Reprinted from March 4, 2007

By Spc. Courtney Marulli, 2nd BCT, 2nd Inf. Div. Public Affairs

Pfc. Evelyn Williams of Temple Hills, Md., is the only woman in the Personal Security Detachment for the command group of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

Her role isn’t one of support, but rather one of combat as the 7.62 mm machine gun operator. This role isn’t something that surprised Williams. She would have been a gunner if she had stayed with her military police company.

As she sits in the turret of the lead vehicle, she must keep a sharp eye for snipers, grenade attacks, suicide bombers, and improvised explosive devices.“Basically, I feel if something happened, I would be responsible because I am the eyes for all the vehicles,” Williams said.

If her eye catches anything that seems suspicious, she calls it down to her noncommissioned officers. With the abundance of litter and debris lining the sides of the roads and alley-ways, Williams said it can be difficult to distinguish a serious threat from regular garbage.

She is grateful for the support she has received from her team.

Fellow Soldiers took her in as one of their own, Williams said. She hasn’t had any problems being the only woman, and was accepted immediately.

“I enjoy being the only female,” she said. “If I hear ‘only female,’ I feel special.”

Although Williams is manning a deadly weapon, going out of the wire also appeals to her softer side.

Seeing Iraqi youth while on patrol is her favorite part of leaving the wire, which she does on a regular basis. She also enjoys seeing the Iraqi people do their part to help, such as clearing paths or helping direct people to the sides so the vehicles can go through.

Joining the Army was something Williams always wanted to do and choosing her job was natural. She had wanted to be a police officer in the civilian world.

She was taking college courses in criminal justice and passed the test to become a police officer. However, she was required to wait six months while background checks were conducted, and that was just too long to wait; so she joined the Army.

Her desire to be in law enforcement stems from her desire to help children, stop domestic abuse, and combat drugs. She is also passionate about stopping people from drinking and driving.

Williams, who has been in the Army for 13 months, enjoys her work but she looks forward to returning to her husband and two children.

“I have kids,” she said. “They need me.”

It’s not uncommon for Army units to have Soldiers striving to earn their United States citizenship. After all, the Army has made earning citizenship a recruiting incentive for enlistment.

Eight Soldiers from 40th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, are earning their United States citizenship while deployed in Iraq. The Soldiers differ in age, gender, and job but their drive to become U.S. citizens unites them. All see the U.S. as an opportunity for something better, and are willing to fight and die for the right to call it home.

Specialist Tarikawe Daniel’s story is just one of several equally powerful stories of a quest for U.S. citizenship.

“I’ll be proud to be an American and all the opportunities that it will offer,” said Daniel, from Arlington, Va., a Combat Engineer in Company C, 40th Engineer Bn. “It will allow my children to have the chance to grow up in a place like America with so many opportunities.”

Daniel was born on the Horn of Africa in Ethiopia. This was the country for which Bob Geldof organized the rock concert Live Aid in 1985 to raise money for relief due to a devastating famine which shocked the world. Ethiopia was in the midst of a decade long civil war which had ravaged the country and brought it to the brink of total disaster. A by-product of the war was a crushing famine and resulting starvation. This was the world Daniel was born to in 1982.

Daniel lived in the capital city of Addis Ababa where the country’s dictator was fighting forces from Eritria.

“The Tigre tribe of Eritria was attacking Ababa because they wanted to overthrow the government of Ethiopia. They believed their tribe was being discriminated against by the ruler,” Daniel said. “I remember artillery shells going off in the middle of the city. It scared me and my mother and twin sister”¦ we would hide underneath trees for protection.”

His father was head of the agriculture department and left the country in fear for his life because he had worked for the Ethiopian government. He believed there was no hope in Ethiopia, and wanted a better life and opportunities for his family.

He left in 1986 for another country in Africa.

“My family doesn’t know where he went in Africa, the next time we heard from him is when he was in England,” he added.

His father was approved as a political refugee in England, where he lived for a short time with relatives in London. In 1991, Daniel left with his twin sister and mother for England, but his father was already in America. The family stayed in London less than a year, living with an aunt in London, before immigrating to the U.S.

Daniel’s father was a cab driver in Washington, D.C. and the family lived there for several years.

“There is a large Ethiopian population in D.C., that helped my father out,” said Daniel. He also had a dream of becoming a U.S. citizen. He earned his citizenship through hard work and determination, character traits Daniel remembered as he grew up.

Daniel’s father told him that education was a vital component to becoming successful in the U.S. so he moved the family to Arlington, Va. because he believed the school system was better than in D.C.

In Arlington, Daniel attended public schools and graduated from Yorktown High School in 2002, but had not yet obtained his citizenship.

“I didn’t have time to work on getting my citizenship because I was not a green card holder for five years,” said Daniel.

In 2003, at the age of 22, Daniel joined the U.S. Army.

