November 29, 2008

Dear Interested Reader,
The cooking staff at the FOBs go out of their way to make Thanksgiving special for the troops.  Female IP recruits from the SoI will be among the first graduating class.  The 16th Sust. Bde. mentors and trains IA soldiers at Al-Kasik.  Iraqi school girls receive donated school supplies.  Emergency Response Brigade (ERB) complete arduous training and join the elite IP force.  Numerous suspected criminals and AQI are arrested and large munitions caches seized throughout Baghdad.  Thanksgiving is enjoyed at Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Joanna
_______________________

Nov. 29, 2008

Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

Victory Base Complex dining facilities compete for decorating honors

BAGHDAD -

The Camp Victory's Sports Oasis Dining Facility created simple arrangements and added touches such as lighting and ice to make their Thanksgiving Dining Facility Competition displays stand out on Camp Victory Thanksgiving Day. The competition was held to create a friendly competition between dining facility staff to help further motivate them to make the best Thanksgiving for personnel stationed on VBC.
(Army photos by Pfc. Eric J. Martinez)

Complex garnishes and fruit sculptures covered Camp Liberty's Defleury Dining Facility for Victory Base Complex's Thanksgiving Dining Facility Competition on Camp Stryker.

Camp Liberty's Iron Horse Oasis Dining Facility featured huge cakes, Jell-o molds and a stage that provided the perfect backdrop for service members to take Thanksgiving Day photos.

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Female IP recruits on target

BAGHDAD - In the distance, behind the small clouds of dust rolling behind a formation of marching IP recruits, is a small group receiving info from their instructor, Nov. 25.
The 19 female recruits, who have come to train with other former SoI, have again made the decision to continue to further serve their country by registering at the al Furat IP Training Center, where now they are only a week from graduating as the first SoI graduating class of IP recruits.
 "It was my dream to be an IP since I was 12," said Ammal, an IP recruit and former SoI, through an interpreter. "I like to watch American movies.  I watched Charlie's Angels and it gave me motivation to see other females doing stuff and I thought that I can do it too."  Ammal has also worked for the IA, and after hearing about the opportunities with the IP training program, she said she had made up her mind. "Enough is enough," she said. "We want to prove to the western countries that we can do this - protect our country and help others."
"Before, we used to get some females in training," said Maj. Rozak, training center commander. "The SoI are well trained.  They know many things, and they have more opportunity in the future. They are very well educated militarily wise."
Many of the females said they are happy to be part of the forces that will shape their communities and country. "We did not have an opportunity during Saddam Hussein's regime.  Now, we have that opportunity.  We will handle suicide bombers and IEDs.  It is only a matter of time before we clean up Iraq," said Ammal.

Female IP recruits, who are also former SoI, are qualifying with their weapons.
(Army photos by Staff Sgt. Jessika Malott)

A female IP recruit receives helpful tips from the al Furat IP Training Center commandant while she aims for her target. The class, comprised of more than a 1,000 potential IP recruits, will be the first class of former SoI to complete training at the center.

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Sustainers advise, train Iraqi Soldiers at Al-Kasik

AL-KASIK - Soldiers of the Al-Kasik logistical training assistance team (LTAT), 16th Sust Bde, met with IA Soldiers at Al-Kasik Nov. 22, as part of their embedded support of IA logistics reconstruction.
The LTAT provides logistical mentorship and training for the Al-Kasik Location Command to assist in achieving overall transferability and self-sustainment in 3rd-line maintenance and logistical ops, said Chief Warrant Officer Rodney Hughes Sr., team chief, 16th Sust. Bde Al-Kasik KTAT.
The LTAT is one of several types of teams the U.S. has embedded with Iraqi SF.  Other teams focus on areas such as basic military ops, and police, border patrol and port of entry issues.  Hughes' LTAT focuses on warehouse ops, vehicle maintenance, generator repair and other logistical issues.
"The U.S. is helping to solve some problems that the Iraqi Ministry of Defense doesn't know how to solve," said IA Brig. Gen. Osman, comm. gen., LOCOM, Al-Kasik, during a meeting with Hughes Nov. 22. The general said the LTAT has been very valuable to Soldiers in his command.  "The IA is a new army," Osman said. "It's supposed to have schools for vehicle maintenance, generator repair, warehouse ops and other logistics, but we lack the schools. So if there is any training we can get from the U.S. Army, it's good for the Iraqi Army."
Hughes said despite some challenges like the language gap and scheduling conflicts, the training is worthwhile. "It's important because we're trying to help the IA become self-sufficient," he said.  "It gives you a sense of satisfaction knowing that you're making a difference."
Hughes said working with Iraqis requires a unique approach. "The Iraqis are committed to making this work, but there are a lot of cultural differences," said Hughes.  "No means no, but yes means maybe. You have to build rapport. Until you build a relationship, it's hard to do the job."
IA 2nd Lt. Dhaher, a maintenance officer who works with the 16th Sust. Bde. LTAT at one of the 2 warehouses at Al-Kasik said the cooperation has been very beneficial.  "We've learned a lot from them," said Dhaher, through a translator. "For example, we've learned to put parts on shelves with tracking numbers and keep a computer database."

