Dear Interested Reader,
Iraqi NP and Paratroopers from the 505th PIR assist during humanitarian drive. NP assess voting sites in the Al Karradah district. Freedom along with democracy are bringing positive changes to Iraq. Iraqi SF are doing their best to ensure a safe election day, while they, along with leaders of the 4th ID visit Hurriyah polling stations. In Afghanistan, we're proud to highlight Capt. James Parris, a physician asst., who's making a tremendous difference in Afghan lives.
Joanna
_____________________________
Feb. 01, 2009
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
NPs, Paratroopers assist New Baghdad citizens during humanitarian drive
Iraq Brig. Gen. Ali Dabown, cmdr. and Lt. Col. Louis Zeisman, cmdr. of the 2nd Bn, 505th PIR, 3rd BCT, 82nd Abn Div, help an Iraqi child try on some new shoes during an Iraqi-led humanitarian drive, Jan. 26 in the New Baghdad district of eastern Baghdad. More than 500 wool blankets, along with children's clothing and toys were given to the citizens of New Baghdad.
(Army photos by 2nd Lt. Benjamin Balazs)
Iraq Brig. Gen. Dabown hands an Iraqi woman a wool blanket.
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NPs assess voting sites
FOB LOYALTY -
An NP officer and an Iraqi poll worker tape an instructional voting poster inside a polling station, Jan. 26 in the Al Karradah district of eastern Baghdad. NPs and their U.S. partners assigned to the 3rd BCT, 82nd Abn Div, checked on the security of several voting sites across the district in preparation for the Iraqi Provincial elections, which are scheduled for Jan. 31.
(Army photos by Staff Sgt. Alex Licea)
Iraqi Brig. Gen. Hameed, cmdr., talks to his officers outside a polling station during an Iraqi-led voting site security assessment mission.
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Provincial elections bringing change to Iraq
SADR CITY - Something new is coming to Iraq; the signs are in the air, plastered on walls, buildings, light posts lining the road and even strung between buildings. Provincial elections will be held Jan. 31, and most public structures have, in some way shape or form, campaign posters attached to them.
There have been elections in Iraq since Saddam Hussein's fall from power, but this is the first totally Iraqi-run election. Lt. Col. Craig Simonsgaard, cmdr. of the MiTT working with the IA's 44th Bde, met with the brigade's Soldiers shortly after most had voted. "The first thing they did was hold up their index fingers." Purple ink on the index finger indicates that a person has voted. "They're all extremely proud of being able to vote. They take that purple finger very serious, and they take a lot of pride in it," said Simonsgaard.
One of those proud Soldiers was IA Pvt. Ali Hussain. "We were waiting for this day. You see my finger? This is the ink. It is evidence and proof that I voted," said Hussain. "I was waiting for this day to go vote for my govt. They are representing me now. "
One sign that Iraq is changing is that Iraqi citizens are not afraid to tell people who they voted for. Simonsgaard found himself discussing the election with an IA officer, who told him how he voted.
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ISF strives to ensure safe election day for Iraqi citizens
BAGHDAD - The ISF are easily leading the way to providing a safe environment for the Iraqi people to not get discouraged and go out to vote, said Staff Sgt. Aaron Coombs, mortar section sgt, HHC, 1st Bn, 505th PIR, attached to 1st BCT, 4th ID.
"The security perimeter around the polling site will be very secure," said Lt. Ali, a NP officer in charge of the polling site at the Children's War Memorial in the Doura community of Baghdad. "Cars will not be allowed near the site." Separate lines for male and female voters are planned, and each person will be searched more than once before entering the polling site.
After the polling sites close, the ballots will be collected and transported securely by the ISF to a secure location to be counted. "It's a new experience. We are looking forward to having a democratic country and getting away from the corruption: to provide a good future for this country," said Mohammed, an SoI member standing guard at a checkpoint near a polling station in the Doura community of Baghdad. "It's a beautiful thing."
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ISF, MND-B leaders visit Hurriyah polling stations
BAGHDAD -
Brig. Gen. William Grimsley (left), dep. comm. gen., 4th ID, talks to an IA Soldier guarding a polling site at Al-Aldala Boys Middle School in the Hurriyah area of Baghdad, Jan. 29. Coalition forces visited the area to get a feel for the security situation at polling sites, and will be providing outer-cordon security.
(Army photos by Staff Sgt. Brock Jones)
Lt. Col. John Vermeesch (left) cmdr., 1st CAB, 18th Inf Regt, 2nd HBCT, 1st ID, and Brig. Gen. William Grimsley (right), dep. comm. gen., 4th ID, talk to an IA Soldier guarding a polling site.
