Dear Interested Reader,
Generous Americans shower kindergarten students with toys. New initiatives for Iraqi women owned businesses. "Tear down that wall" was the cry in Samarra. Incorporating new ideas the goal of Iraqi medical training. Iraqi ERB offices ready to rid streets of IED threat. In Afghanistan, Sailors at Camp Shelby, Miss. prepare for Afghan Detainee Op mission. U.S. and French team up to offer artillery training to Afghan soldiers.
Joanna
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March 26, 2009
USACE Gulf Region North district
Kindergarten students showered with toys
By Hassan Mohammad
Col Margaret W. Burcham, cmdr of the Gulf Region North district, and members of her team delighted more than 70 kindergarten students at the school in Alqush, in the Dahuk province in northern Iraq.
Dahuk – Children at the House of Angels School were showered with toys during a recent visit from members of the Gulf Region Div, USACE. The toy drive is the brainchild of Michael Fellenz, a project engr for the Mosul Area Office. Fellenz ran a similar program while working at the Gulf Region South district, and continued his efforts when he transferred to the Mosul office. He enlisted co-workers to help organize the toy drive, and solicited friends and family back home to supply the toys for the giveaways. After Fellenz posted a request for toys on his travel blog, the toy drive gained momentum.
“This project has reaffirmed my faith in people and I am genuinely touched by the outpouring of support and the fact that so many people back home have taken a personal interest in our mission here,” Fellenz said. “To witness how these children live is heartbreaking, and I’ve just picked up what others had already started before they've re-deployed back to the states. I am just one of the many individuals in this office and throughout Iraq who have taken the humanitarian effort to heart, and tried to make a difference in the lives of the families and children here.”
Organizers said response to the toy drive has been nothing short of phenomenal. “We have received thousands of toys for the project,” said Sara White, Mosul Area Office. “At first we were storing them in the Resident Office, but they started taking over the work spaces. We now have to store them in a vacant CHU [Containerized Housing Unit].”
Alqush is made up of mostly Christian refugees from the Mosul area and dates its history to the ancient Assyrian empire in 750 B.C. The school was founded by Faris Sabir and is sponsored by the local Christian church. The parochial school has more than 160 students between the ages of 3 and 5 years old.
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USACE Gulf Region Division
Gulf Region Div. announces new initiatives for Iraqi women-owned businesses
By Rick Haverinen
The audience at the Women Owned Business and the Future coference takes a lunch break, March 21 at Baghdad's Al-Rasheed Hotel
(USACE photos by F.T. Eyre)
BAGHDAD – The Gulf Region Div, USACE in Iraq announced 2 initiatives March 21 that will expand Iraqi businesswomen’s ability to gain work with GRD.
U.S. Navy Capt. Joseph Konicki, dir of military programs, GRD, told the 50-member audience the Div. set aside a percentage of contracts in the Foreign Military Sales and Iraqi SF Funds programs to award to women-owned businesses in Iraq. The contract set-asides mark the first time GRD is tapping a portion of its Foreign Military Sales program, which is ultimately funded by the GoI to build its own military-related infrastructure. The additional Iraqi SF Funds program, which will also have a set-aside portion for Iraqi businesswomen, is U.S-funded. Konicki said Iraqi businesswomen are welcome to bid on contracts for any projects they feel competent to complete, not just the percentage of work specifically set aside for them.
The conference, organized by Azza Humadi, program manager for GRD’s Women’s Advocate Initiative, opened a dialogue for strategies to keep the program running when U.S. forces withdraw from Iraq. “The title, ‘Women Owned business and the Future,’ means we have finished an era, and are entering a new one,” Humadi told the audience. She said the drawdown of the U.S. presence in Iraq will certainly affect her program, as fewer people will require help from Iraqis who provide service and construction work.
Americans and Iraqis who have supported the initiative want to ensure the program is stable and able to continue in the years to come. “I personally believe that we have made great strides in the last few years of supporting Iraqi women-owned business,” said Brig. Gen. William Phillips, cmdr, Joint Contracting Command - Iraq and Afghanistan, “but in the end, I don't think that what we've done is enough. “I think it's important that we maintain the momentum that we have achieved to date, of making women a stronger and larger contributor to the Iraqi economy,” Phillips said.
