Dear Interested Reader,
There is a nice variety of informative stories, such as the Civil Service Corps taking root in Kirkuk Province. Reconstruction is going full steam ahead to improve infrastructure in Tarmiyah. Vocational technical grads renovate and expand their training facility. With security and stability at hand, the IA is starting ethics training, based on our Army code. A panel discussion was held for Iraqi women to attend the first Basic Intel Military Course! Several AQI networks are disrupted, and terrorists detained.
Joanna
_________________________
Sept. 19, 2008
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Medic helps keep Husayniyah residents safe
CAMP TAJI, Iraq -
Cpl. Charles Haygood, a combat medic assigned to Co A, 1st Bn, 27th Inf Regt, 2nd Stryker BCT, 25th ID, is followed by a mother and her daughter while he patrols through the Husayniyah Nahia, northeast of Baghdad, Sept. 7.
(Army photo by Staff Sgt. J.B. Jaso III)
Cpl. Haygood ensures the safety of residents celebrating Ramadan in the Husayniyah Nahia.
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Civil Service Corps takes root in Kirkuk Province
KIRKUK - Kirkuk Province recently celebrated the commencement of 3 new Civil Service Corps. On Sept. 14, Hawijah celebrated the start of a new CSC and the next day, 2 started in Dibis.
"The CSCs are intended to provide the necessary training, education and skill that will allow the graduates to seek and attain good paying jobs and to begin the hard task of rebuilding Iraq village by village, city by city," said Lt. Col. Kevin Hudie, cmdr., 3rd Bn, 6th AR, 10th Mtn Div, at the Dibis commencement ceremony.
The CSC program is patterned after a U.S. depression-era job program known as the Civilian Conservation Corps designed to put young men back to work. What makes the program unique is that all of the apprentices are former SoI members who have been credited for the significant security gains in the Kirkuk Province.
The Hawijah ceremony was held at the Hawijah Farmer's Union building and was attended by Lt. Col. Christopher Vanek, cmdr. 1st Bn, 87th Inf Regt, 10th Mtn Div as well as Abu Saddam, the district council chairman.
"This is a very important day for us...security and the economy is rising. This is a chance to start a new life. These men are learning for the future. We are going to keep making Hawijah better, and better, and better," said Abu Saddam.
This new contract will teach Iraqi men trades that will build infrastructure in Hawijah, according to Capt. Kurt Rudeselli, 1st Bn, 87th. Trades taught will be electrical, plumbing, sanitation, and canal maintenance.
On the heels of the Hawijah ceremony was the Dibis CSC commencement ceremony, which represented 2 separate contracts that will employ 215 CSC apprentices. "The Dibis CSC were designed from many discussions with the Dibis City Council, the electrical power plant and the Northern Oil Company to meet the future construction needs of both the electrical and oil industry that are major employers with the Dibis district," said Hudie. The former SOI members will receive training in carpentry, masonry and electrical work under the General Construction contract. Under the Industrial contract, the students will receive training in electrical motor-generator repairs, welding, electrical line repairs and industrial plumbing.
"We thank the American people for their investment in Iraq and in its people," said Hadi Mustafa, the Dibis Mayor, during his address to guests.
Sabah Hussein, Al Zaab co. dir., Mayor Sabhan, Hawijah mayor, Abu Saddam, Hawijah District council chairman, and Lt. Col. Christopher Vanek, cut the ceremonial ribbon at the Hawijah Farmer's Union, Sept. 14, reigning in the new Civil Service Corps.
(Army photo by Maj. Sean Wilson)
Sabah Hussein, Mr. Hadi Mustafa, the Dibis Mayor, and Lt. Col. Kevin Hudie, cut the ceremonial ribbon reigning in 2 Dibis Civil Service Corps.
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Six suspects detained after IED strikes NP patrol in northern Baghdad
BAGHDAD - Six suspects were detained in connection with an IED attack against an Iraqi NP patrol, Sept. 16. An Iraqi citizen notified the Sha'ab Joint Op Center about the location of those suspected to be responsible for the attack in northern Baghdad.
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Reconstruction improves Tarmiyah infrastructure
Sgt. Whitney Houston
CAMP TAJI - Reconstruction projects are underway to return essential services like schools, potable water, sewers and banks, to the region of Tarmiyah, northwest of Baghdad.
