Democracy takes root in Arab Jabour
By Sgt. David Turner, 2nd BCT, 3rd Inf. Div., PAO
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – “Democracy is a new thing in Iraq,” said Sadi Kalif, the newly elected chairman of the South Rasheed Community Council. “When Saddam was in power, there were no elections. They just pointed to a person and said ‘You are in charge’.”
After years of war and terrorist activity from insurgents and al-Qaeda in Iraq, the citizens of this area south of Baghdad are learning to trust the path of democracy. They are also discovering the process begins not at the top, but in their own neighborhoods.
Members of the South Rasheed Community Council met in Bejiya May 14, where they elected their new chairman and met with Coalition and Iraqi forces. Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, responsible for the area for the past year, introduced the council to the incoming Iraqi Army commander.
Leaders on all sides acknowledged that progress in the area is only possible while strong security forces are in place.
“Al-Qaeda occupied this area for three years,” Kalif said. “It was like the Dark Ages … We had two previous elections, but nobody showed up because of al-Qaeda. If someone participated in the elections, they might get killed.”
This all began to change last year, Kalif said. Citizens in South Rasheed took notice of community councils formed by neighbors to the north in al-Buaytha. These councils worked with Coalition forces, in large part, to obtain basic services.
“Nobody from the Iraqi government came to us to find out what was going on,” Kalif said. The Rasheed nahia, the local governing body, was similarly uninterested, he said.
“When we defeated and expelled al-Qaeda, we were almost at square one,” said Capt. Neil Hollenbeck, commander of Company A, 1-30th Inf. Regt. Because of the infiltration of terrorists in the area, he said, government officials were either unwilling or unable to provide basic services.
With the void left in their government, some citizens resorted to illegally tapping water from pumping stations and electricity from power lines. The community councils were formed as a way for citizens to receive those basic services, as well as health care and economic help, Hollenbeck said. First, however, citizens had to make their neighborhoods safe. “Security is the baseline,” Hollenbeck said.
The main reason that Coalition forces were able to operate successfully in the area was the Sons of Iraq, a volunteer security force which keeps the roads in the region safe and discourages terrorists from returning.
“We know al-Qaeda left because of the Sons of Iraq,” said Lt. Col. Kenneth Adgie, 1-30th Inf. Regt. commander.
Appropriately, the site of the May 14 meeting was the headquarters of the local SoI, which Kalif also leads.
After meeting with the council members, the incoming commander of the 6th Battalion, 25th Brigade, 6th IA Division, Lt. Col. Thaer Jaued, toured several SoI checkpoints in the area with Adgie and Kalif. Hollenbeck said he hoped the IA forces would have a similar relationship with the SoI as Coalition forces enjoyed.
“The first thing [Jaued] did was listen to everyone,” Hollenbeck said. “He emphasized that the SoI will remain a security force and will work with the IA the same way as they work with Coalition forces. Based on what I saw at the meeting, I have great hope that they will work together very closely.”
Kalif said the area’s citizens have been wary of Iraqi Security Forces in the past because Iraqi Police have arrested and detained people for possible ties to terrorism.
“We need to rebuild the trust between the people and the Iraqi Army,” he said.
Kalif, a former IA officer himself, was encouraged by his meeting with Jaued.
“I told him that he should start by building trust with the people as the [Coalition forces] have done in this area,” Kalif said. “When the [Coalition forces] came, people were scared. But then they found the American Soldiers to be good people. Now any Soldier is welcome in any house in the area. I want Iraqi officers to do the same.”
Until connections to the Government of Iraq are fully restored, Kalif said, the IA will have a vital role to play in the region.
“One day the [Coalition forces] will leave and we need the Iraqi government to support us,” he said.
Hollenbeck said IA will succeed in the area as long as they find creative ways to solve problems which persist in the community.“These are connections we’re trying to build with the Iraqi government, and maybe those Iraqi Army officers can do that more efficiently than we can,” Hollenbeck said.
Hollenbeck was optimistic about the council’s chances for success.
“It’s going better than I ever expected it to,” he said. “After what I saw today, there’s a much greater chance for the council to grow as a governing body.”
As the new council chairman, Kalif has many challenges, but he is armed with ideas to address them. In addition to repairing infrastructure and encouraging business growth, he wants to secure funding for a new soccer field to provide youths will an alternative to violence. “Now I have many things on my shoulders,” he said.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Locals snag 12 Iranian rockets
Local tip leads to 12 rocket launchers
MND-C PAO Shop
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces found 12 rocket launchers south of Baghdad, following a tip from a local resident, April 23.
The rocket launchers, designed for 107 mm Iranian rockets, were hidden near a reported launch site used for attacks against Forward Operating Base Falcon.
Initiation wire attached to the launchers was marked “Made in Iran,” and is the same type of wire found at previous launch sites.
The rocket launchers were recovered by Coalition forces.
MND-C PAO Shop
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces found 12 rocket launchers south of Baghdad, following a tip from a local resident, April 23.
The rocket launchers, designed for 107 mm Iranian rockets, were hidden near a reported launch site used for attacks against Forward Operating Base Falcon.
Initiation wire attached to the launchers was marked “Made in Iran,” and is the same type of wire found at previous launch sites.
The rocket launchers were recovered by Coalition forces.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Daughters of Iraq !
Iron Rakkasans welcome Daughters of Iraq
By Capt. Mike Starz, 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT)
YUSIFIYAH, Iraq – The organization known as Sons of Iraq, which has brought peace to much of Iraq, is taking a bold step in its evolution with the addition of Daughters of Iraq (DoI).
On April 17, Col. Aman, commander of 4th Battalion, 25th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division met with leaders from Company C, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) to discuss the creation of the first DoI program. These women would be able to search other females at security checkpoints, expanding the capabilities of the SoI currently manning the checkpoints.
