The light at the end of the tunnel is finally getting brighter everyday as we near the end of our tour. The men of Baker Company continue to stay busy while conducting FOB security and preparing for turnover to our replacement unit. Morale is high and everyone is excited as we continue to send soldiers on leave. We have also been privileged to have the time to finally utilize the gym and get back into shape. Currently, Baker Company's basketball team remains undefeated during the battalion's basketball tournament and expects nothing less than to take the championship.

Summer has slowly started creeping back in our region and we can finally start packing away our cold weather gear (praying we will never use them again here). With the extreme heat, comes along the nuisances of flies and fleas, but with the abundance of care packages that contained anti-insect repellant, we're ready to combat this event. We continue to receive care packages from family and friends, and with your continued support, this year has become more bearable and has always reminded us that there are people back home that continue to support our effort.

As we transition to our new mission cycle, we can look back at all our accomplishments and know from the bottom of our heart that we assisted in building a new Iraq with free people. But the job here is long from being over. Even though the fighting has diminished considerably compared to our first 6 months, insurgent activities are still present and pose a danger to all Coalition Forces. A few leaders from Baker Company were prestigiously chosen to help train a large group of the New Iraqi Army and the future of a peaceful Iraq will soon be in their hands. The New Iraqi Army has shown great promise during their training and has started to conduct presence patrols. The faster we train the new Iraqi Army, the sooner all Americans can come home.

1LT Rommel P. Aquino
3rd Platoon Leader