Dear Interested Reader,
Rusafa officials an 5th Sqdrn, 73rd Cav Regt celebrate school reopening. Iraqi and US doctors share knowledge. New purification system brings fresh water to Samarra. Largest school in Mahmudiyah reopens. Women's Forum brings Iraqi and Coalition females together. SoI register for job opportunities in Tikrit. Border patrol forces in Basra setting up for success. In Afghanistan, 5 extremists are killed in Oruzgan province.
Joanna
________________________
March 12, 2009
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Rusafa officials celebrate school renovation
Children at the Al-Moutasam Kindergarten dance during the school's reopening ceremony.
(Army photo by Georges Aboumrad)
MUSTANSIRYA - March 3, Faysal Mohammad, Rusafa Dep. District Council Chairman, along with Al-Moutasam Kindergarten officials, commemorated the reopening of its school with a party. Mohammad cut a ceremonial ribbon to officially reopen the school.
Following cheers and applause, attendees walked through the school to see the improvements made. ISF, along with paratroopers assigned to the 5th Sqdrn, 73rd Cav Regt, attended the event as a sign of partnership with the district of Rusafa and its citizens.
The construction of a new art facility was the main project in the school's revitalization efforts. Other refurbishments included fixing plumbing and electrical systems, replacing classroom doors, installing new windows and painting the facility. The new art facility is a sign that Iraqi education officials are continuing efforts to develop educational programs outside of general subjects.
"This is a great thing that we're seeing, this school being renovated in our district," said Alaa' Radey, an official from the Rusafa ministry of higher education. "This is a sign of progression in our educational systems, with the grand opening of this school's art facility. This is a great thing not just for Rusafa and Baghdad, but for all of Iraq."
Paratroopers assigned to 5th Sqdn., were impressed with the school and its renovations. "The turnout of people today is phenomenal," said Sgt. 1st Class Donald Workman, assigned to the non-lethal effects section of the 5th Sqdn. "This is the best school opening yet, and it's a good sign that great things are coming to Iraq."
The Dept of Education for Rusafa's district one is currently planning several projects for the future, including building more than 30 new schools across the district, and renovating more than 70 existing schools.
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Iraqi, U.S. Doctors Share Knowledge
(By Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson, Multi-National Division – Center)
Dr. Mohammed, a general surgeon at the Karama Hospital, shows video of a gallbladder removal surgery to members of the 848th Forward Surgical Team.
(Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson)
FOB DELTA — Iraqi doctors at the Karama Hospital in Kut discussed surgery procedures and techniques with members of the 848th Forward Surgical Team, March 5. The visit was part of ‘Op Gunner Med,’ a joint medical civil-military op between the Wasit dir. gen. of health, and the U.S. doctors from the 41st Fires Bde, designed to restore medical capabilities in Wasit, and bring medical care up to the regional health care standard.
Five different Iraqi doctors presented their cases to the U.S. team, sharing how they conducted their surgeries and discussed the issues they face at the hospital. “Our problem here is the tools,” said Dr. Dhafer, a general surgeon at the hospital. “If you give us the tools, then we can do our job.” The equipment and instruments the doctors use are out of date, and they do not have the supplies needed to perform surgeries the same way as in the U.S., according to Dhafer.
“They are doing the best they can,” said Lt. Col. Sue Springer, certified registered nurse anesthetist, 848th FST. “They are using sutures and supplies in such modification, that it could impact the health care of the patient, but they are trying their best.”
The 848th FST can't supply the doctors with all the medical equipment they need, but they can help to train their medical staff on prioritization of patients, said Lt. Col. Paul Perlik, orthopedic surgeon, 848th FST. “We have to figure out some way to give them a leg up to help their system, without doing it for them,” said Perlik. “I'm going to recommend that we continue this effort, and work at the lower level in training the support personnel, and also set up a program where the doctors can come to the FOB and do elective surgeries here so they can have access to equipment and continue to share their knowledge with us.”
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New Purification System Brings Fresh Water, Hope to Samarra
FOB BRASSFIELD-MORA — The GoI has completed installation of a new water purification system on the Rassassi Canal, bringing clean drinking water and optimism to hundreds of families in the area.
"Success is everywhere, and the insurgents know it," Farhan Thamer, a Samarra resident, said. "The Golden Mosque in Samarra is being rebuilt, the pilgrims are visiting, the water and power systems are being repaired, the farmers are farming -- the govt is beginning to take care of us.”
Muhammad Soluman, dir. gen. of water for Samarra, oversaw a team of Iraqi contractors who performed maintenance work on an existing water purification system and the construction of a new one. "This project has been a great success," Soluman said, "but it is only the beginning. We will continue our efforts until all the people of Samarra have the water they need."