Steve Martinez, a law enforcement professional attached to 3-187th Inf. Regt., said integrating women into security roles was necessitated by insurgents utilizing females to carry out suicide attacks against Iraqis and Coalition forces. Employing women, Martinez said, would “provide a complete and thorough search of suspect females with the utmost respect for the individual and local customs without compromising the safety of others.”
The DoI will search other women in and around Yusifiyah to help prevent trafficking of weapons, explosives and dangerous materials.
In addition to the significant security gains that these women will bring to the checkpoints, there are other advantages.
“The Daughters of Iraq will facilitate female empowerment and the creation of the group represents a significant step towards a properly functioning democratic society,” said Sgt. Jason G. George, Company C intelligence noncommissioned officer. “While the group may face criticism from traditionalists, ultimately, their success will demonstrate their value to the populace.”
Another benefit of the creation of DoI is the opportunity for some of the more disadvantaged women to receive benefits, most of whom have been specifically targeted to join the program.
“We have been working to assist the impoverished women and, particularly, the widows in the area. There are limited employment opportunities for women widowed by insurgent violence and burdened with supporting their children,” said 1st Lt. Chris Hafner, Company C intelligence officer. “This program is ideal for these women.”
The details for DoI contracts are being finalized and will start with 30 women.
“Integrating patriotic Iraqi women into the Daughters of Iraq is a huge step in the right direction of freedom for the Iraqi people,” said Staff Sgt. Thai A. Starkovich, military transition team noncommissioned officer in charge. “With the cooperation of the Iraqi Army and the Sons and Daughters of Iraq, the safety of Iraqis is a goal that is now visible on the horizon.”
By Capt. Mike Starz, 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT)
YUSIFIYAH, Iraq – The organization known as Sons of Iraq, which has brought peace to much of Iraq, is taking a bold step in its evolution with the addition of Daughters of Iraq (DoI).
On April 17, Col. Aman, commander of 4th Battalion, 25th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division met with leaders from Company C, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) to discuss the creation of the first DoI program. These women would be able to search other females at security checkpoints, expanding the capabilities of the SoI currently manning the checkpoints.
Steve Martinez, a law enforcement professional attached to 3-187th Inf. Regt., said integrating women into security roles was necessitated by insurgents utilizing females to carry out suicide attacks against Iraqis and Coalition forces. Employing women, Martinez said, would “provide a complete and thorough search of suspect females with the utmost respect for the individual and local customs without compromising the safety of others.”
The DoI will search other women in and around Yusifiyah to help prevent trafficking of weapons, explosives and dangerous materials.
In addition to the significant security gains that these women will bring to the checkpoints, there are other advantages.
“The Daughters of Iraq will facilitate female empowerment and the creation of the group represents a significant step towards a properly functioning democratic society,” said Sgt. Jason G. George, Company C intelligence noncommissioned officer. “While the group may face criticism from traditionalists, ultimately, their success will demonstrate their value to the populace.”
Another benefit of the creation of DoI is the opportunity for some of the more disadvantaged women to receive benefits, most of whom have been specifically targeted to join the program.
“We have been working to assist the impoverished women and, particularly, the widows in the area. There are limited employment opportunities for women widowed by insurgent violence and burdened with supporting their children,” said 1st Lt. Chris Hafner, Company C intelligence officer. “This program is ideal for these women.”
The details for DoI contracts are being finalized and will start with 30 women.
“Integrating patriotic Iraqi women into the Daughters of Iraq is a huge step in the right direction of freedom for the Iraqi people,” said Staff Sgt. Thai A. Starkovich, military transition team noncommissioned officer in charge. “With the cooperation of the Iraqi Army and the Sons and Daughters of Iraq, the safety of Iraqis is a goal that is now visible on the horizon.”
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
MND - Central launches major Infrastructure Op
MND-C launches major capacity-building operation
From clean water to cell phone towers, Coalition to help Iraqis make sweeping improvements
By Sgt. Michael Connors, MND-C PAO
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq – Multi-National Division – Center kicked off the main phase of its first major operation devoted primarily to capacity building – expanding governance, economics and infrastructure – April 15 in communities south of Baghdad in the Baghdad Province.
Operation Marne Piledriver is taking place in the area of operations of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). While the focus of the operation is on capacity building, Iraqi Security Forces will simultaneously target remaining insurgent pockets with the help of Coalition forces.
Patrol Base Yates, which will house Iraqi and Coalition forces, is currently under construction as a base of operations to bring the fight to the insurgent holdouts. It is named in honor of Cpl. Nyle Yates III, who died in combat in Bayji, Iraq, in 2006 while serving in Company B, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT).
“Marne Piledriver will not only display Iraqi Security Forces-led operations, but also the establishment of a Joint Security Station at Yusifiyah, the development of Iraqi-run radio stations, the injection of funding by the Government of Iraq to refurbish two major water treatment plants and the infusion of funds and expertise into the poultry and agricultural industries,” said Col. Dominic J. Caraccilo, commander of 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT).
Providing training to Government of Iraq officials in the area is another key component of the operation. They will learn how to navigate a democratic, free-market economy after decades of a state-run system under Saddam Hussein. The U.S. Agency for International Development is providing the training.
Maj. T.J. Johnson, one of the main MND-C planners of Marne Piledriver, emphasized the synergy created from the U.S. military and USAID working together.
“It’s a great way of illustrating how our government and our military have to work hand in hand,” he said. “We have to identify what’s important together so that we can go ahead and find a way forward.”
Governance, however, will go beyond the classroom during Marne Piledriver. Local GoI officials will lead the establishment of a major water pipeline into Mahmudiyah, which has seen a shortage in potable water, said Johnson. The contract will be put out to bid in the Iraqi economy, with local leaders overseeing the process and construction.
“If you can bring fresh water into Mahmudiyah – potable water – you eliminate sanitation problems,” Johnson said. “That would be a huge win for the Government of Iraq because then everybody in Mahmudiyah is going to know, ‘Hey, the government made this thing happen.’”
