Dear Interested Reader,
Progress continues as military and provincial leaders responsible for reconstruction efforts in N. Babil participate in a conference to review progress and look to future success; medical clinic in Mosul gets much needed supplies; Iraqi NP perform 1st BN clearing op in E. Rashid; Patrol Base Warrior's Keep transitions to IA; many terrorists and criminals arrested, as well as weapons caches seized.
Joanna
______________________________
Oct. 23, 2008
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Conference reviews progress, looks to future success
FOB KALSU - Military and provincial leaders responsible for reconstruction efforts in North Babil participated in a brigade-level Civil Military Ops Conference here Oct. 16 and 17.
The meeting comes 12 months into the deployment of 4th BCT, 3rd ID, giving its civil affairs reps a chance to reflect on accomplishments made over the past year. Using lessons learned, they will be able to pass on knowledge for their replacements to build upon in the future. "Everything we do here is a continuum," said Maj. Kimberly Peeples, dep. team leader for the North Babil ePRT.
The North Babil ePRT is a group embedded with military civil affairs to assist with rebuilding projects in the area. It brings stability to the local population by helping with construction projects, education, local economy and governance. The meeting offered the ePRT to meet with 4th BCT assets, members of the U.S. Agencies for Int'l Development and the Corps of Engineers.
The conference was split into 2 days to cover topics in both governance and economics. During this span, the parties involved discussed the GOI budget, project management, capacity building, the province's finances and funding, ongoing projects and contracting.
"The benefit (of this meeting) for me was to get situational awareness as to what the current operating picture for civil military ops looks like cross the entire brigade area," said Maj. Rich Brown, civil affairs co. cmdr. of Co B, currently under the 403rd CA Bn. Brown's co. will arrive in Babil in the coming months, and he said his future goal is to leave this area in even better condition than he receives it..
"At our level (the key) is just empowering the Iraqis and doing some basic things we know best, which are leadership, community development, decision making, you know, just some basic skills that the
Army is really well poised to do," Peeples said.
Military and provincial leaders responsible for civil affairs ops listen to a presentation.
(Army photos by Staff Sgt. Michel Sauret)
1st Lt Richard Churak, an asst. civil affairs officer for 2nd Bn, listens in on a presentation.
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Medical clinic gets much needed supplies
MOSUL - A medical aid drop took place at Somer Medical Clinic in the Mosul neighborhood of Al Somer, Oct. 18. IA Soldiers transported nearly $20,000 worth of medical supplies and office furniture purchased from the local economy to help the 90 plus staff members at the clinic.
"A list of needed supplies came directly from the clinic," said SSgt. Jon. C. Anderstrom, civil affairs team
NCO-in-charge, Co C, 415th CAB. Computer equipment, desks, stethoscopes and chairs were some of
the much needed delivered items. "Many things that we have are broken," said Dr. Taher, the clinic's
head doctor. "Everything which was brought today is needed, including the water dispensing machines." He said many times in the heat of the summer days doctors at the clinic do not have cool water available.
"This will help so many people," he said.
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ISOF, SWAT arrests four terrorists, criminals
BALAD - Iraqi SOF arrested a suspected AQI terrorist on a Ministry of Justice warrant in the Abu Ghurayb area, Oct. 17. He is a regional cmdr. allegedly responsible for conducting IED attacks against CF and filming the attacks to assure payment. The leader is also known to be financing the ops of his subordinate commands.
In Al Basrah, Oct. 16, ISOF arrested 2 criminals on local warrants suspected of kidnapping and murdering an Iraqi woman. The 2 suspects are believed to be a part of a sniper network and responsible
for attacks on Iraqi and CF. One of the criminals is also being charged with the murder of an IA officer and a civilian.
In a separate op, the Al Amarah SWAT team arrested a suspected criminal leader on a Ministry of
Interior warrant who is said to be connected to Iran. He is employed by the Dept. of Internal Affairs for the Iraqi police in Amarah, and allegedly transports weapons to Baghdad using IP vehicles for cover.
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Iraqi citizen tip leads SoI to weapons cache
FOB HAMMER - Oct. 18, Iraqi NP Bde Transition Team, working in full partnership with Soldiers from Task Force 1-35 Armor, 2nd BCT, 1st Armored Div, seized the cache in the Mada'in Qada of Baghdad at
approx. 10:30 p.m. The cache contained 723 1.25 pound blocks of C-4, 4 15 pound bags of crushed C-4 and 20 30 pound bags of various explosives all suspected to be Iranian manufactured.