Soldier, serving with 2nd HBCT, 1st ID, pulls security during a visit by MND-B leaders to provincial election polling sites in the Hurriyah area of Baghdad, Jan. 29. Coalition forces visited the area to get a feel for the security situation at polling sites, and will be providing outer-cordon security during the general provincial elections.
Campaign posters plaster t-wall barriers around Baghdad touting the upcoming provincial elections.
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IP, MP discuss assessment of special elections
BAGHDAD -
IP Brig. Gen. Yunis (center), the cmdr. of the Provincial Directorate of Police for Baghdad, discusses the security outcome of the special elections with Col. Byron Freeman (left), cmdr. of the 8th MP Bde, and Maj. Gen. Jaffer (right), cmdr. of Traffic Police for Baghdad, at the PDOP headquarters, Jan. 29. The three leaders met to discuss and review security procedures as they make their preparations for the provincial elections.
(Army Photo by SSgt. Jessika Malott)
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Basra Buddies
A U.S. Army Soldier walks down a street with 2 children in the Hayaniyah district of Basra, Jan. 20, 2009. The Soldier, assigned to the 793rd MP Bn, 8th MP Bde, was in the area to deliver medical supplies to a local hospital. (Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Andre N. McIntyre)
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U.S. Air Forces Central Public Affairs
Physician assistant makes difference in Afghan lives
by Capt. Stacie N. Shafran
Capt. James Parris meets with Dr. Noori (right), Paktya's director of public health to discuss numerous health projects. Captain Parris is the PRT Paktya's director of medical plans.
1/27/2009 - GARDEZ, Afghanistan -- -- Servicemembers of the PRT Paktya in Gardez, are helping to develop the infrastructure necessary for the Afghan people to succeed in a post-conflict environment.
Capt. James Parris, the physician asst. from the 96th Medical Ops Sqdrn at Eglin AF Base, Fla., is the PRT's dir. of medical plans. On a daily basis, he maintains responsibilities to his team, the local nationals, and the Afghan govt. "My work here is more of coordination, meetings, project overview and monitoring. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be coordinating projects that affect the lives of almost 500,000 Afghans."
The FOB he and the PRT team are based at is located just outside of Gardez City in Paktya Province, approx. 45 miles from the Pakistan border. At an altitude of 7,680 feet above sea level, the province is about the size of Rhode Island and is populated with nearly half a million people. The teams have become an integral part of the long-term strategy to transition the lines of security, governance, and economics to the people of Afghanistan.
Capt. Parris supervises 3 enlisted AF medics assigned to the team. My team also conducts weekly medical training for the PRT, ensuring we're all ready in the event of an attack on the FOB or on a convoy." The capt. also oversees programs related to the province's medical or health concerns. In the past, PRTs offered medical civil affairs programs that provided mobile medical care to local Afghans. "This helped people directly, but over the years we found that they essentially undermined the Afghan govt and the local economy," he said. "If our medical team treats ill Afghans, this takes money away from the local doctors. If we provide medicine, the local pharmacist can't feed his family. These MEDCAPS also had an American "face" on them, something we now strive to avoid. Our PRT's goal is to develop and foster the Afghan govt's credibility and strength."
Capt. Parris empowers the locals to work directly with the minister of public health, provincial health dir., and dir. of the provincial hospital to formulate plans for improvement, and to discuss the population's health status. "As the saying goes, we are no longer giving people fish. We're teaching them to fish, so that they can sustain long after our mission here is complete."
Most of the villages still lack power or transportation and have limited health facilities. Getting to a health facility is still a long, grueling process for some. In the past, people died from illness or injury due to the inability to get to a health facility. Now the members of the PRT are focused on projects, such as building road, that will connect people to their infrastructure and increase trade.
The capt. arranges for clinics to be staffed and ensures that needed equipment and medicine are available. He's overseeing a 100-bed provincial hospital, a mid-wife training center, a nurse training center, a maternity hospital, an eye care hospital, as well as the building of numerous clinics. In order to combat malnutrition among children, Capt. Parris is trying to institute a food program province-wide over the winter months that will aid children under 5. The mortality rate for this age group is tremendous, and nearly 20% of the children here do not reach their 5th birthday, he said. The "strong foods" program uses locally purchased items such as almonds, milk, oil, sugar, and liquid vitamins to make high quality "plumpy nut" food. It is a paste that kids love and consuming it increases their weight a pound per week, restoring their health status to normal in as little as 6 to 8 weeks.
With 6 more months remaining on his deployment, Capt. Parris is optimistic about the progress he and his team will bring to Paktya. "I've always wanted to make a difference and help people live a better life," he said. "That's the reason I became a (physician asst) more than 8 years ago. After this assignment to PRT Paktya, I will know for sure that I have turned my dream into reality."
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