Another major project is the revitalization of the poultry industry. Poultry farms in the area will receive 35,000 eggs. The chickens will be raised and processed for consumption. It is estimated that poultry industry revitalization alone will create 1,000 jobs, said Johnson.
Marne Piledriver is a comprehensive operation spanning several months. Other improvements include improving the Yusifiyah market; renovating fish farms; and erecting cell phone towers and billboards.
When all is said and done, Johnson hopes this operation will serve as a blueprint for what’s possible in Iraq moving forward.
“This is really a test-bed for how successful capacity-building operations can be,” he said. “After spending a lot of the tour focused on lethal operations, the conditions are such that we can really begin to say, ‘OK what do the people need that we can impact in a real positive manner.’”
From clean water to cell phone towers, Coalition to help Iraqis make sweeping improvements
By Sgt. Michael Connors, MND-C PAO
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq – Multi-National Division – Center kicked off the main phase of its first major operation devoted primarily to capacity building – expanding governance, economics and infrastructure – April 15 in communities south of Baghdad in the Baghdad Province.
Operation Marne Piledriver is taking place in the area of operations of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). While the focus of the operation is on capacity building, Iraqi Security Forces will simultaneously target remaining insurgent pockets with the help of Coalition forces.
Patrol Base Yates, which will house Iraqi and Coalition forces, is currently under construction as a base of operations to bring the fight to the insurgent holdouts. It is named in honor of Cpl. Nyle Yates III, who died in combat in Bayji, Iraq, in 2006 while serving in Company B, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT).
“Marne Piledriver will not only display Iraqi Security Forces-led operations, but also the establishment of a Joint Security Station at Yusifiyah, the development of Iraqi-run radio stations, the injection of funding by the Government of Iraq to refurbish two major water treatment plants and the infusion of funds and expertise into the poultry and agricultural industries,” said Col. Dominic J. Caraccilo, commander of 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT).
Providing training to Government of Iraq officials in the area is another key component of the operation. They will learn how to navigate a democratic, free-market economy after decades of a state-run system under Saddam Hussein. The U.S. Agency for International Development is providing the training.
Maj. T.J. Johnson, one of the main MND-C planners of Marne Piledriver, emphasized the synergy created from the U.S. military and USAID working together.
“It’s a great way of illustrating how our government and our military have to work hand in hand,” he said. “We have to identify what’s important together so that we can go ahead and find a way forward.”
Governance, however, will go beyond the classroom during Marne Piledriver. Local GoI officials will lead the establishment of a major water pipeline into Mahmudiyah, which has seen a shortage in potable water, said Johnson. The contract will be put out to bid in the Iraqi economy, with local leaders overseeing the process and construction.
“If you can bring fresh water into Mahmudiyah – potable water – you eliminate sanitation problems,” Johnson said. “That would be a huge win for the Government of Iraq because then everybody in Mahmudiyah is going to know, ‘Hey, the government made this thing happen.’”
Another major project is the revitalization of the poultry industry. Poultry farms in the area will receive 35,000 eggs. The chickens will be raised and processed for consumption. It is estimated that poultry industry revitalization alone will create 1,000 jobs, said Johnson.
Marne Piledriver is a comprehensive operation spanning several months. Other improvements include improving the Yusifiyah market; renovating fish farms; and erecting cell phone towers and billboards.
When all is said and done, Johnson hopes this operation will serve as a blueprint for what’s possible in Iraq moving forward.
“This is really a test-bed for how successful capacity-building operations can be,” he said. “After spending a lot of the tour focused on lethal operations, the conditions are such that we can really begin to say, ‘OK what do the people need that we can impact in a real positive manner.’”
Monday, April 14, 2008
IP's seize large weapons cache
National Police seize cache southeast of Baghdad
By Maj. Joe Sowers, 3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div. PAO
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Policemen from the 3rd Brigade, 1st National Police Division seized a large weapons cache yesterday.
The 3/1 NP Brigade works in partnership with the 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, in the city of Jisr Diyala, southeast of Baghdad across the Diyala River.
Lt. Col. John Kolasheski, from Louden, Tenn., commander of 3-1st Cav. Regt., said the NPs received a tip from a local citizen that munitions were being transported through the area. Policemen quickly identified an abandoned truck stacked with hay that matched the description from the informant. Soldiers from Troop C, 3-1st Cav.
Regt. moved to the scene to help secure the munitions and facilitate proper disposal.
The cache consisted of 541 anti-tank mines, 100 rocket fuses, 29 120 mm mortars, seven 107 mm rockets and five rocket-propelled grenades. Explosive ordnance disposal Soldiers determined the cache was too big to safely dispose of on site. Troop C Soldiers subsequently secured the cache and moved the munitions to Combat Outpost Cashe nearby.“We believe the cache was moved up the al-Kut highway to be broken down into smaller packages for movement into Baghdad,” Kolasheski said.
Kolasheski added that pressuring extremist networks and partnering closely with the Iraqi Security Forces contributed to local residents forwarding the information that led to the munitions seizure.“We believe the pressure we’ve put on Shia extremists in the Village 10 and Besmaya region (communities southeast of Baghdad) facilitated the tip coming to the NP,” Kolasheski said. “We’ve been working our partnership with the 3-1 National Police since July of 2007. We believe that setting that as a priority early on is bearing fruit.”
Kolasheski said that both the confidence of the NPs and the trust of local citizens in the brigade have increased during the past year. When violence increased in Jisr Diyala in late March, Kolasheski said intelligence tips to the NPs from both Sunni and Shia citizens “went through the roof.” According to Kolasheski, Sons of Iraq groups volunteered to assist the NP brigade in clearing criminals from the area during the week-long period of increased violence.
