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BASRAH — U.S. and Iraqi Soldiers joined forces to deliver food and supplies to residents of the Faddaqhryah and Bahar communities here, Aug. 18. The U.S. Soldiers from the 17th Fires Brigade (FB) and the 4th Infantry Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team helped the Iraqi Army (IA) provide this urgent humanitarian assistance and lay the groundwork for a lasting relationship between Iraq’s Soldiers and its people, said Army Lt. Col. Ross. C. Scott, 17th FB civil affairs officer.

Scott said the IA delivered more than 400 packages, each intended to feed a family of eight for 30 days.

The U.S. patrol, made up of civil affairs and personnel security Soldiers, left here early to link up in the Iraqi villages with their counterparts from the 14th IA Division. In each village, the Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers were met with welcoming, hopeful looks from local elders and heads of families and curious, smiling faces of children.

“This is really helpful to us,” said Abod, one of hundreds of Faddaqhryah residents who lined up to collect food. “Since Ramadan is coming, we thank God for all of this. I have nine family members that all these supplies will benefit greatly.”

The Iraqi Soldiers were pleased to be part of such a mission.

“This is really nice. We’re here helping these people who are poor and need these supplies,” said Krarr Haidar, an IA Soldier. “Also, there are large families where no one in the household is working; these supplies benefit them the most.”

Although the IA was in the lead for the mission, the 17th FB’s personnel security detachment provided additional security for the event.

“It seems as though the [IA] is becoming completely self-sufficient by the way they handled this event in a professional matter,” said Army Cpl. Dale L. Comella, a medic with the 17th FB Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, Personnel Security Detachment (PSD). “Overall, I was impressed with the organization of the mission and the gratitude from the [local people]. We are trained to think that the threat is always out there, so to come in contact with these people who were so inviting and welcoming was a whole different experience for me.”

An Iraqi secondary school teacher expressed gratitude for the mission. “We’re so happy that the Soldiers are here to help,” the Bahar resident said.

A PSD squad leader noted how far the Iraqi Soldiers have come.

“The Iraqi Army has made tremendous strides toward providing for their people,” said Army Staff Sgt. Samuel G. Ward. “We used to have to pull a lot of our own security, but now we’re in a supervisory role where we’ll aid them by pointing out something we notice, and they’ll take charge in securing the threat.

“They’re setting up their own operations,” he continued. “They’re clearly running their own show. We’re just here just to point them in the right direction.”

(By Army Spc. Maurice A. Galloway, 17th Fires Brigade)

By Andria Allmond
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing

JOINT BASE BALAD

— U.S. Airmen and Soldiers hosted a Department of State Provincial Reconstruction Team-initiated Health Fair for local Iraqi children at the Oasis Dining Facility here, Aug. 22. More than 40 children from the surrounding Salah ad Din province interacted with service members while learning about basic first aid, the role of emergency medical professionals and nutrition and hygiene.

The Health Fair marked the first time local kids were brought here for a medical outreach program.

“The event served the purpose of educating the children in the hopes they will disseminate the information to their families,” said 1st Lt. Emanuel Pierre, Task Force 421, Multi-functional Medical Battalion civil military operations officer. “We also see this as an opportunity to cultivate good sentiment between the Iraqi people and Coalition forces.”

Maj. David Carnahan, 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group chief of medical staff, said his crew is working hand-in-hand with the local community to establish and maintain working relationships with their Iraqi counterparts.

“In the past, our doctors would work alongside Iraqi doctors in treating injured host nationals [at the Air Force Theater Hospital here],” the major said. “As the violence decreases in the area, we don’t have that kind of working relationship anymore. In order to maintain the rapport we’ve built, we need to come together in non-hostility related events such as this. We are trying to support the Iraqi healthcare system by not undermining it, but helping where we can.”

The goal was to teach useful health skills, but the event organizers also built in time for the children to have fun. When the kids first arrived at the dining facility, they got to check out static displays of medical emergency vehicles and some even tried on firefighters’ gear. Then, after the briefings and lunch, they spent the afternoon enjoying sporting events and games at the west side gym.

The six- to 14-year-old participants weren’t the only ones having a good time at the event.

“We love being with the kids and having them here on our base,” said Sgt. Maj. Kellyanne Oneil, Task Force 1st Medical Command senior clinical sergeant major. “You could see everyone smiling and having a great time. It takes [the military members] away from the madness for a little while. Besides having fun, we hope the information and instruction we are exposing them to will ultimately make them safer.”

