Team Beef has completed its mission and is on the way home.

The Iraqi Army unit we have been living with, the 1st Tank Regiment, has been deemed "capable" and will no longer have a dedicated adviser team.

Over the past year their progress has been amazing, although at times we were frustrated with the rate of change. For the last month we have been working with a newly created Iraqi infantry battalion while we prepared to redeploy.

Our replacements, "Team Vegas" will live with this new battalion, and I'm sure they will enjoy the same level of success. The new battalion is eager to have its own American adviser team and is excited about its mission.

When we first arrived a year ago, the Iraqi Army was largely confined to static security positions and checkpoints.

While they did occasional missions, they mainly pulled guard duty and checked cars on the highways. Now, our IA unit routinely conducts "offensive" or "intelligence-driven" operations against insurgent groups.

They cultivate sources and act quickly on the information. Over the past year they have, with the partnered U.S. units, slowly eliminated the enemy's safe havens. They have enjoyed repeated success and secured every area they've been assigned to.

While EIDs and suicide bomb attacks still occasionally occur in the battalion's area, each attack results in several insurgents being quickly detained and their network further unraveled.

The remaining insurgents are beginning to use a disturbing tactic, using mentally disabled women and brainwashed children strapped with explosive vests to attack targets. This technique, while effective at causing sensational, mass casualty attacks, is proving to be so disturbing to the populace that it is enabling rapid gains by the security forces.

Simply put, Iraqis are so disturbed by these types of attacks that they are eager to help defeat them.

A year ago we would have to rely on a trickle of information and piece together bits of the puzzle to eventually determine who was responsible for large strikes. Following a major attack now, the information about the culprits flows readily and results in several insurgents being immediately detained.

Not only was our team re-assigned to cover a new battalion, but our battalion commander, Col. Ali, had completed his tour and was reassigned.

He had commanded the battalion for over two years and had served with four adviser teams in his career. He asked me to relay some information in this article on his departure:

"I am proud to have commanded the first tank unit in our army and the first unit equipped with the T72 tank. This regiment has been successful since we began operations three years ago.

"Our unit has done successful missions in Baghdad and other provinces around the country and played a key role in establishing security and protection for the populace.

"Together with the American Army we have helped establish public services, our own government, and return displaced families to their homes.

"All of our accomplishments have been with the assistance of the coalition forces and our advisers. When this regiment started, it was small and has fought through all kinds of issues.

"No matter how many people, or how little equipment we had, we've accomplished every assigned mission. We have fought many enemies and always won.

"No matter if it was Jaesh al Mahdi, al-Qaida, or Jaesh al Rashdini, we have fought all of our nation's enemies. Now we have grown and are ready to conduct every assignment.

"Whether we are detaining insurgents, protecting schools, helping hospitals, delivering supplies or helping the people resolve their differences we can do all of this and it is because of the help of our friends, the Americans."

He continued, "I would love to thank the families of the sons who have served in Iraq and helped us get our country back on its feet.

"I especially thank the advisors who have helped the Iraqi Army get established and provided lots of new training and equipment to fight our common enemy. Especially al-Qaida in Iraq, who does not discriminate in their attacks on our people.

"The U.S. Army has done an outstanding job leading the Iraqi Army to victory. I hope that the population of America understands what their sons are doing here.

"They are building lasting relationships between our people and helping us defend ourselves. They are making the difference here.

"I would especially thank every American who has a husband or son who has helped our unit -- the 1st Tank Regiment in our army. We will never forget those who have supported us over the years."

For those who doubt our efforts here, Col. Ali's sentiments show the real will of the Iraqi Security Forces.

They are proud of their accomplishments, their independence, and will work towards their future. Throughout the year I have written about our missions, the capabilities of the Iraqi Army, and the nature of the insurgency.

Our hosts have shown that they are capable of improving and they understand the fight they are in. We are proud of living and working with them for the year and will never forget them.

Finally, I would like to thank the people there who cared enough to read my often poorly written articles. I appreciate your caring about what is really going on here.

I would also like to thank the families of our team (aka "The Herd"), for their support, packages, and unconditional love that allowed us to accomplish our mission here without worry.

Lastly, my team, which has accomplished too much to write about. I have never served with a more dedicated group of professionals faced with such a herculean task. These guys have indeed made this a year to remember.

Moore of Sun Prairie was leader of a military transition team in Iraq. This is the final of his semi-regular columns.