“During that time I struggled to please my father. He wanted me to go to college but I was not a good student, I had a “˜C’ average. I spent a lot of time working to help support the family and have money for myself. The classroom environment was never my place.”

One day, Daniel’s father asked him what he was going to do with his life and he told him he would join the Army. His father scoffed, telling him he couldn’t make it.

“My guidance counselor in high school also told me I couldn’t make it in the Army. I wanted to prove them both wrong,” he said.

Daniel enlisted and became a combat engineer. His first assignment was Fort Irwin, Ca. Soon after arriving, Daniel deployed to Iraq in 2004.

“We helped set up the first elections that year,” he said, noting that he was a driver. “I always liked going outside the wire. I found purpose there and I was happy with my squad leader because he always congratulated me on my performance.”

After his tour and return to Fort Irwin, he changed duty stations and was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Div. in Korea for a one-year tour where he met the woman who would become his fiancé.

After his tour of duty he was assigned to the 40th Engineer Bn., 2nd BCT, 1st Armd. Div.

In April, Daniel’s unit deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Although Daniel was a proud and successful member of the Army, something was missing in his life – becoming a U.S. citizen. And, because of an executive order signed by President George W. Bush, non-citizens on active duty are allowed to file for citizenship right away, instead of having to complete a three-year tour of duty. Daniel’s path to citizenship was on the fast track, if he could complete the necessary paperwork.

A combat engineer’s typical day on a route clearance mission is more than 12 hours long, and full of mentally and physically exhausting work. But Daniel was bound and determined to earn his citizenship once and for all, and filed all the necessary documents.

“The Army has given me so many opportunities and has always taken care of me,” said Daniel. “All I have left to receive my citizenship is one interview and the swearing in. I consider myself an American. I don’t feel like I am not a citizen, but having that citizenship will allow me to vote.”

DVIDS
By Pfc. Evan Loyd
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division

Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, are redeploying back to Fort Stewart, Ga., this month.

The 2nd BCT deployed in May 2007 as the fifth surge brigade. Its mission was to block accelerants from entering Baghdad, protect the local population, defeat sectarian violence, continue to increase the capacity of the Iraqi Security Forces, foster local governance and economic systems, and to set the conditions for long-term self-reliance.

The 2nd Brigade, as part of Multi-National Division Center, primarily conducted operations southeast of Baghdad, which included population centers in Abu Waitha, Hawr Rajab, Adwaniyah, Madhariyah and Sayafiyah.

“The security environment created by the 2nd BCT operations and our efforts in enabling an increased Iraqi Army role in the area set the conditions for the local citizens to step up and begin to take control of their future,” said Col. Terry Ferrell, 2nd Brigade Commander, during a June 19 Pentagon Press Conference. “Over this past year, we’ve helped create city councils in each of our population areas. Neighborhood councils now give our communities a direct voice to the government.”

Since May 2007, six agricultural unions were formed and linked to the Ministry of Agriculture. In addition, specific industries such as row crops, poultry, fish and beef farming businesses were reinvigorated by the development of the agriculture unions and their ability to reach out to and work with the local ministries.

“Improved security trends since the inception of the surge helped create an environment where criminals are degraded and the Iraqi people have retaken control of their future, without the fear of intimidation and violence,” said Brig. Gen. Daniel B. Allyn, Chief of Staff, Multi-National Corps – Iraq.

“The surge accomplished many things for which the 2nd Brigade Combat Team and our Coalition Team can be very proud, said Allyn. “The safe and secure environment created through hard work by Iraq’s citizens, Iraqi Security Forces and our Coaltion provides opportunity and a brighter future for Iraq. The Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team did a tremendous job and we send them home to their families with the pride and gratitude of the Iraqi citizens and their Coalition teammates for their extraordinary contributions to the long-term security for the people of Iraq.”

MNF-I

Welcome to Andrew Sullivan’s readers. A “war widow” could be the result of the 11 year war with Iran, the first Gulf War or the current conflict. Please don’t make the assumption that all war widows are recent.

When Capt. Shawn Carbone first took a good look at the south Baghdad area economy, he found it similar to his studies of America during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

“Most of the historically strong businesses were gone, said Carbone, economics team leader for the Baghdad-7 embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team. “The owners had left; packed up. The businesses were shut down and there was mass unemployment across the board.”

There were many reasons for the economic troubles of Iraqis in the area which 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, took control of in June 2007. The basic lack of security forces left a gap which al-Qaida terrorists filled, using the area as a base. Farms and businesses were damaged and violence caused many to flee – some of whom have yet to return. Sectarian strife heated up following the 2005 elections, which left many in the area without a voice in government. Basic service needs, such as electricity and water, went largely unmet. Until security was restored, citizens felt isolated.

Carbone saw an opportunity to help turn things around. His training in economics at Niagara University, in his hometown of Niagara, N.Y., prepared him for the task of helping the citizens of south Baghdad province.

