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Brigade prepares for 'advise, assist' mission.

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M2 PRESSWIRE-5 November 2009-US Army: Brigade prepares for 'advise, assist' mission(C)1994-2009 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

RDATE:03112009

FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- As the 3rd Infantry Division's 1st Brigade prepares for its fourth deployment to Iraq, its Soldiers are getting lessons in the art of leading from behind as they help to set the stage for the eventual drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq.

The "Raider Brigade" was part of the initial U.S. invasion into Iraq, and returned for two more deployments, in 2005 and 2007. Now, Col. Roger Cloutier, the brigade commander, calls it fitting that his Soldiers will serve as one of four new "advise-and-assist" brigades tailored specifically to support Iraqi security forces.

Cloutier spoke to American Forces Press Service about the new mission last week as his troops wrapped up their month-long rehearsal exercise at the National Training Center here. The rotation was their last major training before they deploy next month to assume a role unlike any they've had before in Iraq.

"This rotation was less about 1st Brigade, 3rd ID, going out and doing the combat missions, and more about us advising and assisting our Iraqi partners in doing that," Cloutier explained.

"Our mission is by, with and through our...

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