By 1st Lt. Michele Perez
2nd Marine Logistic GroupCAMP TAQADDUM — As U.S. bases and posts in Iraq continue to consolidate or are transferred back to the Government of Iraq, U.S. military leaders across the country face the challenge of leaving their locations better than when they initially arrived.

Whether it’s through the stabilized security we see here today or the civil affairs projects that have sprouted throughout the country, there are tangible improvements to many of the areas that continue to be or were once occupied by U.S. forces.

One of these improvements was the recent completion of a $50,000 renovation project of a mosque located aboard this camp. The religious structure has actually been closed to the public since 1987, when the area was taken over by the Iraqi Army. But its new face-lift gives hope to local Iraqis that their place of worship will soon be available for use.

Military officials with the 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) and local Iraqi leaders met here for a small ceremony to commemorate the improvements to the mosque. The completion of the project comes only a few days before the beginning of Ramadan, the month-long Muslim observance that focuses on spiritual character building through fasting, prayers and acts of charity.

One of the local leaders who came on base for the event was Ishmaiel Mahmoud Hammad Al-Khelefowi, a religious leader of Kabani, a small village neighboring Taqaddum. His grandfather actually helped build the first mud structure back in 1945 that served as the mosque for more than 40 years until the area was restricted to Iraqi military personnel. Although the new mosque will remain closed to the public until all U.S. forces depart this camp, Khelefowi knows the local people will appreciate the efforts of the Marines who helped coordinate these improvements.

“They will be very grateful,” Khelefowi said. “I want to show the people how Coalition forces have helped us; show their good side.”

The project was designed and led by a local Iraqi contractor and facilitated by the civil affairs section of the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, serving as the security force for the camp.

It took 12 days to complete the renovations with a team of 10 local workers who traveled on and off base every day in support of the project. The work consisted of an entirely new paint job, new windows, light fixtures, electrical work and overall improvements to the infrastructure.

The civil-military operations officer for the battalion, 1st Lt. Christopher J. O’Melia, has worked closely with the local Iraqi villages since his unit arrived to the area in early March. In that time, he has coordinated 52 different projects, coming to a grand total of $1.5 million. The funds for the project came from the Commander’s Emergency Response funds, which are funds available to a commander to help respond to local needs in his area of operations.

O’Melia, who is on his second tour to Iraq, sees a lot of significance in all of the projects he has helped facilitate over the past six months in the 2nd MLG (Fwd)’s area of operations.

“We want the Iraqi people to understand that we’re not occupiers, we’re facilitators,” he explained. “I think as Coalition forces contract and we prepare to turn back pieces of terrain to the Iraqis, we want to make sure the area is better than when we arrived. We want to show them we have been good custodians of their property.”

Marines who have been stationed here on previous deployments can testify to overall improvements they’ve seen in the area. Debris has been cleaned up around the camp and there is less and less military gear and equipment, which has increased tenfold since the recent uptick of drawdown operations. All efforts have brought the Marines stationed aboard this camp one step closer to getting the area ready for the eventual transfer to the Government of Iraq.

By Spc. Naveed Ali Shah
13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)JOINT BASE BALAD — As U.S. forces here prepare for the largest strategic reposturing of forces in 40 years, some Airmen have already started the process.

The Airmen of TF 586, 732nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), have been traveling throughout the Iraqi theater of operations, identifying, collecting and redistributing excess supply items since 2006.

“Our main task is to retrieve excess equipment from Army and Marine locations in Iraq,” said Capt. Rachel Ramos, officer in charge, Mobile Redistribution Team (MRT) 4, TF 586.

Once excess is identified, the teams determine whether or not the material is in working condition. After the equipment is established as serviceable, it is issued to units in theater.

Reusing equipment which is already here on the ground is a cost effective measure as opposed to units ordering more and more material which will further clog up the supply system.

“Redistributing supply items and materials that are already in theater is much cheaper for everybody,” said Tech. Sgt. Vick Williams, the non-commissioned officer in charge of MRT 4. “It gets stuff that’s just sitting around into the hands of Soldiers who can use it.”

The Airmen of the MRTs endured austere living conditions in order to accomplish their mission.