That theme also was expressed by representatives of the GoI. "We feel we're on the threshold of a new era in which the woman is looking forward to playing a big role in political, economic, social, and cultural life," said Iraqi Member of Parliament Shatha al-Musawi. "The global financial crisis and low oil prices have forced the GoI to resort to an ascetic budget. That stopped the hiring of new civil servants, so we are looking forward to the private sector to hire the unemployed."
Iraqi Minister of Human Rights Wijdan Mikhael said, “Women’s rush to the fields of work and production enables them to establish a new reality that cannot be denied.” The impoverished status of Iraqi women, especially the many widows in the nation, was reflected in a survey published March 8 by Oxfam Int'l. Oxfam reported that 52% of the women in its survey were unemployed.
JCC - I/A created the Women’s Advocate Initiative in 2005. Stanley Baker Hill operates the program under contract with GRD to market and recruit Iraqi businesswomen. JCC - I/A conducts the training for requirements and all the mechanics of announcing and awarding the women’s contracts, as part of its much larger mission.
Azza Humadi, program mgr., Women's Advocate Initiative, addresses the audience.
Iraq member of parliament, Shatha Al-Mousawi addresses the audience.
Brig. Gen. William Phillips, cmdr, Joint Contracting Command - Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Mayor of Samarra sends a message to the people: Tear down that wall
FOB BRASSFIELD-MORA, Samarra - Scores of Samarra citizens joined provincial and community leaders, March 23 to attend a concrete barrier removal ceremony reminiscent of the opening of the Berlin wall nearly 20 ago.
Samarra's mayor, Mahmood Ahmed, joined Lt. Col. Sam Whitehurst, cmdr, 2nd Bn, 35th Inf Regt, 3rd IBCT, 25th ID, and citizens from all over the city of Samarra to witness the first step in a city-wide barrier removal project.
"Samarra has become very peaceful," said Omar Khaled, a local produce shop owner. "The barriers remind us of bad times," Khaled continued, "but it's time to look toward the future and enjoy our
peace. It's time to reopen Samarra."
To the sound of cheering and clapping, a young Iraqi man dressed in sweatpants and sandals strapped hooked chains onto the lifting points of the barriers. Ten individual barriers were lifted, removed and placed on a flat-bed truck.
Both Ahmed and Whitehurst spoke with Iraqi media, echoing Khaled's sentiment. "The people of Samarra have a sense of security now," said Ahmed, "a security they have not known in many years."
"Many exciting events have transpired in Samarra over our last 5 months here," said Whitehurst. "Today is, without a doubt, the most exciting of those events." Whitehurst concluded by saying "the progress and security that has come to Samarra is a direct result of the cooperation and partnership of the Samarran people. None of this would be possible without your help."
The site selected for the initial barrier removal is in a section of Samarra that was once used for public executions in darker days. Today it is a peaceful marketplace. The removed barriers will be given to the IA and used for security around military compounds.
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Incorporating new ideas goal of Iraqi medical training
FOB HUSAYNIYAH – 25 Iraqi nurses and doctors put their skills to the test during medical training offered by the 172nd Inf Bde at FOB Husayniyah, March 15-18.
The course focused on pre-hospitalization trauma and basic medical skills including patient assessment, spine immobilization and burns. “We focused more on burns, because they see a lot of burn victims here, especially children, and when they have VBIEDs go off,” said SSgt. Edwin Santana, 172nd SB emergency medical tech.
The intent of the program was to provide Iraqi medical personnel with knowledge they can integrate into their skills. “The goal of the program is to give them the newest information that they want,” said Owens. “We’ll ask them what areas they would like to focus on and then we’ll cater the program to that.” This was the first class of its kind here, but there are already more than 100 Iraqis interested in the course, according to Owens. She said the training is beneficial and she hopes it will spread to other provinces. “Hands-on is what they enjoy the most,” said Owens. “They don’t get much hands-on training during their Iraqi schooling.”