"A tip by a local citizen to a SoI member led to the seizure of one of the largest weapons cache discovered in Mada'in Qada over the past several years," said Lt. Col. Wayne Marotto, 2nd BCT.
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MND-B Soldiers find weapons cache and arrest criminal
BAGHDAD - An Iraqi NP patrol responding to a tip from an Iraqi citizen, seized a cache consisting of 21 107 mm rockets in the Abu T'shir community at approx. 4:15 p.m., Oct. 18. The NPs are partnered with 2nd Bn, 4th Inf Regt, attached to 1st BCT, 4th ID.
At approx. 4:30 p.m., Oct. 18, IA soldiers along with Soldiers from Co C, 1st Bn, 22nd Inf Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID, found and secured a 125 mm rocket, a 57 mm projectile, a blasting cap and a remote control jack assembled into a bomb in the Jihad community.
At approx. 4 a.m., Oct 19, Soldiers from Co. A, 1st Bn. detained a criminal in the Karada area, and
confiscated 4 AK-47 assault rifles, an MP-5 submachine gun and 2 9 mm pistols from the detainee.
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IP recover weapons cache with help of local farmer
BAGHDAD - IP from the Radwaniyah Local Police Station were notified of a possible weapons cache in the area by a local farmer who was resettling in the area, Oct. 18 in Baghdad. Weapons collected at the site included 8 anti-aircraft rockets, 2 mortar tubes, 5 60 mm mortars, 2 Kaytusha rockets and 20 AK-fired grenades.
"Taking these weapons off the streets of Iraq is important to the improved security situation in Iraq," said Lt. Col. Michael Indovina, spokesman for the 18th MP Bde. "This find and confiscation of the weapons by the IP demonstrate the improved relationships the SF and the local populace have fostered while continuing to degrade criminal activities in and around Baghdad."
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Community shows support during banner contest
FOB FALCON - Iraqi SF and local leaders organized a community event Oct. 17 at the Jihad Neighborhood Council building in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad.
Soldiers from the 1st Bn, 22nd Inf Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID, coordinated with local leaders and residents to hold a banner contest for Iraqi adults and children in the West Rashid neighborhood.
Capt. Michael Garling, cmdr. of Co E, 1st Bn, stands with Iraqi SF, community leaders and residents of the Jihad neighborhood. The Iraqis competed in a banner contest to show their support for the ISF.
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INPs perform first Bn clearing operation in East Rashid
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
FOB FALCON - Acting on info recently acquired through detained criminals, Iraqi NP planned and executed a massive clearance op, Oct. 18 to secure the populace of East Rashid and gather additional
intel.
Approx. 400 NP searched 1,500 homes during more than 5 hours of intensive ops, seizing 25 weapons and capturing 2 wanted criminals, said Lt. Col. Al-Na'amai.
The intel gathered also led to the NPs seizing a sizable cache in an adjacent neighborhood, said
Maj. Mark Olin, ops officer of the 2nd Bn, 4th Inf Regt, attached to 1st BCT, 4th ID. The cache included 2 complete EFP IEDs, along with the components to make several more.
NPs synchronized existing intel and additional evidence collected on the site to locate and arrest
several criminals.
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Patrol Base Warrior's Keep transitions to IA
CAMP STRIKER, Iraq - Patrol Base Warrior's Keep was transitioned to the IA during a ceremony, Oct. 15. The IA took the reigns from Co D, 1st Bn, 187th Inf Regt, 3rd BCT, 101st Abn Div (AASLT).
"Many things have been achieved throughout Sadr Al Yusifiyah over the past year," said Iraqi Capt. Farhan, cmdr. "The most important thing is that the people in the area are now living without fear."
"Warrior's Keep was necessary due to its central location in the Sadr Al Yusifiyah area," said 1st Lt. Ricky McGuire, Co. D, fire support officer. "The patrol base served as a perfect position to posture multiple offensive ops in order to defeat what was once a relentless enemy." PB Warrior Keep is the ninth patrol base to transition from Rakkasan control to that of the IA.
"Peace and security in this area have been our main goals and the local population has done an outstanding job helping to facilitate," said Capt. Matthew Davis, Co D, cmdr. There are 7 remaining patrol bases in the Rakkasan area of ops scheduled to be transitioned to the IA.
"The IA will continue to be successful in the area and be a springboard for all positive things to come," Davis said. "We promise to dedicate ourselves to this area and to be loyal to what is now a new Iraq," Farhan said.
Coalition and IA soldiers salute during a transition ceremony.
(Army photos by Pfc. Christopher McKenna)
IA Soldiers and Company D, stand in formation.
Capt. Matthew Davis, Co D, cmdr., cases the company colors.
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