Within the last week, the 3/1 NP Brigade detained one brigade-level and one squadron-level high value individuals and assisted the 3-1st Cav. Regt. in the detention of a Multi-National Division - Center HVI. All three are suspected of murder and attacks against ISF and Coalition forces. “Success breeds success, and in this case, they (the NPs) have increased confidence and leaders that care,” Kolasheski said. “What we wanted to do was build trust in the Shia and Sunni communities, so local residents see the National Police as a national force and not an instrument of sectarian violence.”
The 3-1st Cav. Regt. is assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed to Iraq since March 2007.
By Maj. Joe Sowers, 3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div. PAO
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Policemen from the 3rd Brigade, 1st National Police Division seized a large weapons cache yesterday.
The 3/1 NP Brigade works in partnership with the 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, in the city of Jisr Diyala, southeast of Baghdad across the Diyala River.
Lt. Col. John Kolasheski, from Louden, Tenn., commander of 3-1st Cav. Regt., said the NPs received a tip from a local citizen that munitions were being transported through the area. Policemen quickly identified an abandoned truck stacked with hay that matched the description from the informant. Soldiers from Troop C, 3-1st Cav.
Regt. moved to the scene to help secure the munitions and facilitate proper disposal.
The cache consisted of 541 anti-tank mines, 100 rocket fuses, 29 120 mm mortars, seven 107 mm rockets and five rocket-propelled grenades. Explosive ordnance disposal Soldiers determined the cache was too big to safely dispose of on site. Troop C Soldiers subsequently secured the cache and moved the munitions to Combat Outpost Cashe nearby.“We believe the cache was moved up the al-Kut highway to be broken down into smaller packages for movement into Baghdad,” Kolasheski said.
Kolasheski added that pressuring extremist networks and partnering closely with the Iraqi Security Forces contributed to local residents forwarding the information that led to the munitions seizure.“We believe the pressure we’ve put on Shia extremists in the Village 10 and Besmaya region (communities southeast of Baghdad) facilitated the tip coming to the NP,” Kolasheski said. “We’ve been working our partnership with the 3-1 National Police since July of 2007. We believe that setting that as a priority early on is bearing fruit.”
Kolasheski said that both the confidence of the NPs and the trust of local citizens in the brigade have increased during the past year. When violence increased in Jisr Diyala in late March, Kolasheski said intelligence tips to the NPs from both Sunni and Shia citizens “went through the roof.” According to Kolasheski, Sons of Iraq groups volunteered to assist the NP brigade in clearing criminals from the area during the week-long period of increased violence.
Within the last week, the 3/1 NP Brigade detained one brigade-level and one squadron-level high value individuals and assisted the 3-1st Cav. Regt. in the detention of a Multi-National Division - Center HVI. All three are suspected of murder and attacks against ISF and Coalition forces. “Success breeds success, and in this case, they (the NPs) have increased confidence and leaders that care,” Kolasheski said. “What we wanted to do was build trust in the Shia and Sunni communities, so local residents see the National Police as a national force and not an instrument of sectarian violence.”
The 3-1st Cav. Regt. is assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed to Iraq since March 2007.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Sons of Iraq attempt to join Iraqi Security Forces
Sons of Iraq screened for Iraqi Security Forces
Spc. Amanda McBride, 4th BCT, 3rd Inf. Div. PAO
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Sons of Iraq eager to join the Iraqi Security Forces participated in an initial screening April 7 in Muellha, Iraq.
Iraqi Security Forces, Coalition forces and local leadership held the screening, designed to gauge which SoI members are eligible to continue forward with the transition process into the ISF.
“We were doing a Sons of Iraq screening so we can transition the SoI into the Iraqi Security Forces,” said Capt. Kaiwan Walker, commander of Company D, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment. Leadership from 2-502nd Inf. Regt., attached to 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police leadership and the Mayor of Iskandariyah evaluated the applicants. “Prior to the screening, each SoI had to fill out an application that had his fingerprints and picture on it,” Walker said.
More than 300 SoI lined up outside the Muellha Agriculture Building where the event was held. Once inside, they waited to be called in one by one to be reviewed by the leadership.
After turning in their application to the mayor, Walker said, they took a literary test. Following the test of basic reading and writing skills, the applicants’ identification cards were verified. “The ID manager checked to make sure that they are of age and to check that they live in the region or city that they were filling in the application for,” Walker said.
After completing the process, Walker said all the commanders reviewed the packets to determine whether the SoI met the criteria to get into the ISF program. More than 60 percent of the SoI applicants were approved to move forward for further screening.
The 4th BCT, 3rd Inf. Div. area of operation has approximately 10,500 SoI members, all of whom will be screened, said Lt. Col. Michael Getchell, commander of 2-502nd Inf. Regt. Up to 5,000 of those packets will go to the Government of Iraq, which will screen and evaluate them during a 90-day period.
“There is a phenomenal interest in the ISF,” said Getchell, a native of Bridgewater, Mass. “Those who have been in the Sons of Iraq program are our priority over those who are not part of the Sons of Iraq program. They stepped forward to defend and protect their areas, so they’ve already shown the propensity to be part of the security process.”
Those who didn’t qualify during the screening will continue to work in the SoI program, Walker said.
Future SoI screenings are planned throughout the Babil province to continue their transition into the ISF
Spc. Amanda McBride, 4th BCT, 3rd Inf. Div. PAO
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Sons of Iraq eager to join the Iraqi Security Forces participated in an initial screening April 7 in Muellha, Iraq.
Iraqi Security Forces, Coalition forces and local leadership held the screening, designed to gauge which SoI members are eligible to continue forward with the transition process into the ISF.
“We were doing a Sons of Iraq screening so we can transition the SoI into the Iraqi Security Forces,” said Capt. Kaiwan Walker, commander of Company D, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment. Leadership from 2-502nd Inf. Regt., attached to 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police leadership and the Mayor of Iskandariyah evaluated the applicants. “Prior to the screening, each SoI had to fill out an application that had his fingerprints and picture on it,” Walker said.
