Dear Interested Reader,
274 Servicemembers reenlist during Veterans Day ceremony on Joint Base Balad. Sunni and Shia leaders celebrate historic bridge reopening. The 21st Theater Sustainment Command visit the 18th MP BDE. Armistice Day observed at RAF cemetary in Habbaniyah, with the UK's Ambassador to Iraq, in a most interesting story dating back to WWII. Iraqi and U.S. officials partner and sign Memorandum of Understanding to assist local govt. with expediting their budgeting process.
Joanna
________________________
Nov. 14, 2008
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Hundreds of Servicemembers Re-enlist During Veterans Day Ceremony
Soldiers and members of a joint color guard render honors before a Veterans Day re-enlistment ceremony for 274 servicemembers on Joint Base Balad, Nov. 11, 2008.
Army photo by Spc. Kiyoshi Freeman
JOINT BASE BALAD — Nearly 300 servicemembers stationed across Iraq gathered at Holt Stadium, Nov. 11 to re-enlist in what officials said is the largest mass re-enlistment in the base's history.
"We gather today to remind ourselves that our mission as fighting men and women must continue," Army Brig. Gen. Michael Lally, cmdr. of 3rd Sus Command and the host for the event, said. "To continue, we must have those that are willing, able and are inspired to raise their hands again, and again to be counted, with those that came before them."
To the re-enlisting servicemembers, the significance of holding the ceremony on Veterans Day was important. "Every Veterans Day has been big for us in uniform," said Army Sgt. Juan Rojas, a cook with the 297th ITC. "It gives me great pleasure to be here and be part of history."
Army Col. Kevin O'Connell, cmdr. of 1st Sus Bde, said Soldiers stay in the Army for the same reasons they join: training, education, adventure, money, but the most important reason they join and stay in the military, is service to their nation, he added. "They're patriotic," O'Connell said. "They want to serve in an all-volunteer Army … to give back to a great nation what it's given to them."
While she was not planning to make the Army her career, said Army Sgt. Latasha Myers, a mechanic with the 503rd Maintenance Co, her experiences and the people she works with inspired her to re-enlist. "I love what I do," she said. "I love fighting for my country." O'Connell said friends and families should be proud of what their sons and daughters did this day. "They re-enlisted on a big day, while they're in combat. They continue to serve when their nation needs them -- when we're in conflict," he said. "They're our future."
Lally said the re-enlisting servicemembers are common men and women who always have done, and will continue to do, uncommon things. "The stories of those in front of you are still being written," he said. "Today another chapter has begun. Wherever they go, whatever they do, each story will be different. Each will contain trials and deployments, and tales from lands yet to be seen. However, the common theme in each will be their selfless service and their universal commitment."
Soldiers and members of a joint color guard render honors prior to the ceremony.
(Army photo by Spc. Kiyoshi Freeman)
Brig. Gen. Michael Lally cuts a commemorative Veterans Day cake with the youngest and oldest re-enlistee, as well as U.S. Navy Veteran and guest speaker Mr. Robert Guess.
(Army photo by Spc. Brian Barbour)
-30-
Blackanthem Military News
Armistice Day observed at ceremony in Habbaniyah
By MN Security Transition Command - Iraq
Lt. Gen. John Cooper, MNF-I Dep. Comm. Gen., and His Excellency Christopher Prentice, the United Kingdom's Ambassador to Iraq, lay a wreath at RAF Cemetery - Habbaniyah.
HABBANIYAH - Many MN Force - Iraq and Coalition senior officials attended a solemn observance of Armistice Day in Habbaniyah, on Nov. 11.
Ceremonial wreaths were laid at a memorial marker, the centerpiece of the newly-renovated Royal AF Cemetery at Habbaniyah. 289 British and Commonwealth servicemen and civilians, including women and children, are interred here. Of that number, 257 are buried in War Graves from World War II maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The memorial marker is dedicated to the 107 Iraqi Levies (conscripts) who died while serving with the RAF in Iraq, and are buried in remote and unmaintainable graves. Among the senior leaders participating in the ceremony were Lt. Gen. John Cooper, MNF-I Dep. Comm. Gen., Maj. Gen. John Kelly, MNF-W cmdr., and His Excellency Christopher Prentice.
Airmen and Soldiers assigned to CAATT's Logistics Maintenance Advisory Team and Regional Training Center Advisory Team at Habbaniyah, voluntarily spent many weekends over the past several months cleaning and renovating the cemetery, which had become overgrown since the British departure from Habbaniyah in 1959.
Marine Corps Maj. Gen. John Kelly lays a wreath at the RAF Cemetery.
-30-
21st Theater Sustainment Command visits the 18th MP Bde
Maj. Gen. Yves Fontaine, the comm. gen. of 21st Theater Sus. Command (TSC), meets with Col. Mark Spindler, cmdr, 18th MP Bde, at the brigade's deployed HQ on Camp Liberty, Nov. 11. Fontaine met with his MP bde and was provided an operational update brief and info on areas of training future units should be aware of, prior to deploying in support of OIF.
