Dear Interested Reader,
Concertina wire being removed from streets of Baghdad. 66th Engr. Co. partners with inf. soldiers to clear caches, while large weapons cache seized near Salman Pak. English school books are delivered to the Ministry of Ed. Sunni & Shiite meet with IA to resettle displaced citizens in Hurriyah. Over 3,000 Iraqis including 58 females join the ranks of IP in Kirkuk, as logistics effort gains momentum in Rustimayah.
Joanna
_______________________________
Sept. 25, 2008
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
NPs, MND-B Soldiers clear Baghdad streets of concertina wire
BAGHDAD - Sept. 18 in the 9 Nissan district of eastern Baghdad, a combined effort of NPs and Soldiers from Co C, 2nd Bn, 30th Inf Regt, 4th BCT, 10th Mtn Div, traveled through various areas in Beladiyat, removing the wire from the streets.
Feedback from area residents on the removal of the wire has been positive. "The people are really happy about it," said Muhammad. "It's a sign of progress for the people." Seeing the wire come down has brought a level of reassurance to the people in the community that things are getting better, he said. It helps make the people feel safer.
Sgt. Steven Burke, assigned to Co C separates concertina wire. IP lead the effort to remove the wire that attracted trash and presented a security risk on Beladiyat streets.
(Army photos by Sgt. Grant Okubo)
An Iraqi girl offers a cup of lemonade to 1st Sgt. Brian Disque, senior enlisted leader.
An IP gathers wire for removal.
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Engineers partner with infantry Soldiers to clear caches
CAMP TAJI - On the east bank of the Tigris River, Sept. 14, near Camp Taji, northwest of Baghdad, a mission was conducted by a platoon with the 66th Engr Co, along with a squad of infantry Soldiers assigned to Co B, 52nd Inf Regt, attached to 1st Bn, 27th Inf Regt, both units from 2nd Stryker BCT, 25th ID. Joining them were two canine teams from the 34th MP Detachment.
This mission was not typical for a plt. from an engr. co. Their major responsibility is extracting IEDs and other ordnances from tactical routes. "Normally, we'll assign a squad to do a cache search with inf bns," said 1st Lt. Darell Coffey, plt leader, 66th Engr. Co. "They would serve as subject matter experts and bring their mine detectors and have an assigned section to search. But this time, we took our whole plt out there to do the cache search ourselves."
"Our primary role as engrs. is route clearance," said Staff Sgt. Matthew Best, plt sgt, 66th En Co. "Every day we clear roads for eight to 10 hours. Our guys need a change of pace, and it also helps the infantry clear more of their battle space of any weapons."
The engr Soldiers took the cache-clearance mission head on, overcame many obstacles and learned lessons to apply for future ops.
"You have limited access because of buildings and houses. A lot of vegetation gets in the way, which limits your advance; you have canals you need to cross and dusty weather limits your air assets," Coffey said. "But because this was the first mission of its type, we can assess all of these factors and know more fully how to deal with them for next time."
Sgt. Paul Spaniel, assigned to the 66th awaits the signal to start his advance into an area during a cache search.
(Army photos by Sgt. Whitney Houston)
Spc. Justin Roesch, assigned to the 66th walks in an open field of soy plants with his mine detector searching for weapons caches.
Spec. Alex Trinidad, who is an infantryman assigned to Company B, pulls security while Soldiers from the 66th conduct a weapons cache search.
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MND-B Soldiers deliver English school books to Ministry of Education
BAGHDAD - With a new school year approaching, MND - Baghdad Soldiers are reaching out to the schools in northwest Baghdad as part of a School Partnership Program.
Soldiers from the 2nd BCT, 101st Abn Div. (AASLT), delivered more than 10,000 English language teaching aids and supplies to the Ministry of Education (MOE) in northwest Baghdad, Sept. 23 for future distribution to schools throughout the region.
The supplies were donated after Capt. Casey Plamann, with Co A, 432nd CAB, currently attached to the 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div., reached back to his home in northeast Wisconsin, where he is a school teacher, to stimulate interest and request support for the program.
"What we talked about with the Iraqis was getting educational materials to aide in their English instruction," said Plamann. "So what better way to do that than through American English text books?"
"I am very glad and happy to have these books in my schools and our facilities," said Dr. Nehad, with the Iraqi MOE, upon receiving the books. "I am glad the students of Iraq will be able to learn from these. Not only learning language or science, but also culture from other countries like America. We hope in the future this cooperation will be
in all Iraq, and not just Baghdad. Hopefully in the future, this relationship will continue to grow, not just with fixing schools or bringing books to us, but to have educators from the United States visit us," he said. "We hope in the future we gain a higher level of learning."
"We are looking to establish communication between the teachers in the States and the teachers here in Iraq to go beyond the brick and mortar concept of just building the school," said Plamann. "We want to actually establish the communications and help with their curriculum over here so that the students will learn and understand with cohesiveness. With the security and stability that we are seeing right now, I think this program is very important as a step ahead toward normalcy in Iraq," Plamann said. "I think we are taking giant steps forward in returning this country back to normalcy and one of the best ways to do that is through youth education."
Capt. Casey Plamann talks with Dr. Nehad prior to delivering English language teaching aides.
(Army photos by Staff Sgt. James Hunter)
Soldiers from the 2nd BCT, and Iraqi MOE officials look at English language books.
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Sunni, Shiite meet with Iraqi Army to resettle in Hurriyah
BAGHDAD - Under the watchful eye of the IA, and local leaders, the displaced civilians of Hurriyah are being encouraged and ushered back to their own homes.
