1st Lt. Kathryne B. Schilling, a 27-year-old native of Bethesda, Md., and training officer, Combat Logistics Battalion 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, coaches a woman as she prepares to shoot a pistol during her training to become a Sister of Ferris, June 4. The Sisters of Ferris, trained by CLB-1, 1st MLG, with support from Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, will inspect women for weapons, suicide vests, large amounts of cash and contraband at entry control points.

Most Iraqi women I have met aren’t the reserved, repressed and somewhat bitter women I thought I would meet.

Yes, it’s a harsh way to describe anyone. But before deploying here that was my impression; one conjured by what I saw on news reports.

Then I found myself here.

I recently met five Iraqi women who attended a personnel searchers course, instructed by Marines, which prepared them to inspect local females for contraband, weapons, suicide vests and large amounts of cash.

They aren’t the first in the region to train in such a program, but five members of a very small group. Wearing dresses, sandals and burkas instead of military fatigues, they are going to be working alongside the Iraqi policemen, something unheard of in al-Anbar province until a few months ago. One of the “sisters” volunteered for the job because she needed the money and this was a way to help the city.

According to Time magazine Iraq is faced with “more than 60% unemployment and rampant poverty,” and many lack the resources to earn an education to attain a job yet it is impressive to see proactive women working to better their community.

A “sister” who spoke a bit of English explained that she used to be scared of Marines before meeting them for the training.

I thought of how I used to be scared of searching Iraqi women.

After the training week, the “sisters” and Marines bonded, shared food, culture, laughs and exchanged gifts with each other.

The Iraqi women brought their children to the last day’s graduation. The Marines laid down their rifles and entertained the children as their mothers reviewed all they had learned in the week of training.

Things as simple as sharing a meal, a hug and learning proper greetings in each others’ languages were enough to make a good impression on both sides of the house.

A Marine who trained the females mentioned that one “sister” compared herself to a James Bond girl and how she was training like a Bond girl; learning about weapons and providing security for a city, while making money. It’s not a situation as glamorous as in the movies but the reference gave both women common ground to joke about.

The benefits of their efforts at the entry control point are yet to be seen but the interaction between this group of Marines and women have put both in awe of each other. The proactive few made lasting impressions.

I have faith that as locals, the women will spot anyone suspicious and remain safe while making everyone who goes through the ECP feel more secure when entering their city.

DVIDS
By Lance Cpl. Cindy G. Alejandrez
1st Marine Logistics Group

Cpl. Rebekah D. Hall, a 26-year-old from San Diego, with Combat Logistics Battalion 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, entertains a young girl, as the child’s mother reviews her searching procedure, as part Sisters of Ferris training, June 5.

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The training program designed to strengthen Iraqi Security Forces and employ women in the fight against terrorist activity has expanded in al-Anbar Province as several new recruits graduated and became the Sisters of Ameriyah-Ferris here on June 5.

Previous graduates of the Sisters of Fallujah program work at multiple entry control points into the city to disrupt insurgent efforts to use women to transport contraband into the city of Fallujah. The Sisters of Amariyah-Ferris is the first group trained outside of Fallujah within the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines’ area of operations.

The Sisters participated in classes held near the towns of Ameriyah and Ferris. 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines was augmented by the female search teams of Combat Logistics Battalion-1 who came out and taught the five-day training.

To thoroughly train the new Sisters to assist Iraqi police, the Sisters studied topics such as police ethics, human rights, women’s issues, working in a terrorist environment, female searches and first aid. The Sisters also performed live-fire training with AK-47 rifles and 9mm pistols as a confidence booster. The final stage before graduation involved putting their newly learned skills to the test with on-the-job training at entry control points to Ferris Town.

“In contrast to Fallujah, which already has female search points, this will be a first for Ferris, meaning the women here are starting from scratch,” said 1st Lt. Kathryne Schilling, officer-in-charge of the training, who is overseeing her third class of Sisters with 3rd Bn. 6th Marines. The women were taught very basic skills since the idea of women providing security alongside all the male Iraqi police is new to Ferris.

Schilling and the CLB-1 Marines also addressed the issue of women protecting themselves while performing a dangerous job such as this. Ferris is a small but dense city that is home to approximately 30,000 people, with only one way in and out. The Marines went over different tactics to deter the unique threats against them in Ferris.

One of the new graduates said the Iraqi police of Ferris Town told her about this job opportunity. She said this is her first job and it is a new challenge that she is happy and brave enough to take on.

“I joined to help the Iraqi police and to help my family,” she said. “I’m proud to get this job. I’m proud to help the Iraqi police. I’m going to make the city safer. I can prevent illegal passengers in the city. I’m so proud, I’m so happy.”