U.S. Soldiers with the 25th ID’s 3rd BCT helped to coordinate funding for the project from the Cmdr's Emergency Response Program. The purification system comprises 2 water pumps, a generator, 2 aluminum sulfate clarifiers and 2 sand filters.
While the purification system is good news for residents, much work remains to repair the destruction caused over the last 6 years, officials said. Samarra currently receives only 2,000 cubic liters of water per hour. Nearly double that amount is required to bring clean water reliably to the entire city. As construction of the nearby Jalisia power station nears completion, the electrical grid in eastern Samarra will be dramatically improved, making continued op of the water units more reliable, and the installation of new units a possibility.
"The people in Samarra are very excited about all the improvements being made," local resident Munther al-Abasi said. "The security is good and the children are going to school without fear."
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Largest School in Mahmudiyah Reopens
By Spc. Kevin Holden
BAGHDAD — U.S. Soldiers joined their IA partners for the reopening ceremony of the Althaira school in Mahmudiyah, March 8.
The school, constructed in 1971, has one of the largest enrollments of students in Mahmudiyah. Workers completed the renovations in 60 days with funding through the Cmdrs’ Emergency Response Program. CF use the program to assist communities with funding for education, healthcare, and humanitarian aid.
“This funding for education will benefit 69 school teachers and 485 students in Althaira. The school has received new chairs and desks for the students and more equipment is coming,” said Lamyaa Hamood, the school headmaster.
Local leaders made the Althaira School project a priority and worked with the teachers and staff to improve the educational environment for the students.
“Education is very important to the people of Iraq. The children are very important, and I'm very happy to supervise the school reopening and work with political leaders in Mahmudiyah,” said Iraqi Staff Col. Wissam Razaq, cmdr.
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Small Talk
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Darius Libre (left), 361st Tactical Psychological Ops Co, and interpreter, Bobby, ask Iraqi children questions during a humanitarian aid mission in the Al Intisar neighborhood of Mosul, March 8, 2009.
(Photo by Staff Sgt. JoAnn Makinano)
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Littlest Sheik
An Iraqi boy from Mamouri Gaurari, watches as sheiks from the area hold a meeting with U.S. Soldiers from 2nd BCT, 1st Armored Div, about giving micro grant applications to widows in the area, March 4.
(Photo by Sgt. Kani Ronningen)
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Hard at Work
An U.S. Army military working dog, Andy, searches among rubble outside a target building during a joint op with the IA Soldiers in Rusafa in eastern Baghdad, Feb. 28, 2009.
(Army photo by Staff Sgt. James Selesnick)
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Women’s Forum Brings Iraqi, Coalition Females Together
BAGHDAD — International Day 2009 was marked here with the first Women’s Forum held in this area, hosted by Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq (MNSTC-I), March 8.
The forum was designed to bring Iraqi women together with women from MNSTC-I to discuss cultural differences and similarities, while building relationships amongst women from different nations.
Royal AF Sqdrn Leader Samantha Emmett, Chief of MNSTC-I’s Directorate of Defense Affairs – Training, and organizer of the forum, said, ”The vision of Maj. Gen. Jasim, director of Military Training - M7, was to bring these 2 groups together to discuss cultures, roles and responsibilities. He thought it was a good idea to get feedback from these women regarding what they might want to discuss in future forums. We wanted to create an atmosphere of open dialogue so the women could feel they had a voice and were not just being talked to,” Emmett continued. “The aim was for the Iraqi women to find out more about Western culture and values from a female perspective, and have a better understanding of the different roles women fulfill in the military, Ministry of Defense orgs, police, judicial and educational systems.”
Topics covered during the forum included the role of women in the police, life as a middle-school principal, females in the judiciary system, women in Western society, and women in business. Dr. Noor,a medical inspector and asst to the MoD inspector gen., spoke on the progression of women in society. “When women progress, then society progresses; when women are held back, then society is held back,” said Noor.
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Kimberley Donahue shared with the Iraqi women her experiences as a female in the military. She stated, “Only 6% of the U.S. Marine force is female, but I persevered to get where I wanted. Even in a restricted service, you can still excel and be a leader.”
U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Frank G. Helmick, MNSTC-I comm. gen. remarked, “The strides that women are making both in the military and in other fields of work are breaking down barriers and moving towards equality. You have to be patient - look where we were just 5 years ago. With such things as infrastructure, oil, water and educated people, Iraq has everything to be not just a leader, but the leader in the region.”
Lamyaa’ Jaleel, from the Directorate of Military Training - M7, commented on the forum. ”It was excellent and we hope it happens more often. Had we started earlier, we would have benefited earlier.”
