Dear Interested Reader,
Soldiers send Valentine's Day messages. Jisr Diyala merchants receive micro-grants. Iraqi AF begin their first night vision goggle certification flight. Undersea Diving Medicine Course prepares Iraqi Navy medical team. Military sales strengthen Iraqi-U.S. bond. Joint Staff College course started at Ar Rustamiyah Military Acad. Key criminal captured in Baghdad. In Afghanistan, Op Care brings humanitarian aid to Parwan Refugee Camp. Members of the Afghan National Air Corps Fire Protection Unit successfully complete training exercise. The Afghan Air Corps increase their fleet.
Joanna
_____________________________
Feb. 15, 2009
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Deployed Soldiers Send Valentine’s Day Messages Back Home
By Army Sgt. Shannon Black
Spc. Gary Bush and Pfc. Christopher Dotson both participated in the “Heart to Heart” program, sending video messages to loved ones back home, Feb. 9, 2009.
(Army photo by Sgt. Shannon Black)
COB ADDER — Soldiers may not be with their loved ones on Valentine’s Day, but some figured out the next best option, as they sent videotaped messages home Feb. 9, through a program called “Heart To Heart.”
“Heart to Heart is a program I came up with to help ease the tension and separation for Valentine's Day,” Army Chaplain (Capt.) Howard Bankston said. “The family members back home could also video a message for their family over here in Iraq, … keeping family members connected through video for Valentine's Day." Soldiers had the option of recording messages on DVD for shipment to family members or reading a book aloud for their children while being recorded. The Soldiers who read also were able to ship the book, courtesy of the USO, so children could follow along.
“It boosted my morale to be able to do something like that,” Spc. Gary Bush said. “It made me feel good to be able to show my appreciation to my family while we’re out here.”
The bn’s command team donated hundreds of discs for the event, and the United Through Reading program, and the USO provided 2 camcorders. “It’s another great tool that we have during this deployment to show our loved ones that we think about them and care about them, especially for Valentine’s Day,” said Pfc. Christopher Dotson.
-30-
Jisr Diyala merchants receive micro-grants
BAGHDAD - Seven business owners in the Jisr Diyala area received a $500 micro grant from the Cmdrs Emergency Relief Program, to improve their businesses after a rigorous application process, held by the Iraqi NP and MND-Baghdad Soldiers, Feb. 12.
"These micro grants are an opportunity for TF 1-35 to invest in the long term stability of the region's economy," said Capt. Andy Besser, the civil military ops officer. "We were looking for established credible businesses that could use the micro grant to grow and develop," said Besser.
"I have been involved in many micro grant ops, and every time I do them I see so many people that use these grants in the best way," said SSgt. Thomas Keller. "This is not a charity; we expect a lot from them and for the most part, they deliver."
The micro grants are not paid just in money though. Iraqi NP officers and MND-B Soldiers try to match local business owners and vendors, to keep the supply-and-demand wheel within the nearby communities. "We try to keep the money in the area to further help the economy," said Besser. "We get them what they need to increase, repair and produce new jobs."
These micro grants are just another step in the ongoing mission to decrease violence and encourage the people of the Jisr Diyala Nahia to improve their livelihood, explained Sgt. William Reese. "The micro grant initiative has been very successful and has been met with a lot of enthusiasm from the local population. It has been a very effective non-kinetic means to encourage support from the population."
-30-
ISF capture key Baghdad criminal, one of three during joint ops
BAGHDAD - At approx. noon, Feb. 13, Iraqi NP officers partnered with 1st Bn, 505th PIR, arrested a key criminal wanted for rocket attacks against Iraqi and CF. Later at approx. 12:30 p.m., Police officers partnered with 1st BCT, 4th ID, arrested a suspected criminal while conducting patrols in the Abu T-Shir community. The patrol noticed the suspect, wanted for terrorist activity in the area, walking south during the Arba'een pilgrimage. After making positive ID, the Iraqi NP officers detained him.
On Feb. 14, at approx. 2 a.m., Police officers partnered with 7th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Regt., detained another suspected criminal in the Abu T-Shir neighborhood. The suspect, wanted for transporting rockets and planning rocket attacks against CF, possessed a fake passport.