“It was a rough mission, with the sandstorms and heat and bare-bones living conditions; it was tough,” said Ramos, a Texas City, Texas, native. “On top of the weather, some of these places didn’t even have female latrines.”

She said she tried to focus on the mission because she knew she faced even more daunting challenges.

While the Airmen were stationed at Joint Base Balad, the MRTs would often pull back to back missions, leaving them little time to recover before heading outside the wire again.

“We were basically living out of a suitcase,” said Williams, a Melbourne, Fla., native. “After two weeks on mission, sometimes we’d be back less than three days before we’d go out again.”

Despite the harsh conditions, the unforgiving desert environment and magnitude of the mission, Task Force 586 identified, collected and redistributed more than $50 million in excess supply items since February, said Ramos.

In Multi-National Division – Baghdad’s Victory Base Complex alone, $23 million of excess has been identified in less than three months, said Lt. Col. Kenneth Morey, the refit and redistribution chief with the13th ESC.

The MRTs escalated their efforts to retrograde material out of the Iraqi theater, in anticipation of the gradual drawdown.

“Through the next 12 months, the MRTs are going to try to move as much equipment out of theater as possible,” said Morey.

While the date for complete U.S. withdrawal from Iraq draws near, more troops and materials are being sent to their home stations.

As troops are redeployed out of Iraq for good, equipment which would previously have been inherited by their replacements is instead rerouted into the supply system. It is then either given to units which can use it, or retrograded back to units in the United States, said Morey, a Buschwell, Ill., native.

The retrograde of substantial amounts of equipment now will free up transportation assets for troops and their assigned equipment later, he said.

“We want to mitigate the effects of a sudden pull-out as much as possible,” he said. “At the same time we don’t want to leave our footprint in theater.”

As U.S. forces shrink from 130,000 personnel in theater to the August 2010 goal of 50,000 personnel, the MRTs will play an integral role in prioritizing equipment to send home.

“Everybody else is planning for the drawdown,” said Morey. “We’re already doing it. It’s an inglorious job, but they love doing it and they’re good at it.”

AL ASAD AIR BASE — The governor of Anbar province, Qasim al-Fahadawi, and the chairman of the Anbar Provincial Council, Dr. Jassim al-Halbusi, traveled here to meet with leaders of Multi National Force – West, July 16. In a conference room where photographs of the peaceful 2009 Anbar provincial elections hang, MNF-W leaders spoke of a topic that has long been one of the main focuses of the Marines’ mission in Iraq: reconstruction and development.

Col. Robert Lanham, the MNF-W assistant chief of staff for civil-military operations, explained that the purpose of the meeting was to provide a summary of all projects supported through various Coalition force funding resources in Anbar province.

“Today, we’re only discussing projects that deal with what we call ‘brick and mortar construction,’” said Lanham. “This means these projects are actually visible throughout the province.”

Lanham, while giving a presentation to the governor and provincial council chairman, said that since 2006, 1,785 Coalition-funded projects have been completed in the province, and currently MNF-W has 102 ongoing projects.

These visible signs of progress include structures like schools, crime labs, hospitals, greenhouses and judicial centers.

The three initiatives that have received the most funding since 2006 are education, transportation, and water and sanitation projects.

Though the focus of Lanham’s presentation was on construction projects, he mentioned another project that is aimed at boosting the province’s economy.

He said in early August, the U.S. State Department’s Provincial Reconstruction Team for Anbar plans to hold large classes for businessmen in the area. The idea is to teach these businessmen how to compete for contracts. Lanham added that Iraqi businesses vying for contracts will have special priority over foreign companies.

Maj. Gen. R.T. Tryon, the commanding general of MNF-W, and Brig. Gen. John E. Wissler, the deputy commanding general of MNF-W, sat next to Qasim and Jassim throughout the meeting, answering their questions and swapping advice.

“We aren’t going to do anything here other than work to help the province,” said Tryon, as the meeting concluded.

Qasim was quick to respond and voice his mutual support.

“When you encounter obstacles with your projects, please just let us know,” he said. “If anything is not being solved, please feel free to bring it directly to me.”

The governor thanked the Marines for the opportunity to come aboard the base and discuss such important topics.

“I’m glad we had the chance to come here and have this meeting, because one of the most important things in our combined efforts is making sure our approach in thinking is unified.”

