A mother of a Son of Iraq, speaks to Sgt. Lisa Moore, a San Antonio, Texas native and female medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Armor Regiment, 37th Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division out of Fort Bliss, Texas, about medical problems she has been experiencing, during a medical aid mission for the families of the SoI at the SoI Headquarters in Hawijah, near Kirkuk, Iraq, March 24. Photo by Pfc. Jessica Luhrs

Healthcare is a rare commodity in Iraq at times. Women and children can be the victims of that shortage. Here’s a feel good story of what we’re doing about that.

The line of widows, wives, children, mothers and sisters of soldiers of the Sons of Iraq reached from their headquarters building in Hawijah, near Kirkuk, Iraq, all the way to the end of the road and each of them had a huge smile on their face.

These women and children gathered at the SoI headquarters, March 24, to receive much needed clothes, shoes, food and medical attention from Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Armor Regiment, 37th Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division out of Fort Bliss, Texas.

“We did this to show our appreciation to the SoI, they have assisted us greatly since arriving and their families have made many sacrifices,” said Capt. Scott Wares, who also did a project much like this one during his last deployment is an Orange Company, Calif. native and commander of HHC, 1/37th AR.

A daughter of a Son of Iraq, shows off her new toys and clothes she received from Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Armor Regiment, 37th Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division out of Fort Bliss, Texas, during a during a humanitarian and medical aid mission at the SoI Headquarters in Hawijah, near Kirkuk, Iraq, March 24. Photo by Pfc. Jessica Luhrs

“These women and children are very happy to receive the medical attention and supplies they need, in a secure environment,” said Khalaf Ibrahim Ali, known as Abu Adnan and the SoI contractor in Hawijah.

Abu Adnan went on to explain that many of the families cannot afford to go to the doctor or the medicine from minor pains, colds or respiratory problems.

“That is exactly what we are here to help with basic medical care,” said 1st Lt. Jason Hrdina, the battalion physician assistant for 1/37 AR.

Hrdina brought along four of his medics, one of them a female medic to assist the women; these medics assisted more than 300 people.

“It is very important to these women that a female medic is present so they get the care they need, many of them probably would not have seen a medic if we didn’t have one here,” said Sgt. Lisa Moore, a San Antonio, Texas, native and female medic for 1/37 AR.

After being looked at by the medics if they needed to the families then went to another room where the children were able to pick out new shoes, clothing and the women received food and jackets.

One of the women, who asked to be called Manar, whose husband was injured fighting with the SoI, was particularly happy to see the Soldiers and receive the assistance.

“Thank you so much,” she said through an interpreter. “My husband cannot work anymore so to receive food and clothing makes my family so happy.”

After receiving the clothing and food the children were able to stop by and see the 1/37 AR Capt. Abrahamyoung Ki Kim, chaplain, to receive candy and beanie babies, from Beanies for Baghdad.

In a community where many of the people are still suffering these Soldiers truly brightened the day for the families of the SoI and plan to do so many more times.

DVIDS
Story by Pfc. Jessica Luhrs

The news over the last several days has covered the arrest of a prominent Baghdad leader of the Sons of Iraq, and complaints about the lack of pay. The media are reducing a complex issue to sound bites and that does a disservice to both the Iraqi government and the Coalition.

I interviewed Col. Roy Gray, director, Finance and Contracting Directorate, Ministry of Interior Transitional Team, today for a Bloggers’ Roundtable. I asked about the media reports.

The Iraqi government is into its third month without a budget. Parliament failed to pass a budget before the fiscal year began on January 1, then chose to defer any action until the results of the provincial elections were known. Iraq is operating under a “continuing resolution” at this time.

The Sons of Iraq have all been transferred to Iraqi control, through the Ministry of Defense. Their payroll, however, was coming from the National Reconciliation budget. About a month ago, the decision was made to run that payroll through the Ministry of Interior instead. Because Iraqi law regulates Ministry payroll, and the Ministry had no budget for payroll, there was a delay in paying the SoI.

Most of the SoI are paid via a contract with their leadership. Those contracts had to be run through the Interior Ministry process, and Parliament had to pass enabling legislation.

The Bank of Iraq has transferred funds that will result in SoI payroll being issued, beginning today [March 30, 2009]. This is a loan pending the passing of a budget. The National Reconciliation area of the Prime Minister’s office is still responsible for getting that pay to the SoI. All SoI will need to be enrolled as Interior Ministry employees to be paid.

So, the short answer is bureaucracy. It does not appear that any sort of anti-Sunni feelings are involved.

Remember, too, that payroll is in cash, to the individual SoI or to the leadership with which the SoI contract is written. Banking is very limited in Iraq and nearly all transactions are in cash.

Adel Karim Shaker al-Mashadani was arrested on March 28 in an operation led by the Iraqi Emergency Response Brigade and supported by Coalition Force advisors.

Mashadani was arrested under a warrant issued by the Iraqi government. He is suspected of illegally searching, detaining and extorting bribes in excess of $160,000 a month from the citizens of Fahdil, improvised explosive device (IED) attacks that killed Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), leading an IED cell, leading an indirect fire cell, ties to Al-Qaeda in Iraq, and collusion with the terrorist network Jaysh al Islami.