DVIDS
By Cpl. Chris Lyttle
3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment

International Security Assistance Force – Afghanistan forces successfully defeated militants during four engagements Sunday [June 8 2008] in Kunar province.

The first engagement happened Sunday morning as an ISAF convoy, traveling near the village of Dabarzay in Kunar province’s Manogai District, defeated militants who attacked their convoy.

Two civilians were injured by militant fire and were evacuated to nearby ISAF medical facilities for treatment.

In the second incident, militants attempted to attack an ISAF re-supply helicopter with small-arms fire at an ISAF base near the village of Serray, Chowkay District.

ISAF and Afghan national security forces successfully repelled the attack with small-arms fire, machine guns, mortars and attack helicopters. No ISAF or ANSF service members were killed or injured, nor were any helicopters damaged, during the incident.

In the third engagement, approximately an hour later, militants mounted another attack on the same base with small arms, machine guns, and RPGs. ISAF and ANSF forces defeated the attack again by responding with mortars, artillery and close-air support.

The final incident happened Sunday afternoon when an ISAF convoy repelled a militant attack near the Wanat district center, Kunar province, with small-arms fire, machine guns and RPGs.

Wanat citizens had previously warned the convoy that an attack was imminent. ISAF service members defeated the militants with mortars, artillery and close-air support.

Also, a reported tribal dispute in the village of Kandigal led to gunfire killing three and injuring a dozen more tribal members. The injured are being evacuated to ISAF medical facilities for treatment.

All incidents are under investigation.

DVIDS

More than 140 suspected criminals turned themselves into the Joint Coordination Center in the city of Balad, May 22.

Three tribal leaders from the area ended their standoff with U.S. and Iraqi forces by bringing in all men under their influence who have a criminal history.

“Today’s reconciliation is an example of local leaders taking a broad step forward in the future security and in the legitimacy of the legal process,” said Maj. Ramiro Salazar, an executive officer of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. “This is the first step of initiating the process for reconciliation with the Iraqi Government, as well as Iraqi Security and Coalition forces.”

The mass reconciliation comes on the heels of several operations designed to put an end to the insurgency that has crippled the area since 2006. The operations targeted key individuals and peripheral fighters resulting in three key individuals being killed.

According to CF, the news of these individuals’ deaths prompted fighters in the area to give up their arms and contact local security forces to surrender.

One local sheik taking part with the other members of his tribe said, “We are tired of fighting and want peace. The reconciliation process is a step in the right direction, and now there will be a common goal of peace between the government and those who had fought it.”

MNF-I

Iraqi security forces detained numerous criminals and found two caches during Operation Estonia on March 29 – 30 in the Iraqi cities of Hamza and Hashmiyah.

“Operation Estonia was an operation to combat extremists who had occupied the town of Hashmiyah,” said Maj. Tony Campbell, from Colorado Springs, Colo., G-3 adviser and deputy team leader with 31st Military Transition Team, 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. “I was surprised by the tenacity of the extremists; they fought hard but the Iraqi Security Forces still prevailed in the operation.”

During the two-day operation, members of the 31st brigade, 8th Iraqi army division; emergency response unit with the Iraqi police; and Hillah special weapons and tactics teamed up with coalition forces elements from 3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, and the 31st MiTT.

Campbell said the operation showed both criminals and the local populace that ISF are willing and capable to combat criminals.

“This operation gave confidence to the Iraqi security forces that they were powerful enough, strong enough to defeat (the criminals),” Campbell said.

Operation Estonia was just one of many raids in the Babil province that were fought to defeat criminals, beginning in the evening on March 25.

“During the next seven to 10 days the Iraqi security forces did a series of operations and in all of these operations the ISF were successful,” Campbell said.

The two caches that were found during Operation Estonia consisted of 23 anti-tank mines, three crates of approximately 40 pounds of explosives each, three crates of pellet-shaped explosives, 15 81 mm mortars, two 120 mm mortars, 1,500 DSHKA rounds, one can of 120 mm mortar fuses, 10 explosively-formed penetrator housings, 10 EFP discs ranging from 4 – 12 inches, one 6-inch complete EFP, three grain bags full of EFP rings, tubes and back covers, two MK-19 rounds and one 120 mm casing.

“The overall outcome is favorable for the government because the Iraqi security forces have a renewed vigor, a new confidence in themselves and the people have a greater confidence in the ability of the security forces to protect them and they’re no longer intimidated by the militia,” Campbell said.

Campbell said the operation also improved lines of communication between elements of the Iraqi police and Iraqi army. “They are openly sharing intelligence between these organizations in order to improve their efficiency during operations.”

DVIDS
By Sgt. 1st Class Tami Hillis
4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division