Chief Warrant Officer Rodney Hughes Sr., discusses training issues with IA Brig. Gen. Osman.
(Army Photos by Sgt. Keith M. Anderson)

Staff Sgt. Ronald Jean-Louis, Al Kasik LTAT, shows IA Spc. Taktook, a warehouse specialist, how to input repair-parts tracking numbers into a computer database.

Sgt. 1st Class Josue Martinez (right), Al Kasik LTAT, and Staff Sgt. Ronald Jean-Louis, Al Kasik LTAT, reiterate to IA 2nd Lt. Dhaher, the importance of tracking every part and filling out all of the required paperwork.

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PRT, ISF spread smiles to Iraqi children

COB ADDER - Local Iraqi SF distributed school supplies in Maysan Province Nov. 23, with assistance from the Maysan PRT.
Iraqi and CF troops handed out various school supplies such as crayons, rulers, pencils and even backpacks to elementary school children.  While some of the troops issued school supplies, others provided security at the scene.
Soldiers assigned to the 1st Sqdrn, 9th Cav Regt, 4th BCT, 1st Cav Div worked with the IA troops to make the event a success.
"I like to work with the Americans. This is not the first or the last time we will work together,"  said 1st Lt. Lafth, an Iraqi military intel officer.
Craig Reilly and his wife, Arie, who work for MND - Center, organized the event. The school supplies were provided through a $2,000 grant from the J. Kirby Simon Foreign Service Trust, a charitable fund committed to expanding opportunities for professional and community service.

An IP officer and IA soldier hand out school supplies with the help of the Muthanna PRT at Al Methargirls' school Nov. 24.
(Army photo by Pfc. Terence Ewings)

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ERB graduates complete arduous training, join elite police force

BAGHDAD - With chests out, arms to their sides, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their brothers in arms, 142 emergency response brigade (ERB) graduates swore an oath of allegiance to Iraq during a ceremony, Nov. 20.
"This org., the ERB, is an elite force - a different force - with the best leadership, the best equipment and the best training," said Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq, cmdr. and NATO Iraqi Training cmdr., to the class during the graduation ceremony.  "When we get the toughest missions, we will ask for you to lead the way, and I know you will."
"Side-by-side with the elected GoI ... we're going to build a new, and better future for this country," said Iraqi MoI Bolani to the graduates. "The world will be pleasantly surprised at what they will see from you in the future."
Iraqi Brig. Gen. Jawad, ERB cmdr., felt taking an oath of commitment to securing the safety and security of Iraq, and establishing peace, was imperative for his newly trained men.  "Keep doing what your brothers did before you - be fierce, attack terrorists, be elite, love the country and put Iraq in your hearts," he said.
In a class that began with 4,800 applicants, 142 men were selected for graduation to serve in Iraq's ERB.  Beginning Oct. 17, and continuing for 5 weeks, instructors challenged students to their mental and physical limits and left only the best standing - a feat historically only a small number accomplish.
"The drop-out rate for this class was approx. 40% lower than previous classes," said a CF rep.  "We moved from a training to a mentoring role, so perhaps the students are more receptive to their own instructors.  Whatever the reason may be, the numbers speak for themselves. This is the fruition of 5 years of partnership with Iraqi Forces," a CF rep said.
"I was in the old Army before and had 3 or 4 similar classes, but this class had better training techniques to learn the tactics that we need," said the top student in the class.
As the first class to graduate since the expansion from an emergency response unit to a full brigade, the men will be assigned to several locations to fulfill needed missions throughout Iraq, said an ERB official.  With approx. 670 men, there are plenty of men to accomplish the ERB missions in Baghdad; however, with the expansion of SWAT units in Kut, Tikrit, Hillah and Mosul, there is a need for additional members.
Editor's Note:  Source identities were removed due to operational sensitivities and the nature of the ERB mission.