Brig. Gen. Semeer, Iraqi cmdr. met with more than 20 leaders from Hurriyah and Tarmiyah Sept. 23, at FOB Justice to discuss the options available to those displaced, encourage them to pass info along to others and promote the progress already made in getting families back into their homes.
Local leaders, both Sunni and Shiite, gathered and shared ideas with Semeer. The leaders voiced concerns of many potential problems which may prolong the resettlement process. The primary concern for the families is security.
The IA is prepared to assist in the families' return. "We appreciate the help from the IA, Iraqi SF and CF," said Sheik Mahmud, Imam of the Um Al-Qura Mosque, who is one of those displaced. He anxiously waits for the day when he can return to and call Hurriyah home.
So far in September, 275 families have returned to Hurriyah and 333 families have returned to Gazaliyah, said Semeer. Throughout the area as a whole, nearly 900 families have returned this month, with the past 2 weeks being incident free.
"The road ahead," said Semeer, "it isn't easy for us. It is very difficult and dangerous." He also said he is confident that once more people begin to return to their homes, the job will become easier and will strengthen the community. He encouraged everyone to help spread the success stories of those who have returned, to local television and radio stations, in order to bring as many home as possible.
The combined efforts of Sunni and Shiite, civilian and military, and young and old alike are bringing a sense of normalcy to Hurriyah. The continued message of unity from community leaders will motivate more to join resettlement efforts and help build a better Iraq for the future.
One of the many displaced citizens speaks with Brig. Gen. Semeer.
(Army photo by Dan Martin Jr.)
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Over 3,000 Iraqis graduate into the Kirkuk province's Police Force
KIRKUK - Over 3,000 Iraqis including 58 females joined the ranks of the Kirkuk province's police force during a graduation ceremony held at the Kirkuk Police Academy, Sept. 23.
"This is a historic event for the people of the Kirkuk province," said Maj. Gen. Jamal Baker, Kirkuk provincial police chief, referring to the unprecedented number of male and female recruits graduating. "This is the direct result of the combined efforts of our Coalition friends and the Ministry of the Interior."
The provincial police chief elaborated further by pointing out key MND-North military leadership in the audience to include: Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, comm. gen. of MND-North and Task Force Iron; Brig. Gen. James C. Boozer, Sr., dep. comm. gen.-ops MND-North and Task Force Iron; Brig. Gen. Tony Thomas, asst. div. cmdr-support MND-North and Task Force Iron; and Col. David Paschal, cmdr., 1st Bde, 10th Mtn. Div., who Jamal said he considers among a brotherhood.
The police chief credited the recent gains in security throughout the province to this brotherhood whose main concern is for the people of the Kirkuk province and providing "security and stability in this region for them." Jamal thanked God for the additional men and the inclusion of women to his police force.
Over 3,000 Iraqis, including 58 females, joined the ranks of the IP force.
(Army photos by Staff Sgt. Margaret C. Nelson)
Kirkuk Police Academy recruits pass-in-review in front of their Provincial Police Chief Jamal Baker and Comm. Gen. Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling.
Over 3,000 recruits, including 58 females, joined the ranks.
Kirkuk graduates wave their berets in celebration.
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MND-C Soldiers secure weapons cache near Salman Pak
FOB Hammer - Soldiers from 2nd BCT, 1st Armored Div, secured a weapon cache near the town of Salman Pak, Sept. 18.
An Iraqi citizen reported that he knew the whereabouts of a weapons cache to Soldiers at COP Carver. The Soldiers found a weapons cache containing 60 25 mm high explosive rounds, 23 82 mm mortars, 12 60 mm mortars, and a 60 mm mortar tube. EOD control detonated the explosives.
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Doctors, dentists keep IA fit to fight
CAMP TAJI -
2nd Lt. (Dr.) Bahaa Sabree, a dentist at the Taji Level II Clinic West, performs a root canal on an Iraqi soldier, Sept. 23. The Iraqi dentists perform services from minor teeth cleaning and fillings to root canals and minor dental surgery for Iraqi soldiers.
(Army photos by Staff Sgt. Gary Hawkins)
Sgt. Maj. Absh, administrator for the Taji Level II Clinic West, explains record keeping progress of clinic's day to day activities learned from the partnership with the CF.
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Rustimayah logistics effort gains momentum
RUSTIMAYAH - There is no lack of activity inside the Level III Maintenance facility in Rustimayah. IA maintenance technicians are busy changing tires, repairing carburetors, fixing fuel pumps, doing body repairs, and even welding, a big turnaround compared to a year ago.
"I think the biggest impact that we have had is just to be able to teach them certain maintenance procedures, such as balancing tires, repairing alternators, checking engines, and testing them," stated Chief Warrant Officer Norman May, with the 3rd Sustainment Command's 168th BSB, 1st Sustainment Bde. "Instead of ordering all new parts and just putting all new parts out, we are getting them into the process of thinking about trying to make the part last longer, recondition it to save them time and money."
The battery shop has been the biggest highlight of the entire Level III maintenance facility when it comes to saving money. The few simple techniques they taught have saved the GOI thousands of dollars every year as they simultaneously increased the number of batteries available in the supply system.
"Once a battery was dead, they would take the metal out of the batteries and use it for welding while throwing the remainder of the battery into the trash," said Chief Warrant Officer Simone Clarke, a Logistics Training Advisory Team member, from the Fort Sill-based 168th. "The battery shop (now) recharges and shows them how to care and maintain their batteries ... how to put in the acid, distilled water, rebuild, and recharge their batteries."
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