He was not detained because of his involvement with the Sons of Iraq (SOI).

“We remain thankful for the extraordinary work of the Sons of Iraq, and the contributions they have made to the security of Iraq,” said Major General David Perkins, spokesman for Multi-National Force – Iraq. “The Sons of Iraq have provided a great service to the people of Baghdad.”

Fighting in Fadhil subsided overnight with sporadic gunfire ending by 2 a.m. ISF met with SOI leaders in the area on Sunday and made a call to turn-in weapons in the area.

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Today’s Bloggers’ Roundtable was with Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Kulmayer, Chief of Reconciliation and Engagement, Multi-National Corps – Iraq, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. He discussed the on-going transfer of the Sons of Iraq [SoI] to the Iraqi government.

The Sons of Iraq is a program developed by Coalition forces based upon the success seen in al Anbar Province with the Anbar Awakening. The Awakening was a largely volunteer effort that predated the SoI progam by nearly a year.

The SoI were locals who were recruited for infrastructure security duties within their community. They use their personal weapons and guard buildings, operate security checkpoints and patrol highways.

At its height, the SoI program employed 94,000 men in 9 provinces. Some 800 contracts were in place allowing these SoI to be paid by the Coalition. Overall hiring ended in June 2008.

Kulmayer told us that on October 1, 2008, the SoI in Baghdad were transferred to Iraqi authority. This was about 51,000 men hired under 385 contracts. Diyala Province transferred next, moving another 9,000 men onto the Iraqi payroll.

The Colonel stated that all the Sons of Iraq would be on the Iraqi payroll after March 1 of 2009, barring any complications. The Ministry of Defense has control over these units but the payroll come from the National Reconciliation budget. As of today’s interview, about 75% of the total number of SoI are being paid by the Iraqis.

The SoI are about 85% Sunni and the remainder are Shia. Kulmayer has seen little ethnic tension, either in the existing program or after the transfers to Iraqi authority.

The goal is to integrate about 20% of the SoI into the Iraqi Security Forces, and to find the remainder employment with the government or in the private sector. Training programs are being developed or underway. Until an alternate job is found, the SoI will continue their duties and be paid by the Iraqi government.

About 3,000 former SoI have been hired by the Iraqi Police, and another 1,600 have been found employment elsewhere. The process is slow but new programs will be coming on line as time passes.

The SoI have been in battle and have suffered because of it. In 2008, LTC Kulmayer reports about 500 were killed and about 750 wounded. Pay varies for the SoI, with those in Baghdad being paid $300 a month and those in al Anbar $130 monthly.

There are about 800 Iraqi women in the Daughters of Iraq program, 400 in Baghdad and the remainder throughout the country. The women are not part of the SoI integration plan. Those in Baghdad are under Iraqi authority and paid by them. The 400 women outside Baghdad remain controlled by and paid by the Coalition.

The Colonel made it quite clear that the Iraqi government sees the SoI as important and as a critical part of the nationwide reconciliation process. The Diyala Provincial Governor recently stated that the SoI ‘saved Diyala”.

Unemployment remains high in Iraq and complicates the placement of SoI. Security forces are at or near budgeted manpower levels which slows the integration of the 20% of SoI into the forces, as do educational requirements for many of the positions.

LTC Kulmayer was upbeat with his report. He continually remarked on the “amazing progress” made by the Iraqi government and sounded very encouraged by the anticipated future progress in integrating the SoI with the government.

For additional information:
Daughters of Iraq / Lioness program

SoI and Iraqi Police

In the distance, behind the small clouds of dust rolling behind a formation of marching Iraqi Police recruits, is a small group receiving information from their instructor Nov. 25.

The 19 female recruits, who have come to train with other former Sons of Iraq, have again made the decision to continue to further serve their country by registering at the al Furat Iraqi Police Training Center, where now they are only a week from graduating as the first SoI graduating class of IP recruits.

“It was my dream to be an IP since I was 12,” said Ammal, an Iraqi Police recruit and former SoI, through an interpreter. “I like to watch American movies. I watched Charlie’s Angels and it gave me motivation to see other females doing stuff and I thought that I can do it too.”

Ammal has also worked for the Iraqi Army, and after hearing about the opportunities with the IP training program, she said she had made up her mind.

“Enough is enough,” she said. “We want to prove to the western countries that we can do this – protect our country and help others.”

The class members were working on their marksmanship skills and fired their weapons at the training center’s range. Many of the recruits have had previous training so that the tasks that were presented during class have improved their knowledge and skill sets.

“Before, we used to get some females in training,” said Maj. Rozak, training center commander. “The Sons of Iraq are well trained. they know many things, and they have more opportunity in the future. They are very well educated militarily wise.”

Many of the females said they are happy to be part of the forces that will shape their communities and country.

“We (females) want to prove to the western countries that we can do this to help others,” said Ammal. “We did not have an opportunity during Saddam Hussein’s regime. Now, we have that opportunity. We will handle suicide bombers and IEDs (improvised-explosive devices). It is only a matter of time before we clean up Iraq again.”

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