-30-
Sgt. Aaron Zaliponi, an infantry squad leader with 56th Stryker BCT, passes a young boy while searching for illegal weapons cache, Feb. 9. Zalioponi partnered with Al Salaam IP officers during the combined clearance op.
(Photo by Sgt. 1st Class J.B. Jaso III)
-30-
Iraqi Aircrew Flies Night-Vision Mission
By SSgt. Tim Beckham
Under moonlight, ground and flight crews of the Iraqi AF begin their first night vision goggle certification flight.
(Photo by Spc. Neil Stanfield)
TAJI AIR BASE — An initiative that has been in the works since August 2008 is now a realization as members of the Iraqi AF continued their quest toward night-vision ops with the help of U.S. AF aircrews.
Members of the 721st Air Expeditionary Advisor Sqdrn (AEAS), who train Iraqi aircrew members, relinquished controls to an Iraqi aircrew that flew their first all-Iraqi night-vision mission in an UH Huey, Feb. 8. "They have flown at night, but none of these guys have flown using NVGs (night vision-goggles), specifically the instructors we are training,” said Capt. Kevin Burns, 721st AEAS pilot advisor. “This gives the Iraqi AF a night op capability that was previously non-existent.”
Before flying as an all-Iraqi aircrew, Airmen from the 721st AEAS flew with the Iraqis, ensuring mission success.
Lt. Col. Abbas, Iraqi 2nd Sqdrn training officer and pilot, said without the help of the U.S. advisors they wouldn’t be where they are today.
The Iraqi AF first acquired night-vision goggles in June 2008, and began their night training on American OH-58 Kiowa helicopters on loan from the Iowa National Guard.
-30-
Multi-National Security Transition Command
Undersea Diving Medicine Course Prepares Iraqi Navy Medical Team
UMM QASR — Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq’s Health Affairs directorate hosted some very specialized training for the staff of the Iraqi Navy’s Medical Clinic, Feb. 3.
In cooperation with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, Health Affairs sponsored a course in Undersea and Diving Medicine for the sole Iraqi physician and 10 of his medical staff at this strategic and developing naval base. With a growing diver force, the unique requirements for providing health care to an undersea force demand a very specialized skill.
Maj. Gen. Samir, MoD Joint Forces surgeon general, and U.S. Navy Cmdr. Jeff Plummer, dep. dir., MNSTC-Health Affairs, traveled to Umm Qasr for the 3-day site visit, linking up with the NAVCENT instructor enroute. U.S. Navy Capt. Dale Molé, NAVCENT and 5th Fleet Surgeon, is an Undersea Medicine instructor and certified U.S. Navy diver. Molé agreed to travel to Umm Qasr to conduct the diving medicine course at the request of the Iraqi Surgeon Gen. Further, this allowed NAVCENT to pre-screen the Iraqi Navy physician, Capt. (Dr.) Muayed Mansour, in advance of his nomination to attend the Undersea Medicine 9-week dive course in Panama City, Florida, later this year.
Samir’s presence for the course was vital, as he provided medically-relevant English to Arabic translation. With only one physician in the class, Samir often had to expand the training with explanations of medical concepts and anatomy for the medics and divers in the room. Samir reflected, “Although often a difficult translation, today’s experience allowed me to break my mind from our everyday challenges at the MoD and return to my calling. I enjoy discussing and teaching medical concepts.”
-30-
Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Phoenix Base
APO AE 09348
Foreign Military Sales strengthens bond between nations
By Van N. Williams
BAGHDAD – The GoI is taking tremendous steps to rebuild and strengthen the Iraqi SF and bolster the nation’s self-sufficiency during the transition from Coalition to Iraqi-led ops in support of the Security Agreement between Iraq and the United States. To this end, the GoI has spent more than $5 billion to buy military equipment, supplies and training from the U.S. through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.
This week, Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq’s Security Assistance Office hosted reps from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command, Navy Int'l Program Office, and the Iraqi MoD and Interior for a financial mgt. review of the Iraqi FMS program.
