Date unknown, Kuwait The 401st MP Company, minus their 1st Platoon who arrived with HQ Detachment 3 December 2004, arrived in Kuwait and spent their first week in theater test firing weapons at the range, receiving theater operation in briefs along with classes on Improvised Explosive Devices (IED's) and other dangers they could face in Iraq. Most of the company flew from Kuwait to Baghdad while a small contingent rode the ground convoy into Iraq. The company, originally to be assigned in the north was instead assigned to FOB Cuervo with Battalion Headquarters Detachment. Their mission is to replace the 984th MP Company (Red Dogs) from Fort Carson, Colorado.

        The 401st immediately began its equipment inventory and maintenance along with transitional training (right seat / left seat rides) with the MP’s of the 984th. Their primary mission will be reconnaissance and security patrols in the Baghdad and Abu Graib areas, and providing force support and security for the upcoming Iraqi national elections. Their quarters at FOB Cuervo were vastly improved from their previous tour in Operation Iraqi Freedom-I where they spent much of their time sleeping in the desert. 30 January, Iraqi National Election The Iraqi people gathered throughout the country to vote in their first free election in over 50 years. The Iraqi people chose representatives for the newly-formed 275-member Iraqi National Assembly. The voting represented the first general election since the United States-led 2003 invasion of Iraq, and marked an important step in the transition of turning control of the country over from United States occupation forces to the Iraqis themselves.

        The newly-elected transitional Assembly will write a new and permanent Constitution for Iraq and will also exercise legislative functions until the new Constitution comes into effect. Two parties supported by the majority Shi'a (or Shiite) Muslim community between them won a majority of seats, while parties representing the Kurdish community will also be strongly represented. Parties representing the Sunni Arab community boycotted the elections and some armed Sunni groups threatened election day violence. There were 44 deaths around polling stations in at least 9 separate attacks on election day. With a total of some 8.4 million votes cast, a 58 % turnout, the Iraqi Electoral Commission considers the election to have taken place without major disruption. Voter turnout ranged from 89 % in the Kurdish region of Dahuk to two percent in the Sunni region of Anbar.        Iraq's interim constitution, Law of Administration for the State of Iraq for the Transitional Period, requires a two-thirds majority of the new Assembly to select the new presidents, who will appoint the Prime Minister who will take office after receiving a simple majority vote of confidence from the Assembly. Eighteen Governorate Councils and a 111-member council of the Kurdistan Regional Government were also elected.

        The Battalion Headquarters Detachment (Vanguard), through Task Force Gauntlet, provided personnel and equipment to man a joint Iraq Police and Coalition operations center at the Rustafa Police Headquarters in eastern Baghdad. Members of HQ Detachment S3 (Operations) joined forces with their counterparts of the Rustafa Police force to oversee safety and security. The operations center monitored security of 591 polling sites, 58 police stations, 5 traffic control points, and 7 reconnaissance and security patrols. Battalion Headquarters also monitored and controlled the routine daily operations missions of all subordinate units outside of the special election details. In addition they prepared to conduct combat re-supply to Task Force units in the event of emergencies at any of the Iraqi police stations.

Personal stories and photographs of Battalion elements assigned to the national election security assignments. Please contact the History Project Manager via the Email Link at the top of this page.