Dear Interested Reader,
Iraq's Christians celebrate Easter. Reading program by the 287th Sust. Bde benefits Iraqi children. Leaders from IA and CF focus on nonlethal efforts. Vo-Tech trains Iraqis for future employment, while Engr. School in Taji prepares IA soldiers. New electrical upgrades improve reliability in Basrah.
In Afghanistan, militants killed in Zabul; suicide bomber thwarted in Khowst; militants killed in Warak and Logar provinces; insurgents killed in Konar.
Joanna
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April 17, 2009
By KATARINA KRATOVAC, AP
Iraq's Christians celebrate Easter
Iraqi Christians pray during Easter Mass in a church in Baghdad.
BAGHDAD – Iraq's Christians took advantage of improved security and gathered Sunday to celebrate Easter. Priests offered prayers for an end to the violence. "God protect us and rid our country of disputes and quarrels; let it be free of hatred and hostilities," Cardinal Emmanuel II Delly said during services in Baghdad's Mansour district, which were broadcast on state television.
About 500 Christians attended services at the Virgin Mary Church in the southern city of Basra. It was believed to be the largest attendance at the Basra church since 2003.
George Matti, 65, from Mosul's eastern Zuhor neighborhood, attended Mass at the local church and then hurried home to his wife and five sons. "We are asking Jesus to help our beloved Iraq and to help all Christians inside and outside Iraq to return to their homes," said Matti, who urged authorities to fulfill their promise to secure the city, 225 miles (360 km) north of Baghdad.
Christians made up about 3% of Iraq's 26 million people when the war began in 2003. The exact number of Christians remaining in Iraq is unclear, but estimates put the figure at several hundred thousand.
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Reading Program Benefits Iraqi School Kids
By Sgt. Keith Anderson
287th Sust Bde Support Ops Plans Officer-in-Charge, Capt. Traci Earls, plays a game of flash cards with students at the Soonobar Elementary School in Dhi Qar province, March 26.
(Photo by Sgt. Heather Wright)
COB ADDER — A U.S. Civil Military Ops (CMO) team recently visited the Soonobar School in Dhi Qar province to read to the children, foster good will and deliver school supplies. Sgt. 1st Class Chris Baker, 287th postal supervisor, and Capt. Traci Earls were 2 team members who volunteered to read to the students.
Baker, a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier in Quincy, Mass., for 24 years, volunteered to help the Iraqi children, and is considering a change of careers when he returns to the States. "I'm inclined to go into teaching upon redeployment," Baker said. "It seems like it would be a fulfilling career. I'm in the process of finishing my BA while deployed, to allow me to pursue my teaching ambitions." With light shining through the small unframed window of the hardened mud and clay classroom, Baker read several stories to the 30-plus 8 to 10-year-olds.
Knowing that kids enjoy and need physical activity, Baker took the children outside in the school's small courtyard. Baker and Lt. Col. Clint Moyer showed the children how to play baseball and invited the children to practice swinging a bat. The children all enjoyed the activity, particularly when the ball flew into the teacher's lounge.
Earls feels she made a difference by showing the importance of volunteering. "Volunteering for the school mission makes it personal," Earls said. "You get to see the kids' faces and interact with them. You get to put a face to Iraq. The kids see that we are good people and are here to help. This is the second time I've been to the school, and these 2 missions will be the highlight of my deployment." With the generosity of Earls' family and friends back home, the CMO team brought activity books and flashcards for the children. "They remembered me from last time which was pretty cool," Earls said. "They were eager to read to me, and you could tell they were very proud of themselves."
Like Earls, Baker had fun and felt the mission was rewarding. "The 'Read Iraq' program is a well-conceived mission put forward by the 287th CMO," Baker said. "Lt. Col Moyer and his co-workers display the commitment and energy to bring forth positive interaction with the Iraqi citizens and their precious youth."
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Special to American Forces Press Service
Partnership Continues as Soldiers Meet With Iraqi Counterparts
By Army Sgt. Dustin Roberts
Army Col. Joseph Martin meets with Iraqi army leaders for dinner at the Dagger Inn dining facility on Camp Liberty, April 11, 2009. The meeting was the first time the leaders have met at Camp Liberty.
