Brigade transfer of authority marks reduction in forces: "A transfer-of-authority ceremony between the 17th Fires Brigade and 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division was held in the chapel on COB Basra June 17, 2010.
The ceremony marked a significant reduction of forces in Iraq as Col. Steven Bullimore, 17th Fires Brigade commander, relinquished control over operations in Basra Province to Col. James Rainey, 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division commander. With the departure of the 17th Fires Brigade, the number of maneuver brigades in U.S. Division-South drops from three to two."
