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

Cpl. Rebekah D. Hall, combat engineer and female search team member with Combat Logistics Battalion 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, and a member of the ‘Sisters of Fallujah,’ search hand-bags for contraband at an entry control point. The group of Iraqi women came together in December 2007 to help U.S. forces stop the smuggling of contraband into the city of Fallujah. In the past, women and children have been used to smuggle forbidden items that can be used to make improvised explosive devices, as well as other items that are not allowed into the city for the safety of the citizens who live there. “Before, we did all the searching ourselves,” said Hall, from San Diego. “Now, we work together and supervise the search techniques that have been taught to the Sisters of Fallujah.”

Marines on a female search team and Iraqi women with the “Sisters of Fallujah” program have been working together at an entry control point here to help make the city of Fallujah a safer place.

The program was formed because females were needed to search other females. In Islamic tradition, a man touching a woman who is not his wife is considered offensive.

Just like Iraqi security forces that have been assuming more responsibilities, Iraqi women are striving to do the same with the help of Marine FSTs.

“(The Sisters of Fallujah) are our eyes and ears inside the booth, where we cannot go,” said Sgt. William A. Lamascus, sergeant of the guard of ECP-1. “It helps to have them here because when they find things, they bring it to our attention.”

Sisters of Fallujah came together in December 2007, to help stop the smuggling of contraband into the city. In the past, women and children have been used to transport forbidden items that can be used to make improvised explosive devices, as well as other items that are not allowed into the city for the safety of the citizens who live there.

“I wanted to help the people be safe in their own city,” said a Sister of Fallujah.

“It is our job to put forth the effort to stop bad people from bringing in contraband,” she said after being with the group for four months.

Some days are busier than others.

“Today is Otlah, a holiday for Iraqi people or the weekend,” said another Sister. “Today, we searched a little more than 2,000 people at this checkpoint.”

Marines help the Iraqi women on these busy days with the daunting task of searching all the women and children that go into the city.

“We are out here to make sure that the searches are done correctly,” said Lance Cpl. Corina J. Hernandez, basic water support technician and FST member with Combat Logistics Battalion 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group. “They do a really good job and they care about what they do.”

The Sisters of Fallujah risk their own lives each day, as well as their families’, to help fight terrorism.

“They are more concerned about other people’s safety than their own,” said Hernandez, from Dededo, Guam.

“Before, we did all the searching ourselves,” said Cpl. Rebekah D. Hall, combat engineer and FST member with CLB-1, 1st MLG. “Now, we work together and supervise the search techniques that have been taught to the Sisters of Fallujah.”

Hall, from San Diego, said being a part of the FST gives her a sense of accomplishment here in Fallujah. She added that the female Marines also provided security for the Sisters of Fallujah.

“This is how we can help out the infantry guys,” said Hall.

For Lance Cpl. Amanda M. Molina, basic water support technician and FST member with CLB-1, 1st MLG, this was her first time working with the Sisters of Fallujah.

“It was interesting to see a different culture,” said Molina, from Fullerton, Calif. “I feel like I am needed. It was a good experience to be able to work with the Sisters of Fallujah.”

DVIDS
Story by Lance Cpl. Robert Medina