BAGHDAD – In their first engagement on Camp Liberty, MND Baghdad leaders serving with the 1st ID’s 2nd HBCT met with the staff of the 6th IA Div’s 24th Bde. The leaders, who help to secure the population west of Baghdad, ate dinner together before a joint meeting focused on nonlethal efforts.
“I appreciate all of the hard work the bde has made for the people in the ‘Dagger’ bde’s area of ops,” Iraqi Lt. Col. Qassim said. “These projects are great for the security effort and for humanitarian services.”
As the U.S. and Iraqi soldiers sat around the conference room table, they discussed how they are going to communicate more often when it comes to building projects. “From my point of view, the IA lacks info for projects the Dagger Bde is doing in our area,” Qassim said. “If we can work on these projects together, then we will be able to provide more security for the projects.” Qassim said Iraqi soldiers would be sure contractors present their ID and credentials, ensuring the contractors do not contribute to terrorism in any way.
The security partners shared mutual goals, agreeing that local residents need to know how the Iraqi and CF are working together to rid Baghdad of criminal activity, and make their lives easier through rebuilding projects. The group also talked about accomplished projects, including various school refurbishments and humanitarian aid drops.
“Americans have donated 20 to 40 tons of school supplies, soccer balls and toys to give to the citizens here,” Army Col. Joseph Martin, cmdr of the 2nd Bde, said. “This shows that humanitarianism is far more persuading than the dwindling insurgents in Iraq.”
As the meeting came to a close and the respective leaders saluted one another, Martin wrapped up by saying work remains to be done. “We will continue to work together in this effort,” he said. “We are one team, and we are here to help the people.”
Iraqi Lt. Col. Yasserlso expressed appreciation for the opportunity to visit the Dagger Bde. “Every time I ask you a question, I always get an answer,” Yasser said to Martin. “I appreciate the invitation to your HQ and for us to able to share info.”
Army Col. Martin, center, and Iraqi Lt. Col. Yassersit in on a nonlethal ops briefing.
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Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq Release
Vo-Tech Trains Iraqis for Joint Base Factory
TAJI — The Taji Vocational Institute (TVI) has achieved another important milestone in its education of Iraqi Soldiers for future employment at the Taji National Maintenance Depot, now known as the Joint Base Factory (JBF), with the combined graduation of 4 classes, April 8.
The ceremony recognized each of the previous TVI honor graduates that have completed their on-the-job training experience in their respective industrial maintenance shops. Each honor graduate was presented an award of achievement of their outstanding work. Key personnel from the TVI staff were also recognized.
The mission of the TVI is to produce soldiers that have a requisite knowledge of a specific trade skill, so that they are prepared to enter the on-the-job phase of their training in a specific maintenance shop.
During the first 2 weeks of the 6-week course, students learn the overall mission of the depot, security procedures, supply accountability and safety, among other important topics. The second phase of TVI is 4 weeks of skill specific training in which students receive instruction in the theory and principles of a particular industrial trade required to rebuild vehicles in support of the IA’s combat weapons systems fleet.
Graduates receive instruction in electroplating, heavy equipment leader, material examiner and tow tractor operator skill sets. The Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq advised on 63 different areas of instruction, which resulted in 771 graduates from the TVI being ready to help support the IA in its mission to provide a secure and stable Iraq.
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Engineer School Prepares IA Soldiers
By Maj. Pat Simon
Iraqi Soldiers learn important engineering skills at a school in Taji, April 10.
TAJI — Some of the best and brightest Iraqi Soldiers are undergoing training at the IA Engr School. Call it Iraq's own version of Advanced Individual Training, but just not as advanced. Yet, they're making strides to improve the quality of the training that goes on here.
"It's an incremental progress here," said IA Col. Flahe, IA Engr School cmdr. "There's no big bang here – just little victories." Those little victories were few and far between just 6 months ago when a good portion of the school was in disrepair. "You would not want to even enter at that time," explained Flahe when talking about a sleeping area that his Soldiers renovated into a classroom.
"This is the finest training that I have seen right here," said Brig. Gen. Owen Monconduit, 225th Engr Bde cmdr.