( Army photos by Sgt. Daniel Blottenberger)
Spc. Robert Wright (left), 95th MP Bn, 18th MP Bde, speaks with Maj. Gen. Fontaine, after being presented a coin of excellence, Nov. 11. Wright was awarded the coin for his outstanding performance while serving as a MP gunner on a personal security team while being deployed to Iraq. Fontaine later met with his MP brigade and was provided an operational update brief on the 18th's combat ops in support of OIF.
Soldiers from the 18th MP Bde, deployed to Iraq in support of OIF, whose mission is to train and develop IP, meet with Maj. Gen. Fontaine (center).
-30-
Iraqi, U.S. Officials Partner, Sign Memorandum of Understanding
Story by Spc. Nicole J. Tennis
Rear Adm. Kathleen M. Dussault, cmdr., Joint Contracting Command – Iraq, and Dr. Al-Isawii, mayor of Baghdad, sign a Memorandum of Understanding, Oct. 19, 2008, to assist the local govt with expediting their budgeting process.
BAGHDAD — A partnership between U.S. and Iraqi officials took a major step forward here Oct. 19, when an official Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to assist the local govt with expediting their budgeting process.
The MoU officially gave birth to a new Baghdad Regional Contracting Team (BRCT) intern program. This unique intern program, the first of its kind in the country, was created by the JCCI to assist the Baghdad Amanat (City Hall) with speeding up their budget execution process. This process has traditionally been plagued with a host of time consuming delays.
“This program is designed to permit 8 Amanat contracting employees to intern at the JCCI,” said Maj. James L. Clift, chief of contracting for BRCT. “During the course of the internship they will learn contracting best practices while they administer JCCI contracts for the Amanat. JCCI is responsible for ensuring all contracts signed by the U.S. military in Iraq for goods, construction and services meet quality, fairness and price standards,” said Clift. “There are 16 Regional Contracting Centers (RCC) and Divs. in Iraq, and the Baghdad RCC alone signs an average of 110 contracts a month for an average of $10 Million. This partnership shows how the Dept of Defense, the Dept of State, and the GOI can work together,” said Clift. “Three months of building and fostering the relationships, and now there is a greater trust there. “The Baghdad PRT has worked to help the Amanat execute their budget more fully and efficiently, with the ultimate goal of helping them provide better essential services to the people of Baghdad,” said Clift. “The internship program is one more step toward improving the budgeting process.”
The first 2 interns, Ms. Musa and Mr. Bawa, began work Nov. 1. “They are learning how to take care of their own country,” said Clift. “This is critical, as we transition from using our money and budget to using theirs.”
-30-
Sunni, Shia leaders celebrate Al-Aimma Bridge reopening
BAGHDAD - For more than 3 years a series of gates and barriers blocked the Al-Aimma Bridge across the Tigris, keeping the citizens of Adhamiyah and Kadhamiyah districts of Baghdad separated. Since then, the bridge has stood as a lonely and grim memorial to the deaths of nearly 1,000 Shia pilgrims caught in a terror inspired stampede Aug. 31, 2005 on their way to the Imam Kadhim Shrine on the Kadhamiyah side of the bridge. The situation was dramatically different, Nov. 11, when district leaders from opposite sides of the bridge casually strolled across and met in a friendly embrace to mark the reopening of the historic bridge.
Sheik Al- Samarra'i, the leader of the Sunni endowment from Adhamiyah, and his counterpart, Sheik Al-Haidari, the leader of the Shia endowment from Kadhamiyah, crossed from their districts to meet in the center and officially reopen the Al Aimma Bridge. The ceremony was planned and organized by the GOI, and security was provided by Iraqi NP and IA Soldiers.
Terrorists and criminal elements have, in the past, used each district as a base to attack its neighbors and incite sectarian violence. "We don't need sectarian violence; we need peace with our neighbors," said Sheik Al-Azawee, an Adhamiyah tribal leader. The bridge between Adhamiyah and Kadhamiyah can now stand as a symbol of progress and reconciliation between the 2 districts.
-30-
MND-B Soldiers detain 3 suspected criminals, seize weapons cache
BAGHDAD - In the Rashid district of southern Baghdad, approx. 1:30 p.m., Nov. 11 in the Aamel community, Soldiers from Co A, 1st Bn, 22nd Inf Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID, discovered and seized a 155 mm artillery round, 4 AK-47 assault rifles, 2 ballistic protective plates, and an assortment of tactical apparel.
Soldiers from the Scout Plt, HHC, 2nd Bn, 4th Inf Regt, attached to the 1st BCT, 4th ID, detained an AQI terrorist during a raid Nov. 11, at approx. 9:45 p.m. in the Hadar community. He was wanted for roadside bomb attacks and recruiting more terrorists.
At approx. 12:15 a.m., Nov. 12, Soldiers from 2nd Plt, Co B, 4th Bn, 64th Armor Regt, attached to the 1st BCT, 4th ID, arrested a suspected criminal in the Risalah neighborhood. Also in the Risalah neighborhood, Soldiers from 3rd Plt., Co. B, 4th Bn., 64th Armor Regt., detained another suspected criminal at approx. 12:15 a.m., Nov. 12. He is a suspected al-Qaeda operative.
-30-