The training is a benefit to the Iraqis if they ever need to apply these skills, Owens said. “I’d like to see the training benefit their casualty rate, so if they have a mass casualty incident they can respond efficiently and effectively.”
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Iraqi ERB officers ready to rid streets of IED threat
BAGHDAD - The Iraqi Emergency Response Brigade (ERB) officers graduated from their first EOD course in Baghdad, March 18.
The EOD course is an intensive 6-week training program that consists of 3 phases. In the first phase, the ERB's 1st Bn police officers focused on the ability to identify military-grade ordnance and explosives. "Being able to identify one variety of ordnance from another allows them to assess the type of impact that each will have on the people around it," said Navy Lt. Alexander Campbell, EOD course instructor.
Officers familiarized themselves with specific identifying characteristics of each type of explosive from high-explosive mortars to illumination rounds through photographs and lectures in a classroom
setting. "They will be able to identify ordnance in the field and apply the appropriate safety procedures when dealing with each ordnance," said Campbell.
During the second phase, the class transitioned from primarily classroom instruction to more hands-on training on the local ranges. The officers focused on demolition fundamentals and safety guidelines. "We walked through how to measure time fuses, how to properly put on a blasting cap and how to do it safely," Campbell said.
The final phase concentrated on the decision-making process in defeating IEDs. According to Campbell, the goal in the final weeks of the course is for the officers to understand IED functions and the principles of IED defeat.
"The most important thing is to help the country," said an officer from the Baghdad area. "This country has a problem with IED facilitators, and this class is teaching us the techniques we can use to defeat the IED threat."
The course instructor U.S. Navy Lt. Alexander Campbell watches as one of his students, an Iraqi ERB constable, demonstrates a skill learned.
(Photo by Army Sgt. Michael Shipman)
As a sandstorm rolls in, Lt. Campbell lectures about the use of water bottle charges. The officer described his group of Iraqi ERB constables as "eager, motivated, bright individuals ready to learn."
(Photo by Army Spc. Jeffrey Afalla Ledesma)
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Iraqi Army finds two weapons caches near Karmah
AL ASAD AIR BASE - Iraqi Soldiers partnered with 1st Bn, 7th Marine Regt, discovered 2 weapons caches in the Karmah region during a cache sweep, March 21.
The cache sites yielded more than 50 rockets, 10 gas masks and more than 1,200 rounds of 14.5mm ammo.
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Surrounded
Navy Capt. Robert Lansden spends a moment with local children outside Al Mobid Medical Center in Az Zubayar district in Basra, March 17, 2009. Lansden is assigned to the 304th CAB.
(U.S. Army photo by Karah Cohen)
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Blackanthem Military News
Individual Augmentee Sailors Prepare for Afghanistan Detainee Operation Mission
By SSG Raheem Lay, 177th Armored Brigade Public Affairs, CAMP SHELBY, Miss.
"LET'S GO, GO, GO!" This command was yelled as the Sailors from Navy Group 2 evacuated the kill zone area. After receiving heavy artillery fire from insurgents, the Sailors must execute tactical movement to a recovery point, where the team leader is expected to get full accountability of all personnel and equipment. The Sailors are training in preparation for an OEF mission. The Sailors are part of the Individual Augmentee Program, and will be conducting detainee ops in Afghanistan later on this year.
CAMP SHELBY, Miss. - Reserve and active Sailors from all over the country form a united front in support of the OEF. This year, the Sailors of "Navy group 2" will conduct a detainee ops mission in Afghanistan. Knowing how critical this mission will be, the 177th AR Bde) is dedicated to ensuring that these Sailors have the necessary tools and guidance in order to make their mission a success.
"We have been training nonstop here at Camp Shelby," said Senior Chief Petty Officer Mike Luong. "Although we have a week to go before entering the detainee ops training facility, the field training exercises have kept our motivation and confidence level high. Our Soldiers are dedicated to the training and to the mission we stand to face in theatre."