At this 2-month course, Iraqi Soldiers learn everything from plumbing, electrical, woodworking, operating heavy machinery like dozers and graders, and bridge building. They also are trained on combat-related duties like clearing routes of IEDs. That's especially important to Monconduit, who will soon lose one of his units that is moving on to a new mission in Afghanistan.
The 4th Engr Bn is being replaced by a smaller company-sized element. That poses a challenge, and Monconduit is hoping these Iraqi engrs at this school will help fill in where the need is greatest – combat ops.
"The training you're receiving is important and critical to your success and to the success of the Iraqi govt," Monconduit told the students at the school. "I am very impressed with your cmdr. He takes pride in the engineer school and it shows in the training you are receiving today."
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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Release
New Electrical Upgrades Improve Reliability
BASRAH — Five 132 kilovolt substations here have been upgraded and turned over to Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity (MoE). The stations are distributing power to approx. 275,000 residents, and supporting numerous industries and facilities, including several facilities that are integral to Iraq’s southern oil fields and ops.
“These 5 132kV substations are critical components of Basrah’s electrical infrastructure,” said Dr. Adnan al-Ansari, dir. of Iraq’s energy distribution system in the southern region. “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) oversaw the work and ensured it met the specifications and quality we wanted. The end result is a more reliable, stable grid we can depend on,” he explained.
More than 200 Iraqi workers were on the crews upgrading the 5 substations. “We’re very pleased with their efforts,” said Ansari.
Since 2004 the USACE in Iraq has completed more than 4,500 projects. USACE projects have strengthened and stabilized the electrical transmission grid through the completion of 122 substations, and 11 major overhead transmission line projects.
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Blackanthem Military News
By US Forces Afghanistan Public Affairs Office
Four militants killed in Zabul, suicide bomber thwarted in Khowst
KABUL - April 11, combined forces were conducting a combat recon patrol when they came under attack by militants using RPG and small-arms fire. They responded by engaging with small-arms, heavy-weapons and close-air support fires, killing 4 militants.
No ANSF or CF casualties were reported.
Elsewhere, in the Sabari District, Khowst Province, Afghan NA commandos discovered and disabled a VBIED while conducting a Command Recon Patrol. The elite Afghan soldiers discovered a vehicle by the side of the road that had been prepared for use as a VBIED. Wires protruding from the dashboard led to a battery pack and to a switch attached to the gear shift. The back of the vehicle had been hollowed out. The combined elements destroyed the vehicle in place.
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CJTF-101 Public Affairs Office, Bagram Media Center
Several militants killed in failed attacks
LOGAR PROVINCE) - Eight militants were killed April 11 in two unrelated incidents in Warak and Logar provinces.
In the first incident, militants attacked a TF Spartan patrol with small-arms fire and RPG in Sayed Abad
District, Wardak province. Seven of the attackers were killed by a combination of indirect fire from a local military base and Coalition close air support.
A separate incident in Kherwar District, Logar province, left another attacker dead after a group of militants fired at a combined TF Spartan and Afghan NS Force unit on patrol in the area.
TF Spartan is comprised of the 3rd Bde, 10th Mtn Div (Lt Inf), Fort Drum, N.Y., and operates primarily in the Logar and Wardak provinces, and is a subordinate unit of CJTF-101 in eastern Afghanistan.
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Bagram Media Center
ISAF kills 18 insurgents in Konar
KABUL) – Eighteen insurgents were killed during a pre-emptive defensive strike by Int'l Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Konar province on the evening of April 10.
ISAF service members were on patrol throughout the day along a known insurgent infiltration route in the Pech District. The force then established a patrol base and deployed out an observation team. Approx. 26 insurgents with weapons and lights walked within 6 feet of the observers, giving the patrol positive identification of the group.
As the group of insurgents moved toward the patrol, the observers radioed back to the patrol base. The patrol leader then repositioned his personnel to engage the militants. After the initial fire fight, close-air support and attack helicopters were called to support the ground forces.
Following the engagement, the platoon collected enemy supplies including 10 AK-47s, RPG launchers with ammo, 5 radios and 2 hand grenades.
The incident resulted in no civilian or ISAF casualties.
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