More than 300 SoI lined up outside the Muellha Agriculture Building where the event was held. Once inside, they waited to be called in one by one to be reviewed by the leadership.
After turning in their application to the mayor, Walker said, they took a literary test. Following the test of basic reading and writing skills, the applicants’ identification cards were verified. “The ID manager checked to make sure that they are of age and to check that they live in the region or city that they were filling in the application for,” Walker said.
After completing the process, Walker said all the commanders reviewed the packets to determine whether the SoI met the criteria to get into the ISF program. More than 60 percent of the SoI applicants were approved to move forward for further screening.
The 4th BCT, 3rd Inf. Div. area of operation has approximately 10,500 SoI members, all of whom will be screened, said Lt. Col. Michael Getchell, commander of 2-502nd Inf. Regt. Up to 5,000 of those packets will go to the Government of Iraq, which will screen and evaluate them during a 90-day period.
“There is a phenomenal interest in the ISF,” said Getchell, a native of Bridgewater, Mass. “Those who have been in the Sons of Iraq program are our priority over those who are not part of the Sons of Iraq program. They stepped forward to defend and protect their areas, so they’ve already shown the propensity to be part of the security process.”
Those who didn’t qualify during the screening will continue to work in the SoI program, Walker said.
Future SoI screenings are planned throughout the Babil province to continue their transition into the ISF
Monday, April 7, 2008
ISF finds huge EFP cache
ISF find largest EFP cache to-date in MND-C
4th BCT, 3rd Inf. Div. PAO
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – A tip led Iraqi Security Forces to the largest explosively-formed penetrator cache found to date in Multi-National Division – Center’s area of operation, April 2. The munitions were discovered in a 6-ton truck in a garage in al Qasim.
The cache contained more than 1000 EFP components, more than 3000 pounds of explosives and 45 Katusha 107 mm rockets and stands. Also included in the cache were more than 10 devices used to detonate improvised explosive devices, 250 PKC rounds, 10 60 mm mortar shells and one 60 mm stand.
The rockets are believed to have been manufactured in Iran.
“The ISF continue to confiscate the lethal tools of the enemy, disrupt the enemy’s freedom of maneuver, and apprehend key members of the (criminal) leadership,” said Capt. Michael Ranado, battle captain for 31st Military Transition Team, 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. “The IP (Iraqi Police) and IA (Iraqi Army) have successfully provided security for the people of the Babil province and continue vigilantly to do so.”
The cache was moved to the Joint Coordination Center in Hillah.
4th BCT, 3rd Inf. Div. PAO
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – A tip led Iraqi Security Forces to the largest explosively-formed penetrator cache found to date in Multi-National Division – Center’s area of operation, April 2. The munitions were discovered in a 6-ton truck in a garage in al Qasim.
The cache contained more than 1000 EFP components, more than 3000 pounds of explosives and 45 Katusha 107 mm rockets and stands. Also included in the cache were more than 10 devices used to detonate improvised explosive devices, 250 PKC rounds, 10 60 mm mortar shells and one 60 mm stand.
The rockets are believed to have been manufactured in Iran.
“The ISF continue to confiscate the lethal tools of the enemy, disrupt the enemy’s freedom of maneuver, and apprehend key members of the (criminal) leadership,” said Capt. Michael Ranado, battle captain for 31st Military Transition Team, 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. “The IP (Iraqi Police) and IA (Iraqi Army) have successfully provided security for the people of the Babil province and continue vigilantly to do so.”
The cache was moved to the Joint Coordination Center in Hillah.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Basketball & The Quran Opens Doors and Hearts
Three-day camp teaches Iraqi kids basketball
Staff Sgt. Tony M. Lindback, 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div.
PATROL BASE LION’S DEN, Iraq – Radwaniyah area children were treated to something a little out of the ordinary when U.S. Soldiers at Patrol Base Lion’s Den held a basketball camp March 20-22.
Holding a basketball camp where Soldiers could teach lessons in teamwork, discipline and hard work, resulted from Staff Sgt. Christopher Dickerson and his company commander, Capt. Sean Morrow, putting their heads together.
Dickerson and Morrow wanted Company B, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), to give back to the community and get the kids in the area together. Their idea captured the support of many company Soldiers, some of whom, like Sgt. Dwight Williams, added ideas and manpower to make the camp a hit.
Williams, originally from Birmingham, Ala., has a brother who holds a basketball camp at home every summer. Williams said he tries to make it to the camp to help each year, but donates $500 to sponsor five children when he can’t be there. “Being over here this time, I got to work with the Iraqi kids and I felt just like I was back at home,” Williams said. “I was able to give back to the community.”
Giving back to Radwaniyah has involved more than just teaching basketball. One sheikh said the security the Americans had established was the first gift to the community.
“Thanks to God, the Iraqi Army and the Coalition forces, the security is very good,” said Sheikh Hameed Shalal Al-Tharib, a local leader in Radwaniyah. “That makes a good situation where our kids can play soccer, or come here and learn basketball.”
Teaching the children basketball, an American game, instead of soccer - a much more common game in Iraq - had its purpose. The Soldiers wanted to share American culture, but they also wanted to get everyone on common ground, starting off as beginners. They brought in Iraqi Army Soldiers and sheikhs to give the youth figures to look to for learning.
“We wanted to bring them in and have the IA with us so they could serve as good role models,” said Atlanta native, 1st Lt. Trivius Caldwell, 3rd Platoon leader for Co. B, 2-69th Armor Regt. “We wanted to teach them basic elements of life – teamwork, discipline, hard work – things of that nature. I think we accomplished that.” Williams said he felt the Iraqi children may have had a misunderstanding of why Americans are in Iraq and the basketball camp was one way to show them what kind of people Americans really are.