"The bottom line is that increased capacity is what every Iraqi needs right now," said 1st Lt. Eric Peterson, plt. leader assigned to Co A,1st Bn, 14th Inf Regt, 2nd Stryker BCT, 25th ID. "Their infrastructure has decayed a little bit because of conflict over the years, so we're trying to counteract those effects by really getting into these reconstruction projects as heavy and as hard as we can to give them this capacity."
A major focus has been placed on completing education buildings first.. "We have 17 school projects going on right now," he said. So we're hustling right now to finish up the school projects; then we'll get more involved with services like water, electricity and sewage."
Reconstruction funding is provided through the Iraqi Cmdrs. Emergency Relief Program. Using this program allows the local govt to get money for projects quickly and efficiently. It also allows them to help in the planning process, hire local contractors and mitigate corruption. CF gather weekly with local govt officials to ensure everyone is on the same page and ensure the project is going smoothly, Peterson said.
"The people are very happy about the projects," said Jassim. "This year, we've had a lot of projects which have helped us very much. CF and the GOI have enabled us to give our people jobs, and a decrease in terrorism shows the people are backing the projects. God willing, our city will continue to improve."
A glass cutter marks a sheet of glass before making his cut . The glass is for an agricultural bank, which will aid area residents. Currently, the nearest bank is located in Baghdad.
Newly painted walls and a restored staircase stand ready for the opening of the new agricultural bank, scheduled to open later this year.
First Lt. Eric Peterson discuss progress of recent contracts in the area with Abid Mehseh, a member of the Tarmiyah Qada council and director of engineers.
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Vocational Technical Grads Renovate, Expand Their Training Facility
Many of the electricians, carpenters and masons working to renovate the Iskandariyah Vocational Technical School in Babil Province south of Baghdad are graduates of that facility and know first hand the value of the job-training skills being taught there.
USACE photo and story by Alicia Embrey.
ISKANDARIYAH — The $4.5 million project involves renovating seven school dormitories that will house up to 1400 students, as well as classrooms and the auditorium. Iraqi engineer Ali Edreise with the Gulf Region Division said, “After Iraq’s liberation in 2003, the school was ransacked and looted,” explained Edreise. “The furniture, doors and windows were stolen and the rooms had no water, electricity, or working restrooms. The renovations will allow students from outside the area to attend classes and learn new skills.”
“Prior to 2007, Iskandariyah Votech was able to offer only one course with about 30 students in attendance,” Edreise said. “Today, the curriculum includes 18 classes with over 1,250 students enrolled. When the final phase is completed in December, the votech will be able to house and educate over 4,000 students each year.”
The curriculum includes classes in computer ops and maintenance, sewing, hair care, welding, auto mechanics and body work, electrician fundamentals and carpentry. The project is located in Babil Province, about 50 km south of Baghdad.
More than 638 infrastructure projects have been completed in Babil, Karbala, Wasit, al Qadisiyah, and an Najaf over the past year. These include roads, schools, water treatment facilities, electrical distribution improvements, and primary health care clinics.
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Iraqi Army Surging Ethics Training
BAGHDAD — The IA wants every Iraqi Soldier to receive ethics training just like he receives marksmanship or drill and ceremony training.
Since 2003, the primary focus for the Iraqi Army has been building the force. Getting Soldiers trained to fight took precedence over many other military functions. Iraqis came from all locations and all walks of life to join the fight to secure their country from terrorists. Every one of those Soldiers brought a unique set of values with him: personal values, family values, community values and religious values. Creating a culture of ethical behavior means that each Soldier must now learn and accept IA values.
Those core values are the same as the U.S. Army’s: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and courage.
Unifying ethical standards in a force of more than 150,000 Soldiers cannot be done haphazardly or in a reactionary fashion. The Center for Military Values, Principles and Leadership Development is tasked with creating ethics training doctrine for the Army and providing ethics training for the Soldiers.
Army values and principles is just one of the five blocks of training CMVPLD covers. In addition, Soldiers learn; role of the military in a democracy, law of armed conflict, military professionalism and leadership. “We would like to expand the values and the principles to all of the IA from the Jundi to the senior level,” said IA Staff Brig. Gen. Mohan, director of CMVPLD.
