’s awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal.

Photo: Gen. John P. Abizaid (right) inspects the troops for a final time during the Change of Command ceremony at MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Fla., as Col. Shawn Mateer, ceremony commander of troops, and incoming commander Adm. William J. Fallon look on. Photo by Spc. Patrick A Ziegler.


Gen. John P. Abizaid (right) inspects the troops for a final time during the Change of Command ceremony at MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Fla., as Col. Shawn Mateer, ceremony commander of troops, and incoming commander Adm. William J. Fallon look on. Photo by Spc. Patrick A Ziegler.


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Labels: Admiral William J. Fallon, CENTCOM