(By Cpl. Meg Murray, Multi-National Force – West)

By Senior Airman Andria J. Allmond
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing

JOINT BASE BALAD — Airmen and Soldiers here recently received donations for Iraqi children who live near this base from a stateside fraternity.  The Pennsylvania State University chapter of the social fraternity Phi Kappa Tau supports programs to increase the quality of life for terminally ill children. Through their program Kicks 4 Kids, along with some inquiring by Capt. Craig Bryan, Expeditionary Aeromedicine Squadron psychologist and PKT alumnus, they were able to collect approximately 300 soccer balls to be distributed to Iraqi children via the support of JBB servicemembers.

“Kicks 4 Kids is an annual soccer tournament hosted by the PSU chapter of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity,” said Bryan, who was president of the University of Evansville chapter, Ind., for two years. “It was designed as a philanthropy event to raise money for an international network of summer camp facilities for terminally ill children…allowing these children the opportunity to participate in typical summer camp activities despite their illnesses.”

Months prior to the donations being made, Bryan was having lunch with Capt. Laura Dart, 532nd Expeditionary Security Forces medical officer. She mentioned that Iraqi children were asking the 532nd ESFS for soccer balls while the Airmen were outside the wire on patrol.

“She commented that she wished she had some soccer balls to hand out to the kids, so I told her I’d e-mail some friends back in the States to see if they could send some,” said Bryan. “I e-mailed a few of my fraternity brothers and told them the story. I asked if they’d be willing to get some soccer balls for us. One of them wrote back and said ‘We’re on it…we’ll get you some soccer balls.’”

After Bryan contacted them, the PKT brothers hosting the event sent an e-mail to the 200 participating team coaches a month prior to the event. They requested each bring one deflated soccer ball and air pump to the event registration. The request was also posted on the Kicks 4 Kids Web site.

The captain said the boxes started arriving shortly thereafter.

“They just kept coming,” he said. “My initial reaction was, ‘What am I going to do with all these soccer balls?’”

The captain contacted Kids of Iraq, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of Iraqi children by fulfilling their basic needs and providing a brighter future. They accepted the majority of the contributed balls and inflated them.

“We met at Troy’s place and there were boxes and boxes of these soccer balls to inflate,” said Airman 1st Class Jefferson Aguiar, 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron radar maintenance apprentice.

Due to the large amount of donations, Bryan coordinated multiple methods to distribute the soccer balls.

Some were kept in the intensive care ward at the base hospital and given out to pediatric patients, while a number were given to Army Spc. Nazha Lakrik, who is assigned to the 1st Medical Squadron Medical Control Center, he said.

“Certain days of the week, the [local nationals] on base come in for their follow-up appointments,” said Lakrik. “I know a lot of them are parents, so I make up goody-bags of items for them to give to their children, like books and school supplies. When I heard that Capt. Bryan had those extra soccer balls, I asked if I could have them to put in my bags.”

The remainder was given to the 532nd EFSF Quick Reaction Force for distribution to Iraqi children while on patrol in areas surrounding JBB.

“I think where we’re at right now in our operations in Iraq, building strong relationship with the citizens is what’s most important,” said Bryan. “Combat action will only go so far, especially during a stage that is 100 percent about building lasting, trusting relationships with the people.”

Story by Spc. Alun Thomas
1st Cavalry Division

TAJI — Far away in the hot, arid climate of Iraq, it might be easy for Soldiers to become distant from the places they like to call home, as life goes on without them. However, for some members of the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade on Camp Taji, a base camp north of Baghdad, their States came to them, bringing with them a reminder of the homes they left behind to serve their country.

Governors from Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada and Texas made a goodwill visit to the 1st ACB, 1st Cavalry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, July 18, and met with Soldiers from their respective states, while receiving a tour of the airfield and learning about the everyday activities of the 1st ACB.

The tour was a chance to meet the Soldiers and boost morale, said Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who said this is his third trip to Iraq since 2006.

“I’m coming in to see the troops, especially the ones from Texas, but also the other 49 states and territories,” Perry said. “It’s important to see them and tell them we appreciate what they’re doing and [that] the folks back home are pulling for them and praying for them.”

Perry said he is proud to come over and fly the flag for not just Texas, but the United States, by thanking deployed members for their service, adding the reception is worth the trip.

“It’s awesome, the kids love to see us, but I think we get a bigger charge out of it than they do,” Perry said. “It’s great to see the excitement of everything they’re doing out here.”

