Civil Service Corps Takes Root
Kirkuk Province recently celebrated the commencement of three new Civil Service Corps.
On Sept. 14, Hawijah celebrated the start of a new CSC and the next day, two started in Dibis.
“The CSCs are intended to provide the necessary training, education and skill that will allow the graduates to seek and attain good paying jobs and to begin the hard task of rebuilding Iraq village by village, city by city,” said Lt. Col. Kevin Hudie, commander, 3rd Battalion, 6th Artillery regiment, 10th Mountain Div, at the Dibis commencement ceremony.
The CSC program is patterned after a U.S. depression-era job program known as the Civilian Conservation Corps designed to put young men back to work. What makes the program unique is that all of the apprentices are former Sons of Iraq members who have been credited for the significant security gains in the Kirkuk Province.
The Hawijah ceremony was held at the Hawijah Farmer’s Union building and was attended by Lt. Col. Christopher Vanek, commander 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division as well as Abu Saddam, the district council chairman. The ribbon cutting ceremony was witnessed by some of the 105 CSC apprentices who will soon be taking on the task of learning the valuable skills needed in rebuilding their communities.
“This is a very important day for us…security and the economy is rising. This is a chance to start a new life. These men are learning for the future. We thank God for this opportunity. We are going to keep making Hawijah better, and better, and better,” said Abu Saddam.
This new contract will teach Iraqi men trades that will build infrastructure in Hawijah, according to Capt. Kurt Rudeselli, 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division. Trades taught will be electrical, plumbing, sanitation, and canal maintenance.
On the heels of the Hawijah ceremony was the Dibis CSC commencement ceremony, which represented two separate contracts that will employ 215 CSC apprentices.
“The Dibis CSC were designed from many discussions with the Dibis City Council, the electrical power plant and the Northern Oil Company to meet the future construction needs of both the electrical and oil industry that are major employers with the Dibis district,” said Hudie.
The former SOI members will receive training in carpentry, masonry and electrical work under the General Construction contract. Under the Industrial contract, the students will receive training in electrical motor-generator repairs, welding, electrical line repairs and industrial plumbing.
“We thank the American people for their investment in Iraq and in its people,” said Hadi Mustafa, the Dibis Mayor, during his address to guests.
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