The roughly 3,200 members of the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team will continue their duties at seven Iraqi locations, where they provide base defense and security, guard detainees, train Iraqi prison guards and perform headquarters and support functions.

"None of our 32nd Brigade units are assigned to missions that would be considered combat forces in cities," said Lt. Col. Tim Donovan, public affairs officer for the Wisconsin National Guard forces in Iraq.

"Some of our units do have base defense missions, but their responsibilities are well outside cities and are focused on the specific bases they are assigned to protect," Donovan said.

In Baghdad, two units totaling about 200 men and women are in charge of providing municipal and other services - including security responsibilities - in the International Zone.

The security duties are carried out "in partnership with the Iraqi army, and with some attached U.S. elements (an active duty field artillery battalion) and the IZ police," Donovan said.

Today's step is one of several involved turning control of the country over to Iraqis. How well the Iraqis handle the job will determine whether attacks by insurgents remain at a relatively low level or if they escalate to the extent that created the deadly and chaotic conditions of a few years ago.

"We're all watching this milestone with great interest, and we're hoping the Iraqi security forces are successful as they take over increasing levels of responsibility," Donovan said. "All the efforts that have been made so far can't be successful, in the end, unless Iraqis are capable of providing for their own security."

The current Wisconsin deployment is scheduled to end early next year, but a National Guard presence in Iraq is likely to continue. The chief of the National Guard Bureau, Gen. Craig McKinley, said last month that guard personnel are likely to continue serving in "peacekeeping" roles after the regular military departs.

Wisconsin citizen soldiers will be part of the effort in Iraq.

"Despite this milestone in Iraq, it is likely that the U.S. will continue to rely on the National Guard in an operational role for the foreseeable future," said Maj. Jackie Guthrie, a spokeswoman for Wisconsin Adjutant Gen. Donald P. Dunbar.