“The kids really enjoyed it because they had heard about Americans,” Williams said. “But there’s a big difference between hearing about us and standing there with us and shaking our hands. I think they really enjoyed that more than the basketball camp – getting to interact with us.”
Eighteen children showed up for the first day of the three-day camp, 27 came on the second day and there were 47 by the last day.
“It’s just like spreading the word back home; if one kid likes it, he’s going to tell a friend and then he’ll tell a friend,” Williams said. “We were just glad to have so many kids come out.”
The children formed teams and played a championship game at the culmination of camp, allowing them to show off what they had learned. They were then treated to a cookout and given awards. Twenty-five children got one more thing, something they held dearly as they walked away – their very own Quran.
“In my brother’s camp (in Birmingham) we give out Bibles,” Williams said. “Here, a lot of families don’t have Qurans, so we gave out Qurans … Giving out a Quran is letting them know, ‘I respect your religion, just like I respect mine.’” Local sheikhs happily brought the Qurans in at the request of Morrow.
“It’s a great thing to give the Quran to the children at the end of the basketball camp,” Sheik Al-Tharib said. “We want to teach our kids about more than sports … Since the people here are poor, it’s good that each kid can now have his own Quran – something his family maybe didn’t have before.”
Staff Sgt. Tony M. Lindback, 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div.
PATROL BASE LION’S DEN, Iraq – Radwaniyah area children were treated to something a little out of the ordinary when U.S. Soldiers at Patrol Base Lion’s Den held a basketball camp March 20-22.
Holding a basketball camp where Soldiers could teach lessons in teamwork, discipline and hard work, resulted from Staff Sgt. Christopher Dickerson and his company commander, Capt. Sean Morrow, putting their heads together.
Dickerson and Morrow wanted Company B, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), to give back to the community and get the kids in the area together. Their idea captured the support of many company Soldiers, some of whom, like Sgt. Dwight Williams, added ideas and manpower to make the camp a hit.
Williams, originally from Birmingham, Ala., has a brother who holds a basketball camp at home every summer. Williams said he tries to make it to the camp to help each year, but donates $500 to sponsor five children when he can’t be there. “Being over here this time, I got to work with the Iraqi kids and I felt just like I was back at home,” Williams said. “I was able to give back to the community.”
Giving back to Radwaniyah has involved more than just teaching basketball. One sheikh said the security the Americans had established was the first gift to the community.
“Thanks to God, the Iraqi Army and the Coalition forces, the security is very good,” said Sheikh Hameed Shalal Al-Tharib, a local leader in Radwaniyah. “That makes a good situation where our kids can play soccer, or come here and learn basketball.”
Teaching the children basketball, an American game, instead of soccer - a much more common game in Iraq - had its purpose. The Soldiers wanted to share American culture, but they also wanted to get everyone on common ground, starting off as beginners. They brought in Iraqi Army Soldiers and sheikhs to give the youth figures to look to for learning.
“We wanted to bring them in and have the IA with us so they could serve as good role models,” said Atlanta native, 1st Lt. Trivius Caldwell, 3rd Platoon leader for Co. B, 2-69th Armor Regt. “We wanted to teach them basic elements of life – teamwork, discipline, hard work – things of that nature. I think we accomplished that.” Williams said he felt the Iraqi children may have had a misunderstanding of why Americans are in Iraq and the basketball camp was one way to show them what kind of people Americans really are.
“The kids really enjoyed it because they had heard about Americans,” Williams said. “But there’s a big difference between hearing about us and standing there with us and shaking our hands. I think they really enjoyed that more than the basketball camp – getting to interact with us.”
Eighteen children showed up for the first day of the three-day camp, 27 came on the second day and there were 47 by the last day.
“It’s just like spreading the word back home; if one kid likes it, he’s going to tell a friend and then he’ll tell a friend,” Williams said. “We were just glad to have so many kids come out.”
The children formed teams and played a championship game at the culmination of camp, allowing them to show off what they had learned. They were then treated to a cookout and given awards. Twenty-five children got one more thing, something they held dearly as they walked away – their very own Quran.
“In my brother’s camp (in Birmingham) we give out Bibles,” Williams said. “Here, a lot of families don’t have Qurans, so we gave out Qurans … Giving out a Quran is letting them know, ‘I respect your religion, just like I respect mine.’” Local sheikhs happily brought the Qurans in at the request of Morrow.
“It’s a great thing to give the Quran to the children at the end of the basketball camp,” Sheik Al-Tharib said. “We want to teach our kids about more than sports … Since the people here are poor, it’s good that each kid can now have his own Quran – something his family maybe didn’t have before.”
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Hillah SWAT captures important individual, discovers large cache
From: 4th BCT, 3rd Inf. Div. PAO
HILLAH, Iraq – Hillah Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) police forces, working together with Coalition forces, captured an individual classified as a high value individual and discovered a large weapons cache while conducting patrols in the Hamza and Hashimiyah areas March 22.
The HVI is accused of directing the planting of improvised explosive devices on routes used by Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition forces.
The cache contained multiple rockets of various sizes, anti-personnel mines, hundreds of rocket-propelled grenade rounds, mortar rounds, hand grenades and other materials to include 22 122 mm rockets with 50 complete rail systems, 200 pounds of C-4 explosives, 15 120 mm mortar rounds, 20 Katusha rounds and three RPG launchers.
The find resulted from a patrol consisting of several vehicles to include both Hillah SWAT and Coalition forces during which the HVI was detained. SWAT members conducted a thorough search of the area, finding large amounts of munitions after searching buildings in the industrial area.
There have been several attacks on ISF over the past few years dating back to at least 2004. This has included some complex attacks using a combination of RPGs, IEDs and mortars, which have killed and wounded several ISF members.