“We’ve been trying for 3 years to make this happen, and this is the first time that we all have been able to meet,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Joe Lontos, DSCA, Iraq Country Program Mgr. “During this 5-day review, we looked at FMS cases with the Iraqi Financial Managers, so they can see how things are progressing. It also gives the Iraqis a chance to voice their concerns and make changes to their program if they need to.”
According to U.S. Army Lt. Col. Kimberly Enderle, SAO chief of transportation logistics and accountability, the Iraqi SF have already received approx. $1.5 billion in services, vehicles, aircraft parts, small arms, uniforms, and training through the FMS program, and have made commitments for an additional $3.5 billion in FMS purchases. “The strategic partnership between the U.S. and Iraq is growing,” said Enderle.
Brig. Gen. Charles Luckey, MNSTC-I’s dep. comm. gen. for Security Assistance, summed it up by saying, “The close partnership between Iraq and the U.S. will, in large measure, be etched into the future through a collaborative approach to fielding and sustaining major systems, and in focusing on the critical training associated with that equipment. The interoperability between U.S. and Iraqi equipment will, in the long run, give each nation a wide variety of combined training opportunities. This conference is a long stride on the road we walk together.”
-30-
NATO TRAINING MISSION – IRAQ
Public Affairs Office, Cultural Centre, Baghdad
APO AE 09316
Joint Staff College course starts at Ar Rustamiyah Military Academy
BAGHDAD - The Iraqi Joint Staff College course started their academic year with 98 new students with an opening ceremony at Ar Rustamiyah Military Academy, Jan. 25.
The 11-month course offers classes on human rights and int'l law, military leadership, staff procedures, int'l relations and security co-operation. The students, capts and majs, represent the IA, Iraqi Navy and the Ministry of Interior. The course teaches military doctrine at tactical levels and concepts concerning National Policy and Security, while instilling the values and standards required of the future leaders of the Iraqi military.
Addressing the students, NATO Training Mission Iraq Brig. Gen. Martinello stated, “Honor and respect can only grow in courses like this one, one in which officers can understand what their real roles in the org. are, and how they can support the Iraqi SF and their country.”
The Head NTM-I Fwd Cmdr. at Ar Rustamiyah, Italian Naval Capt. Mario Billardello, was pleased that the enrollment of 98 students in the new class represented an increase of 25 over the last graduating class.
The Joint Staff College was re-opened in 2005 as a joint effort between NATO and the Iraqi MoD. Officers of NTM-I provide mentoring and advice to the Joint Staff College in order to assist the Iraqi SF in securing an environment of sustained peace. NATO remains committed to supporting the GoI resume its important place in the int'l community.
-30-
Level Foundation
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Gary Lamewb checks the level of a building foundation while making improvements to a patrol base in Mahawil, Feb. 4, 2009.
(U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class)
-30-
PARWAN REFUGEE CAMP, Afghanistan -- Lt. Col. (Dr.) Thomas Knolmayer helps distribute blankets at a humanitarian assistance visit here. The clothes, shoes, coats and blankets brought to the refugee camp were donated to Operation Care by American citizens.
Donations increased after a 5-year-old boy was treated at the Craig Theater Hospital, who had no shoes. The doctor caring for him, Colonel Knolmayer, called home and asked his wife to send a pair of his son's shoes for the child, sparring a rash of shoe donations. The colonel is a general surgeon deployed here from Elmendorf AF Base, Alaska.
(AF photo/Master Sgt. Keith Brown)
-30-
KABUL, Afghanistan --Members of the Afghan National Air Corps fire protection unit pose after successfully completing a live fire training exercise. The responding fire fighters are graduates of the Joint Fire Academy here, which was established and mentored by MSgt. Mike Marascia. Sergeant Marascia is a member of the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing at Kabul, which mentors the ANAAC on a variety of air support ops.
(AF photo/Master Sgt. Keith Brown)
-30-
KABUL, Afghanistan -- An Mi-17 helicopter is unloaded from a AH-124 transport plane here. The 3 transport helicopters will be added to the ANA Air Corps fleet, helping the ANAAC conduct a larger portion of the airlift mission to support the ANA. The ANAAC is being mentored by Airman from the 438th.
(AF photo/Master Sgt. Keith Brown)
-30-