The Red Bulls

COB BASRA, Iraq - As the 1st Infantry Division arrives and the 34th Inf. Div. prepares to depart, the sphere of responsibility is passed, but never quite as literally as when two all-female teams, one from each division, faced off in a basketball game at Contingency Operating Base Basra, Jan 24.
The game continued a tradition of friendly rivalry between incoming and outgoing units at COB Basra.
The 34th initiated the challenge, said Maj. Michelle Isenhour, of Jackson, Mich., 1st Inf. Div. signal operations chief.
"First ID is definitely going to win," Isenhour, the team's unofficial captain said before the game.
Soldiers normally experience the transfer of authority while standing in formation during a ceremony, but this tradition sought to bring them together on a more personal level, said Lt. Col. Stefanie Horvath, a 34th Inf. Div. communications officer acting as the team's captain.
"It's a tradition we set with units on COB Basra, and it turned into a different way to exchange with people," said the Minot, N.D. native.
In 2009, the 34th played a game against the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., who were preparing to leave Iraq.
The 34th, which was looking to claim a win after their loss to the 2nd BCT, lost the match with the 1st Inf. Div., 7-10.
Isenhour said that this early interaction with the 34th Inf. Div. will be beneficial for the incoming 1st Inf. Div. players.
"It's important because they've been through the experience of 'the year'," she said, "It shows that you can make it the year and still maintain a positive attitude."
Despite the loss, the game was valuable for the 34th because it helped their players slow down during the busy period of preparing for a Relief-In-Place operation and the return home, said Horvath.
"RIPs are stressful and challenging," she said. "This is a chance to do something outside the RIP. Besides, everybody knows the best part about the Army is the people."