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Sons of Iraq Register for Job Opportunities
By Spc. Jazz Burney
More than 90 Sons of Iraq from the Tikrit region registered to stay in the program, March 1, as it transitions to the GoI, May 1.
(Photo by Jazz Burney)
TIKRIT — In Saddam Hussein’s former horse stables, now a central op center at FOB Remagen, more than 90 SoI from this region registered to remain in the SoI program, and received payment March 1, as the program transitions from U.S.- to Iraqi-funding and mgt.
“This has been my wish to join the SoI program because it has opened the door for me to join the military and provide the needed security that will continue to protect my family and our great country,” said Quesae Al Satar, who recently joined the SoI program. “It doesn’t matter where I go in the military – whether IA or IP, as long as I am a part of this program to contribute my effort, I am thankful,” he continued.
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Iraqi Forces Secure Abandoned Village
By Spc. Opal Vaughn
FATMIYA — An abandoned village once inhabited by Iraqi nationals, young and old alike, this village now stands alone; desolate and empty of life except for Iraqi SF and U.S. troops passing through every so often.
“Several weeks back we cleared this village, Fatmiya, which is a suspected al-Qaida cell of snipers and IED emplacements,” said 1st Lt. John Belle, 172nd Inf Bde. “We cleared a route; the ISF [Iraqi security forces] came behind us and cleared the village,” Belle stated. “Now we’ve started to establish security around the whole area. All we do is just ensuring the ISF are building up proper defensive positions and that everything is straight, that they can defend themselves.” Belle believes running security ops is important for ISF in order for them to one day run missions completely on their own.
“These types of ops are important to show the Iraqi’s that although we can give them support like helicopters and all that good stuff, they can complete the mission by themselves. They can clear this whole town out, and they can do this with the remaining villages in the area that are suspected of terrorist activities,” Belle said.
Even though the village is uninhabited, security is still vital so the citizens can return to their homes. “This area is important because the ISF have had a lot of contact before,” said SSgt. Nicholas Roha, squad leader. “Supposedly there was an insurgent stronghold held up in this village, so ISF have cleared the area. That way, the insurgents cannot use it to stage out of to attack the ISF.”
Working together creates a stronger force and ensures a presence remains in the village. “We work closely with the IA directly. On missions they take the lead, and out here they pull all the security. We park off and pull an outer perimeter security,” Roha stated. “If they need us, we’re here to advise them. I think they need more equipment, personally, but they can handle pretty much anything thrown at them. Their Soldiers seem really motivated. The IA are really a force;” Roha stated, continuing, “they’re really making themselves a presence.”
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Border patrol forces in Basra setting up for success
BASRA – A new military maintenance facility in Basra is providing members of Iraq’s 4th Regional Border Patrol Forces Command the capability to efficiently maintain vehicles and boats used to patrol and secure the Iraq/Iran border. Construction of the facility began last fall and was completed in early February.
“Now we have adequate space with the new 3-bay modern structure to repair and provide routine service for our vehicles and boats,” said Col. Lafta, dep. cmdr of the new facility. “The old facility was small and crowded all the time. I have a staff of 5 officers, 50 Iraqi soldiers and technicians who work here and the new facility definitely enhances our capabilities,” he added.
The new state-of-the-art structure allows personnel to efficiently maintain vehicles and boats that are used to patrol and provide security along the Iraq and Iran border, explained Gary Gatewood, a construction rep with the USACE Gulf Region Div. “Each bay has a compressed air line to power their pneumatic hand tools, and an exhaust vent line to prevent carbon monoxide build up, allowing them to work in a safe environment when the bay doors are closed,” Gatewood added.
The facility includes rooms for properly storing and recharging vehicle batteries, storing spare parts, as well as a tool room. A new 80 kilovolt generator has also been constructed on site. The facility was built by an Iraqi contractor, who employed 50 local Iraqis on the construction crew.
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Blackanthem Military News
By US Forces Afghanistan Public Affairs
Five extremists killed in Oruzgan province
KABUL - Afghan NP-led forces killed 5 armed extremists during a patrol in a built-up area of Tarin Kowt district, Oruzgan province, March 7.
The combined forces patrol was engaged by a group of violent extremists with small-arms and RPG fire, who attempted to ambush the ANP. The extremists showed blatant disregard for Afghan civilians by haphazardly firing upon the ANP in a highly-populated area. Taking into account the large number of innocent civilians in the vicinity of the attack, the ANP used precisely-controlled small arms fire to quickly suppress and ultimately defeat the 5 enemy combatants.
Following the engagement, the ANP secured the area and discovered an IED on a well-traveled roadside in the vicinity of the attack. The device, designed as an indiscriminate "victim-activated" bomb, was then safely disposed of by the ANP using a controlled detonation.
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