“It’s rewarding because it’s an experiment in economics,” Carbone said. “This is from the ground up. It’s much like our depression-era economics. I’ve actually sent e-mails to my professors, asking them their opinions on some of these things, and researched books on depression-era economics.”

After security was established, the biggest obstacle to economic recovery, said Carbone, was the centralized nature of the economy in the past. Local industries such as a chicken hatchery, a poultry processing plant and a meat processing facility, for example, received inputs from and sold their goods to the Iraqi government at set prices.

“Cooperation is the biggest thing. From where I sit, these businesses are complimentary,” Carbone said. “But they never had a capitalist society, which is all about bringing down costs.”

Now the government is in a state of transition and moving toward free trade.

“Everyone is going through the change,” Carbone said. “Some of the government systems are not yet in place, but that’s where we’re heading.”

Micro Grants

In an effort to revive the local economy, the Baghdad-7 ePRT worked in conjunction with 2nd BCT Civil Affairs, using money as their main tool. Armed with U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development funds, Soldiers and civilians on the Baghdad-7 ePRT looked for projects which would benefit the community as a whole. Civil affairs Soldiers used their battalion’s bulk funds to stimulate individual small businesses through a series of $2,500 microgrants. Though most of the projects focused on agriculture, which dominates the local economy and employs the largest percentage of people, other avenues were explored as well.

Major Douglas Betts, commander of Company A, 415th Civil Affairs Battalion, said Soldiers on the ground identified who could best use the grants.

“The troop commanders and company commanders are all very smart guys,” Betts said. “They know what they’re doing, and they know what’s best for their areas.”

Microgrants were given to businesses ranging from chicken farms to internet cafes. Most recently, a women’s beauty parlor opened up in Arab Jabour, something that would have been impossible in that area until recently.

Women’s Sewing Co-ops

Betts said Soldiers have found other creative ways to involve women in business. One example he gave was women’s sewing cooperatives, which grew out of women’s committees looking for ways to employ themselves and raise revenue for their causes.

“Capt. (Trista) Mustaine in the ePRT did a great job with sewing co-ops. That’s a new one to me,” Betts said.

“One (co-op) that I know is basically made up of war widows,” Betts said. “These ladies want to do something for orphans and school children. They are actually making clothes and selling them. I thought that was pretty original.”

The only condition that comes attached to the microgrants is that business owners attend business training and meetings of their local business associations, Betts said. The formation of local business associations has been vital in helping citizens to help themselves, he said. The focus now is in getting business owners weaned off of coalition force funding and to get them working with their own government.

Basil Razzak, a bilingual, bicultural adviser with the Baghdad-7 ePRT, said that it took some adjusting for local farmers and businessmen to get used to the new economic model.

“Up until now, it was all supervised by the government. Everybody belonged to the government,” Razzak said.

“I remember at one business association meeting, the chairman said, (to Carbone) ‘You are our boss.’ He said, ‘I’m not your boss. I’m here to help you and support you, but it’s your organization and you can conduct your meeting as you like,’” Razzak said.

Razzak, a Canadian citizen who grew up in Baghdad and holds a degree in administration and economics from the University of Baghdad, said the capitalist spirit is slowly but surely taking hold here.

“They are open to new ideas, Razzak said. “They realize the era of state-owned business is gone. They are willing to work and cooperate.”

Carbone said the stimulus coalition forces provided to the local economy has already produced unexpected results. As more businesses reopen and new ones appear, local entrepreneurs have taken it as a sign that it’s okay to open shop again.

“When they start to see these places opening with the help of coalition forces, some of the people have come back and opened up on their own,” Carbone said. “That’s something we didn’t expect.”

One business owner who received significant coalition help has been encouraged to invest even further in his business. The owner of a meat-processing plant in Arab Jabour received a grant to get his facility running again after shutting down operation in 2006. Prior to that, the factory employed more than 90 people.

“Even though we gave the kupa factory a grant, the owner pitched in $200,000 of his own money. The money is out there,” Carbone said. “The biggest thing was that when the owner came back to the area and saw that the security situation had changed progressively, he was more willing to re-invest and start over,” he said.

Betts sees signs that businesses have returned to stay in the area.

“I’ve noticed it in the short time that I’ve been here,” Betts said. “When we first went out, there were some shops, but there weren’t that many. But I’ve noticed in the past several months, in Sayafiyah especially, a lot more of those businesses. They look better and they’re repainted. People are repairing their shops and restocking supplies.”

Betts said the greatest benefit of the renewed prosperity was a population that was employed and able to meet their needs.

“That’s the key to security. People that are able to take care of themselves and their families are not out there planting bombs and killing people for money,” Betts said. “I want to see a strong economy, because that’s the cornerstone of stability.”

DVIDS
By Sgt David Turner
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division