The decline in violence in Iraq has given the center some breathing room to push training out to the field. Mobile training teams are visiting all the Basic Combat Training locations as well as the four military academies. “According to our plan, no one will graduate without getting the training in 2009,” said Mohan.
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Iraqi Security Forces Assist Family Returning From Syria
By Capt. Mark Miller
Iraqi NP help a local Iraqi family returning to their home in the Risalah community of the Rashid District of southern Baghdad, Sept. 15, 2008.
Photo by Capt. Mark Miller, 1st BCT, 4th ID
FOB FALCON — As Iraqi SF and MND – Baghdad Soldiers dismounted their vehicles for a security patrol in the Rashid District, a family waited alongside a road in the Risalah neighborhood. A displaced family, returning from Syria with all of their worldly belongings, sat anxiously on the road in southern Baghdad looking for someone to help them get back to the home they left 2 years earlier.
On the morning of Sept. 15, upon seeing the dismounted patrol of NPs and MND-B Soldiers, Hatim Suod, the father of the family, jumped from the curb and greeted Staff Brig. Gen. Bahaa, cmdr. of the 5th Bde., 2nd NP Div. The Iraqi man quickly explained his situation and requested assistance.
“We left two years ago when our family was receiving death threats,” Suod explained. “It wasn’t safe here.” When Bahaa asked if the man was returning to his community as a result of the reduced violence, Suod replied, “Yes, the situation is better here now, and I feel it is safe to bring my family back to our home.” Bahaa responded quickly, ordering his NPs to bring a truck up to the side of the road and assist the family loading up their belongings.
The assistance provided by the Iraqi NP seemed second nature to them as they helped the Iraqi family load their belongings in the back of their patrol truck. “We always help returning families when they come to us for help,” said Bahaa. “This helps build trust among the people.”
As Suod moved to load the last of his family’s things into the trucks, the NP opened the door for his wife and sister. The children quickly followed, and the whole family was on their way back to their own home. They were happy to be returning home and showed their gratitude for the assistance they received with warm smiles and handshakes.
As families return in response to reduced violence and return to normalcy, the resettlement efforts are assisted by local neighborhood councils and support councils in addition to the assistance provided by ISF.
“All of the Iraqi security forces are willing to provide assistance like this,” Bahaa explained, referring to the cooperative relationship the Iraqi NP have with the IA as well as security volunteers. “We have to work together and help these people as one force.”
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Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Phoenix Base
APO AE 09348
MoD hosts women’s military intelligence panel (Baghdad)
BAGHDAD – A group of American intel specialists held a panel discussion, Sept. 18, for the first class of Iraqi women to attend the Basic Military Intel Course.
“We are in awe of your willingness to take your place in the Iraqi SF,” said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Mary Legere, MNF-Iraq dir. for intel. “You will, along with the men and women of the Iraqi SF, work with us to take the fight to the enemy.”
Legere and 5 other women on the panel discussed the challenges they faced during the last 2 decades in the field of military intel. Several of them were the first women to arrive at their respective commands in the 1980s.
During a question and answer session, they offered the new recruits some technical insights gained from their years of experience with intel practices and processes. “Know that what you are doing is really important to your country and you really are a part of the future,” said U.S. Army Maj. Italia Carson, an advisor to the Intel Transition Team.
“This week marks an important event for the new Iraq as we begin training women in the intel specialty,” said Steve Bond, director of the Intel Transition Team at Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq. The important message we want to send is that the Iraqi SF are becoming stronger and women are a part of that.”
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MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
PRESS DESK
BAGHDAD, Iraq
Coalition forces strike several al-Qaeda networks (Baghdad)
BAGHDAD – In Bi’aj Sept. 18, 130 km southwest of Mosul, CF captured 3 wanted men believed to be associated with an AQI organization facilitating the entry of foreign terrorists into Iraq.
Two separate ops Sept. 17 and Sept 18 in the vicinity of Sharqat, 90 km south of Mosul, netted 3 suspects believed to be AQI liaisons.
Another operation Sept. 18 in the Sharqat area resulted in 3 detainees believed to have info about a terrorist who places IEDs along highways in eastern Iraq.
Four detainees were apprehended during an op Sept. 18 targeting AQI leaders in the Bayji area, 160 km south of Mosul.
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