The Sailors are being trained on the most recent detainee op procedures and war fighting tactics executed in theatre. Veteran Soldiers, who have just returned from battle, are currently working with the Op Warrior Trainer (OWT) program under the 177th AR BDE here at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center (CSJFTC). Lt. Cmdr. Brett Tittle said that he appreciates the input from the trainers who have recently deployed to theatre. "It gives us more confidence with the preparation we have received thus far," said Tittle. "Knowing that we are being educated with the most recent Intel raises our levels of understanding and awareness of our mission in combat."
So far, the Sailors have undergone an extensive amount of training in regards to basic military precision, operation and current warfighting skills. Training such as urban ops, mounted combat patrol, and Counter IEDs (CIED) training has already begun to shape the minds, attitudes and demeanors of the Sailors towards combat engagement.
In just a couple of days, Navy Group 2 will move forward with the detainee assimilated facility training. While there, the Sailors will be directed on proper techniques and measures in a detention facility. The Sailors will be evaluated on proper execution to different scenarios that may happen while in country.
Tittle said his Sailors are taking full advantage of their training. While 95% of Tittles' Sailors are volunteers and many have never been in a combat zone before, he said the Sailors' level of concentration and preparation has been off the charts. "They understand that they have a critical mission overseas," said Tittle. "Each of them has made significant contributions towards helping one another in developing a team effort environment."
With almost 5 years of existence under its belt, the 177th AR BDE has successfully trained nearly 75,000 National Guard and Reserve troops for combat. Their willingness to adapt to changes that have occurred, since the beginning of the war, has made Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center one of the most prolific mobilization training sites in the country.
"We are amazed with the training and preparation regiment of the 177th AR BDE staff," said Luong. "Everyday sets a new challenge for all of us. We continue to learn about our mission and most importantly ourselves. I am certain that the training groundwork we discover here at Camp Shelby will carry us through to our mission in theatre."
After having a battle buddy wounded in action, several Sailors from Navy Group 2 teamed up in order to move wounded Sailors out of the kill zone.
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Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs RSS
U.S., French Team Up to Offer Artillery Training to Afghan Soldiers
Story by Pvt. Melissa Stewart, with the 10th Mtn's Div 4th Bde)
BAGRAM AIRFIELD - Artillerymen from France and the U.S. teamed up to teach their Afghan counterparts how to operate American artillery weapons, March 14 at FOB Shank in Afghanistan.
Soldiers from Alpha Btry, 4th Bn, 25th FAR, and French soldiers from the 35th Abn Artillery taught the course. "Our mission was to bring the ANA over with the French, and to show them our indirect field artillery piece," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul Fluharty, plt sgt for 2nd Plt, 4-25 FA. "It's very important that they learn this because they need to begin to assume responsibility when we leave Afghanistan."
Afghan soldiers were instructed on the use of the M777A2 Howitzer. "The lesson today was very interesting because there are differences between our weapons and American weapons," said Afghan army Capt. Mohammad Dean, co cmdr for 1st Bde 4th Kandak Artillery. "American guns are very modern."
This training was not just a learning experience for the Afghan soldiers, but for the U.S. and French soldiers as well. Many of the U.S. Soldiers teaching were junior enlisted, experiencing their first interaction of this sort with the Afghans. "The U.S. Soldiers get to work with and teach soldiers from other countries, and also learn a little bit about their culture," Fluharty said.
French troops also assisted in training Afghan artillery troops, and soon will train the Afghan soldiers on their artillery weapons. "For me it's a new experience; it's my first time in Afghanistan," French Capt. Franck Petitfils, co cmdr, said. "It's good for me and my guys to get some experience. The ANA seem to listen to what we are teaching and are happy to learn."
The training provided by the U.S. and French soldiers is designed to help the Afghan NA become a stabilizing force in their country, officials said. "We have learned from other countries, and I'm very confident we can shoot the big guns," Dean said. "The ANA are becoming the backbone of stability in Afghanistan. I am proud to be part of that."
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