From: 4th BCT, 3rd Inf. Div. PAO
HILLAH, Iraq – Hillah Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) police forces, working together with Coalition forces, captured an individual classified as a high value individual and discovered a large weapons cache while conducting patrols in the Hamza and Hashimiyah areas March 22.
The HVI is accused of directing the planting of improvised explosive devices on routes used by Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition forces.
The cache contained multiple rockets of various sizes, anti-personnel mines, hundreds of rocket-propelled grenade rounds, mortar rounds, hand grenades and other materials to include 22 122 mm rockets with 50 complete rail systems, 200 pounds of C-4 explosives, 15 120 mm mortar rounds, 20 Katusha rounds and three RPG launchers.
The find resulted from a patrol consisting of several vehicles to include both Hillah SWAT and Coalition forces during which the HVI was detained. SWAT members conducted a thorough search of the area, finding large amounts of munitions after searching buildings in the industrial area.
There have been several attacks on ISF over the past few years dating back to at least 2004. This has included some complex attacks using a combination of RPGs, IEDs and mortars, which have killed and wounded several ISF members.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
TF Marne Soldiers Keep Moving
Patrol Base Summers takes shape
Sgt. Ben Brody, 4th BCT, 3rd Inf. Div. PAO
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – In a bid to establish a formidable U.S. security presence near Suwayrah, Iraq, Soldiers began construction of Patrol Base Summers amid the ruins of a former Iraqi Air Force Base March 15.
In a huge convoy of fighting vehicles and tractor trailers, Soldiers from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, attached to 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, pushed toward the Tigris River from Forward Operating Base Kalsu, approx 15 miles south of Baghdad.
In stark contrast to the push to set up Patrol Base Kelsey in December, Soldiers encountered almost no resistance and found the destroyed base uninhabited.
“I think there was a ‘shock and awe’ effect on the local people, to see so much combat power arrive so suddenly,” explained Capt. James Browning, Company A commander.
As part of the company secured the patrol base area, Company A’s Red Platoon and Iraqi Army Soldiers swept through a neighboring village, shaking hands and greeting their new neighbors over chai. Their Bradleys and Humvees idling on the main road, Soldiers spent nearly eight hours walking from house to house by the shortest route possible – often through barnyards full of huge cows.
“It’s sometimes tough to tell when you first meet people, but the Iraqis seem pretty receptive to us being here,” said 1st Lt. Stephen Eldridge, Company A fire support officer. “Some people offered us chai and they were all waving to us when we left. We certainly did our best to make a good first impression.”
Soldiers from Red Platoon and Iraqi troops cataloged residents’ personal weapons and met with the village sheikh. During the patrol, a group of children followed the Soldiers around, cracking jokes and trying out their English on the troops.
One boy of about four had a filthy, bloodstained bandage wrapped around his head – his father said he was hit by a rock while playing with other children. Pfc. Vince Richardson, a medic with Company A, set down his 50-pound aid bag and went to work, cleaning the wound and replacing the dressing. The boy winced, but didn’t cry, as Richardson dabbed the wound with antiseptic.
As Red Platoon returned to PB Summers, a small dust storm rolled in, turning the sky a deep red. The Soldiers ate a quick meal and slept in their trucks, waiting for their next mission that night. Around midnight, the platoon set out into the desert surrounding the patrol base and climbed one of the many small ordnance bunkers that dot the area. After some slipping and sliding on the smooth, steeply-angled concrete roof, the troops pulled each other to the top. After a few hours silently scanning the windswept desert, the platoon slid two by two down the bunker and hiked back to Summers.
The next morning, another convoy of flatbed trucks bearing concrete barriers and other fortifications arrived and an Air Force C-17 cargo jet air-dropped 40 pallets of construction materials near the patrol base. As the huge green parachutes floated to the desert floor, a passing Bedouin goat herder jumped up and down, shouting at the sky. Soldiers from 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th BCT, gathered up the pallets with a forklift and trucked them to Summers. “We did the air-drop because we could, not because we had to,” said 2nd Lt. Scott Dyer, the convoy security platoon leader for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 703rd BSB. “The air assets were available, and there’s plenty of space – it’s a good experience for the logistics personnel.”
Soldiers from 703rd BSB will continue to bring supplies and Company A will continue to build up the base during the last two months of their deployment, Browning said.
“By the time we leave, I’d like to see the patrol base fully operational, to the point where a company can come in and set up their operations in 24 hours,” said Browning, who is from Waynesville, N.C.
The base will serve as a launching point for essential services projects to the neighboring communities and Suwayrah, as well as combat operations. “Tactically, this spot is key to controlling the larger brigade’s area of operations – you can stage lots of equipment here and there’s a good standoff distance from civilian roads and houses,” Browning said. “Partnering with the Iraqi Security Forces, we can make inroads into Suwayrah.”
Lt. Col. Majid, commander of Suwayrah’s 3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 8th IA Division, sends his troops to work with Company A on joint patrols.
“The big thing here is providing essential services to the people – they’re proud of their communities and fought hard to kick al-Qaeda out,” Browning said. “The farmers here depend on their crops, which means they need water and electricity. With us here, we can help the Government of Iraq provide those services.”
Sgt. Ben Brody, 4th BCT, 3rd Inf. Div. PAO
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – In a bid to establish a formidable U.S. security presence near Suwayrah, Iraq, Soldiers began construction of Patrol Base Summers amid the ruins of a former Iraqi Air Force Base March 15.
In a huge convoy of fighting vehicles and tractor trailers, Soldiers from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, attached to 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, pushed toward the Tigris River from Forward Operating Base Kalsu, approx 15 miles south of Baghdad.
In stark contrast to the push to set up Patrol Base Kelsey in December, Soldiers encountered almost no resistance and found the destroyed base uninhabited.
“I think there was a ‘shock and awe’ effect on the local people, to see so much combat power arrive so suddenly,” explained Capt. James Browning, Company A commander.
