Forward Operating Base Falcon, Iraq- The United States overall forces and those forces of the U.S. led Coalition are preparing to leave Iraqi, in a gradual and planned method.One of the issues that has remained is the staffing of the different security checkpoints. These are checkpoints that were often vital in the past, and they will continue to provide security even after U.S. Forces have departed.
The last checkpoints on the Airport Road to Baghdad International Airport were recently handed over to Iraqi forces quietly on January 24th. The forces from the Iraqi Police took operational control from the different units of the United States Military that had been dealing with and maintaining the checkpoints for the last several years.
Members of the 1st Brigade Combat team and their Infrastructure Coordination Element were responsible for the building and planning of the nine different checkpoints on the Baghdad Airport road and worked to restructure and rebuild the highway itself.
With the support of the Iraqi Government the highway was rebuilt in 2008 to meet international highway standards and stands as one of the shining examples of what cooperation and hard work can accomplish.
