Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers of the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, attended a bridge reopening ceremony in the Kadhamiyah district of northwest Baghdad Nov. 11.

The Al Aima Bridge has been closed since 2005 when a stampede caused the deaths of nearly 1,000 Shiite pilgrims.

The reopening was more than just a ribbon-cutting event, said Lt. Col. John Vermeesch, commander of 1st CAB, 18th Inf. Regt., who oversaw the ceremony.

“The opening of this bridge is symbolic of the unity in Baghdad,” Vermeesch said. “Opening this bridge also indicates sectarian relations and security have improved due to the hard work of local leaders and Coalition forces.”

The ceremony marking the reopening of the bridge was a festive event and included an Iraqi Army band and ceremonial sheep sacrifice. The Mayor of Baghdad, along with the major IA and Iraqi Police commanders of the Karkh District, was in attendance for the ceremony. Before the ceremony, National Policemen from the 2nd NP Division and IA soldiers from the 3rd, Battalion, 22nd Brigade, 6th IA Division, cleared and secured the bridge.

“Iraqi Security Forces have played an instrumental role in not only making an event like this possible but also in helping the bridge reconstruction project run smoothly,” said Maj. Koné Faulkner, spokesman, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div.

The event went off without incident and traffic began flowing across the bridge.

“The people were in a celebratory mood, waving Iraqi flags as they drove across the bridge,” said Vermeesch. “This event, along with others scheduled for the future in the Kadhamiyah district of Northwest Baghdad, will continue to promote security and good sectarian relations in the area.”

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Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, joined their Iraqi counterparts at various locations across western Rashid to assist Iraqi Security Forces issuing the first payday to the Sons of Iraq Nov. 10-13.

The long-awaited payday activities are a critical step in uniting the Iraqi people for the future of Iraq, said Staff Col. Ali Abood Thamer, commander of the 1st Battalion, 53rd Brigade, 14th Iraqi Army Division.

“What is happening here, in my opinion, is extremely important because we are training them, putting tools in their hands, and what is the most important thing, taking them away from terrorism,” Ali said. “We are going to give them money; we are going to give them jobs; we are going to give them goals for their future lives.”

Ali said that he took responsibility for supervising and paying the more than 1,000 West Rashid SoI in the Hayy Furat and Hayy Jihad communities after the Government of Iraq assumed control of the citizens-led security program Oct. 1.

“We are bringing all these people into the IA and the National Police,” said Ali. “They are extremely important because we can train them, and they will be our eyes in the muhallahs. They will keep us better informed on the overall situation.”

Initially beginning in early 2007, Coalition forces sponsored the SoI program, an Iraqi initiative employing local citizens as security guards for their neighborhoods and communities.

The program, which grew stronger with the recognition and support of the Iraqi people, multiplied the presence of the ISF and increased security in the area, said Capt. Christopher Watkins, commander, Company C, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

In light of the growing concern by the SoI members that the Iraqi government would disband the program, the ISF have, in fact, embraced it, said Watkins.

“They have allowed the supervisors to maintain their roles and will hold the Sons of Iraq accountable in the same way that Coalition forces have always done,” he explained. “My guess is because it is yet another step in the right direction for Iraq — another step toward the Iraqi people securing their country for themselves.”

Coalition forces will continue to oversee ISF and SoI activities for the foreseeable future to ensure that the transition occurs without any issues as ISF increasingly take the lead in providing security for the citizens of Iraq, he said.

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Iraqi officials recently announced 1,330 Iraqi families have returned to the three districts in 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division’s operational environment since being displaced due to violence.

The Ministry of Migration and Displaced Persons tracks the return of the citizens on a week-to-week basis. They released the figures, which reflect the number of families who have registered with the ministry since returning to their homes.

To reclaim their houses, these families must provide documentation to the ministry to prove the homes belong to them. Displaced families who register with the ministry are eligible for support from the government of Iraq. Families may receive grants for as much as one million dinar and also may use the money however they deem necessary. While not specifically created to assist displaced persons, the civil services district program is available to them for assistance in securing employment.

An increase in security and stability is primarily responsible for fostering an environment that permits displaced persons to safely return without fear of reprisals from extremist and militant criminals.

“We welcome these good citizens as they return to their homes in eastern Baghdad,” said Maj. Joey Sullinger, a spokesperson for 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light), Multi-National Division – Baghdad. “We hope they fully embrace the Iraqi security forces responsible for the safety and security that allowed these residents to return to their neighborhoods.”

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A road in a Western Baqubah neighborhood that had been closed to local travelers for more than a year reopened Sept. 1.

“This was in the works since early May,” said Capt. Kevin P. Ryan, the officer who coordinated the opening. “My idea was to transition this area of operations back to the Iraqi people and to open the roads up, to give something back to the people.”

To do that, though, he had to work with Iraqi Security Forces to set up a series of three checkpoints and meet conditions required to reopen the road to local traffic. The checkpoints will allow the ISF and their Sons of Iraq partners to search vehicles headed to the western part of the area, long off limits to civilian traffic for security reasons.

“This was the foothold of Al Qaida in Iraq,” Ryan said. “So, they banned all traffic due to clearing operations and never allowed it to come back in because the situation didn’t allow it.”

Ryan also said the road opening was a step forward for ISF members who are increasingly taking on responsibilities in the area.

“For the most part, right now, ISF is in the lead and U.S. Forces have been over-watching,” Ryan said. “The Iraqi dependency on the U.S. is decreasing. That’s the way we need to keep going. Today was one of the steps in the right direction. A big step.”

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Iraqi Security Forces will partner with the 41st Fires Brigade and occupy several checkpoints and patrol bases previously manned by the 1st Georgian Brigade.

“We want to train and work with the U.S. Army,” said Sergeant Namel Watak, 32nd Iraqi Army Brigade.

Namel is with a contingent of soldiers from the 32nd IA Bde., who are working together with soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment at checkpoints in Wasit to keep the province stable and secure.

“We like our job here of running the traffic control point and providing security at the entrance of the patrol base,” he said.

The plan is to have a complete partnership with the Iraqi Soldiers, said 2nd Lt Charles Hines, with the 2-20 FA Regt., and the IA liaison at the patrol base.

“Right now, the Iraqi soldiers have taken over the responsibility of the traffic control point, but we are going to train them to be able to take over the entire patrol base, go and do presence patrols and set-up temporary traffic control points in our area,” he said.

The 41st Fires Bde. established a very good working relationship with both the Iraqi Police and the IA, said Col. Richard M. Francey, Jr., 41st Fires Bde commander.

“We are integrating with the ISF to make us a better fighting force,” he said. “They have stepped up to the plate, and their partnership is why we are able to take over the mission that the Georgians had to leave behind, with no change in the security and safety of the Iraqi people.”

For Namel, working with the Americans is a chance to get better training, and learn as much from the U.S. Soldiers as he can.

“I want to fight fiercely alongside the U.S. Army,” he said. By working with the Americans, “I get more training to be able to do the job.”

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