The situation in Iraq is significantly better than it was in 2006 on his first visit, Perry said.

“It’s amazing the progress that’s been made in the country and seeing Baghdad getting back to somewhat of a semblance of normalcy shows what an impact we’ve had here,” he said.

Getting to visit the 1st ACB while they are deployed was also an honor for Perry, who was inspired by his visit with the brigade.

“I’ve seen the Cav. back home at [Fort] Hood but never in Iraq,” Perry said. “It was nice to touch hands, touch hearts and touch minds.”

Joining Perry on the trip was Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, who said the Soldiers he met from the 1st ACB are among the most dedicated people the U.S. has to offer.

“Our state [Illinois] is the land of Lincoln, so we believe in patriotism and serving others. And all the men and women I’ve talked to here have served with heart,” Quinn said. “Everyone I’ve met on this trip has more than paid their service to others.”

The trip is not just to honor those serving from Illinois, but every state, Quinn said.

“I really admire volunteerism and answering the call of duty because this is a tough deployment,” Quinn said. “We honor every person from our state and every other state for standing up for our democracy.”

Having the chance to visit and experience the 1st ACB was also an honor, Quinn said, who was excited to sit in an AH-64D Apache attack helicopter and meet enthusiastic 1st ACB troopers from Illinois.

“You can just see the spirit and ability here and it’s inspiring,” Quinn said. “The kind of enthusiasm and energy that each one of these servicemembers brings to the job is important and that’s what teamwork is all about.”

An Illinois native, who had an opportunity to meet with Quinn, was Maj. David Dinkelman from Chicago, support operations officer, 615th Aviation Support Brigade, 1st ACB, who said he was moved by Quinn and his words to fellow Soldiers from his state.

“Whenever you can get the governor from your state to visit and talk to the troops, it’s a tremendous opportunity,” Dinkelman said. “You could see it on everyone’s faces while he talked. You can’t beat that kind of inspiration.”

The trip was a highlight of the deployment thus far for Dinkelman, and he is certain all of the 1st ACB Soldiers who experienced the governor’s visit appreciated it.

“I don’t think you could find a Soldier who didn’t,” he said smiling.

Multi-National Corps – Iraq ReleaseBAGHDAD — Iraqi Police from the Basrah Special Weapons and Tactics team, along with Coalition advisors, arrested two suspected terrorists during an Iraqi-led operation in southern Iraq, July 18.

The SWAT team was operating under the authority of a warrant during the intelligence-driven mission. Court documents indicate that the Police force arrested the suspected insurgents in accordance with the Republic of Iraq’s terrorism law.

Military reports state that the suspected terrorists are linked to an insurgent cell operating in Basrah. More specifically, reports indicate they are accused of murder and conducting roadside bomb and rocket attacks against Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition forces.

During the early-morning operation, the SWAT team uncovered a weapons cache consisting of four previously-used 107mm launch tubes, four 107mm high-explosive rockets, a 107mm rocket-launch rail system and various bomb-making materials.

The information acquired from the apprehension of these suspects will yield further information leading to the capture of terrorists and lethal aid smuggling networks in the area.

“The apprehension of these wanted terrorists delivers a significant blow on the insurgent network operating in the area,” said Lt. Cmdr. Daniel Bernardi, a Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Arabian Peninsula spokesman. “The Iraqi Security Forces’ professionalism demonstrates their unyielding commitment to preventing violent attacks and their unwavering dedication to providing safety, security and stability to the people of southern Iraq.”

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA — Pfc. Dustin Clark was manning the night shift when he heard the warning system go off.

“Now it’s time to do my job.”

This was not a drill. Clark is a member of Echo Battery, 4th Batallion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, C-RAM, out of Fort Hood, Texas. He and other C-RAM systems operators provide 24-hour coverage against mortars and rockets across Iraq.

“The maintenance is the biggest part. We have to test speakers pretty regularly,” said Newell. “We have to make sure everyone can hear the speakers. We have to maintain our radar equipment, make sure it’s calibrated correctly.”

“We didn’t have any injuries that night, which is a spectacular tribute to both the Soldiers here on the ground doing what they’ve been trained to do during an attack, and a tribute to the Soldiers who are manning shift and making sure that the area is protected,” said Newell. “If our alarm saves only one life, we have succeeded in our mission.”