As part of the company secured the patrol base area, Company A’s Red Platoon and Iraqi Army Soldiers swept through a neighboring village, shaking hands and greeting their new neighbors over chai. Their Bradleys and Humvees idling on the main road, Soldiers spent nearly eight hours walking from house to house by the shortest route possible – often through barnyards full of huge cows.
“It’s sometimes tough to tell when you first meet people, but the Iraqis seem pretty receptive to us being here,” said 1st Lt. Stephen Eldridge, Company A fire support officer. “Some people offered us chai and they were all waving to us when we left. We certainly did our best to make a good first impression.”
Soldiers from Red Platoon and Iraqi troops cataloged residents’ personal weapons and met with the village sheikh. During the patrol, a group of children followed the Soldiers around, cracking jokes and trying out their English on the troops.
One boy of about four had a filthy, bloodstained bandage wrapped around his head – his father said he was hit by a rock while playing with other children. Pfc. Vince Richardson, a medic with Company A, set down his 50-pound aid bag and went to work, cleaning the wound and replacing the dressing. The boy winced, but didn’t cry, as Richardson dabbed the wound with antiseptic.
As Red Platoon returned to PB Summers, a small dust storm rolled in, turning the sky a deep red. The Soldiers ate a quick meal and slept in their trucks, waiting for their next mission that night. Around midnight, the platoon set out into the desert surrounding the patrol base and climbed one of the many small ordnance bunkers that dot the area. After some slipping and sliding on the smooth, steeply-angled concrete roof, the troops pulled each other to the top. After a few hours silently scanning the windswept desert, the platoon slid two by two down the bunker and hiked back to Summers.
The next morning, another convoy of flatbed trucks bearing concrete barriers and other fortifications arrived and an Air Force C-17 cargo jet air-dropped 40 pallets of construction materials near the patrol base. As the huge green parachutes floated to the desert floor, a passing Bedouin goat herder jumped up and down, shouting at the sky. Soldiers from 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th BCT, gathered up the pallets with a forklift and trucked them to Summers. “We did the air-drop because we could, not because we had to,” said 2nd Lt. Scott Dyer, the convoy security platoon leader for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 703rd BSB. “The air assets were available, and there’s plenty of space – it’s a good experience for the logistics personnel.”
Soldiers from 703rd BSB will continue to bring supplies and Company A will continue to build up the base during the last two months of their deployment, Browning said.
“By the time we leave, I’d like to see the patrol base fully operational, to the point where a company can come in and set up their operations in 24 hours,” said Browning, who is from Waynesville, N.C.
The base will serve as a launching point for essential services projects to the neighboring communities and Suwayrah, as well as combat operations. “Tactically, this spot is key to controlling the larger brigade’s area of operations – you can stage lots of equipment here and there’s a good standoff distance from civilian roads and houses,” Browning said. “Partnering with the Iraqi Security Forces, we can make inroads into Suwayrah.”
Lt. Col. Majid, commander of Suwayrah’s 3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 8th IA Division, sends his troops to work with Company A on joint patrols.
“The big thing here is providing essential services to the people – they’re proud of their communities and fought hard to kick al-Qaeda out,” Browning said. “The farmers here depend on their crops, which means they need water and electricity. With us here, we can help the Government of Iraq provide those services.”
Monday, March 17, 2008
ISF & TF Marne stop rocket attack
Al Hillah school, homes damaged in rocket attack
4th BCT, 3rd Inf. Div. PAO
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Eight Iraqi civilians were injured in a rocket attack that hit a neighborhood in the east side of al-Hillah, Iraq, south of the Regional Embassy Office, March 14.
Twenty-nine Katusha rockets were fired, causing damage to one school and three houses, said Capt. Michael Ranado, battle captain for Task Force Sentinel, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.
Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces responded to the attack. Nine rockets that were not launched were recovered. “All the credit belongs to the ISF,” Ranado said. “Their ability to pass on key information to Coalition forces and the fact that they found all the rockets within a 30-minute window shows how capable they are. They did a great job last night, not only in finding possible enemies and their equipment, but also watching out and caring for the civilians.”
An explosive ordnance team with the ISF disarmed the un-launched rockets from the location before they could cause further damage.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
TF Marne Soldiers Close "Torture House"
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq -
March 5
Sons of Iraq led Coalition forces to an al-Qaeda in Iraq torture house and prison in northern Zambraniyah. The house was destroyed 10 March by an Air Force strike.
The patrol was conducted based on intelligence provided by an SoI leader in the area, said Capt. Chris O'Brian, troop commander of Troop C, 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, currently attached to 2nd BCT, 3rd Inf. Div. "The guy wants to clean up the area," said O'Brian, a native of Herndon, Va. "AQI killed half his family." The SoI leader, who heads a group of 300 SoI, worked with his men in support of Troop C Soldiers on the
patrol. The patrol began early in the morning as Soldiers cleared houses in an
area suspected of harboring insurgents, said O'Brian.
During the initial phase of the mission, the group came under small arms fire. Reacting to contact, the enemy, who was observed wearing black, ran away.
As the patrol continued, the group discovered a man dressed in black in a suspected AQI safe house. The man was detained on suspicion of involvement in insurgent activities and the likelihood that he was involved in the earlier attack. SoIs are pointing out the bad guys in the neighborhood, O'Brian said, adding that they have also provided actionable intelligence. Much of that intelligence indicated that there may be an AQI prison or torture house in the town, O'Brian said, noting that he was receiving reports on the possibility for the past week. That intelligence led Soldiers to a house full of materials used by insurgents for torture.
O'Brian said they discovered hand cuffs, an electrocution system consisting of bare wires linked to an on / off switch running to handcuffs on a window bar, and hanging hooks used for humans. Twelve interrogation books written in Arabic were found along with several sets of female clothing. A bloody handprint was also present.
(( From the 2nd BCT, 3rd ID PAO ))
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