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MND-B Soldiers detain 4 suspected criminals

BAGHDAD - Nov. 27, in southern Baghdad's Rashid district, at approx. 12:10 a.m., Soldiers from HHT, 7th Sqdrn, 10th Cav Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID, detained a suspected criminal during an operation in the Abu T'shir community. The detainee is wanted for conducting attacks against CF units 2 months ago.
At approx. 2:30 a.m., Soldiers from Co A, 1st Bn, 22nd Inf Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID, detained 2 suspected Special Groups Criminals in the Aamel community. The men were wanted for allegedly conducting roadside bombs attacks against Iraqi and CF.
At approx. 3 a.m., Scouts from Troop C, 7th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Regt., 1st BCT, 4th ID, detained a SGC wanted for weapons trafficking during a raid in the Abu T'Shir community.
"Even on holidays the Soldiers from the 'Raider' Bde continue to pursue enemy combatants to bring them to justice in the Rashid District of Baghdad," said Maj. Dave Olson, 1st BCT Spokesman, 4th ID.

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IA, NP, seize weapons, munitions throughout Baghdad

BAGHDAD - Iraqi soldiers acting on a tip found a cache in a Sayafiyah residence at approx. 5 p.m., Nov. 25. The large cache consisted of 705 projectiles, 25 mortars, 12 high-explosive, anti-tank rockets, 12 RPGs, an RPG launcher, a hand grenade, 8 propellant charges, 51 fuses and IED-making material.
Another tip led Iraqi soldiers to 4 improvised-rocket launchers, a machine gun and a mortar tube in Tarmiyah at approx. 1 p.m., Nov. 26.
Two hours later, Iraqi NP confiscated a cache south of Baghdad.  A tip led policemen to 2 projectiles, 3 RPGs, a hand grenade and 4 sticks of explosives.
IA soldiers followed up on a tip leading to the seizure of a cache north of Baghdad at approx. 6 p.m. The cache included an anti-tank missile, 3 projectiles, 3 mortars, a Motorola radio, 4 feet of detonation cord, an electric blasting cap and 2 pounds of unidentified bulk explosive.

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NPs seize weapons, MND-B Soldiers detain bombers

BAGHDAD -  Nov. 26 in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad, at approx. 11 a.m. in the Masafee community, Iraqi NPs found and seized 16 AK-47 assault rifles and a Simonov sniper rifle, during a cordon and search mission in support of the Baghdad weapons-free zone policy.
Soldiers from Co D, 1st Bn, 22nd Inf Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID, detained 2 suspected Special Groups criminals, who allegedly conduct roadside bombs attacks, during an op at approx. 5 p.m. in the Shurta neighborhood.

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Rutbah SWAT arrests suspected AQI leader, 5 cell members in western Iraq

BALAD - A Rutbah SWAT unit, with CF advisors, arrested a suspected AQI cell leader during an op, Nov. 24.  Operating under the authority of a Rawah Judge warrant, Iraqi SF arrested the alleged cell leader and 5 additional suspected cell members. The suspected cell leader is believed to be responsible for facilitating VBIED attacks.  He is also allegedly responsible for facilitating attacks against Kubaysi tribe members working for the GoI.

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Blackanthem Military News

Camp Eggers celebrates Thanksgiving with carnival

By Petty Officer 1st Class Cliff Williams

Army Col. Stephen G. Yackley, dep. to the comm. gen., Police Development, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, helps dish out Thanksgiving dinner to servicemembers at Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Servicemembers at Camp Eggers marked Thanksgiving Day 2008 with good food, games and laughter, as Combined Security Transition Command (CSTC-A) -Afghanistan celebrated with a winter carnival.
With a joint military command of more than 1,000 personnel away from home during the holidays, morale, welfare and recreation personnel sought to make the holiday memorable. "Thanksgiving back home for me is always a huge gathering, so being away from home during the holidays is hard," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Odell Hudson.  "But today has been fun.  It took away the thought of being away from home for the holidays."
Camp Eggers personnel participated in various competitions, including darts; football and softball throws; and pie- and hot dog-eating competitions.  Prizes were offered, and camel rides were also available around base.
CSTC-A provides advisors, mentors and trainers to help the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior with organizing, training, equipping and supporting Afghan National SF in order to defeat the insurgency; provide internal security; extend and enforce the rule of law; set conditions for economic development; and gain the trust and confidence of the citizens of Afghanistan.

Army Col. Marion Gale, poses with camels brought to Camp Eggers.