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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The first successful Iraqi government-led pay period of monthly wages to more than 26,000 Sons of Iraq in Multi-National Division Baghdad’s area of operations in Baghdad, which began Nov. 10, comes to an end Nov. 20.

“The Government of Iraq has followed through on its commitment to pay everyone,” said Lt. Col. Arnold Csan, civil affairs planning team chief and division SoI officer with the 4th Infantry Division and Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

“The reality at this point is, over 93 percent have been paid the $300 that the Government of Iraq promised them, which is the same amount we were paying last month,” Csan said.

As of Nov. 19, 24,810 of the 26,000 SOIs in Baghdad have been paid their salaries. There were a few discrepancies in a couple of Iraqi units across Baghdad during the pay period, but those discrepancies are being administratively resolved and the SOI will be paid.

The transfer of the SoI to Iraqi government control, which placed the responsibility for care and payment of the SoI on the shoulders of the GoI, was planned for and rehearsed by officials from the Iraqi government, Iraqi Security Forces and U.S. forces well before the Oct. 1 transfer.

There were concerns regarding possible attacks during the pay period and other potential problems, but the actual paydays went fairly smooth.

“We knew there were going to be minor issues – there are always minor issues,” said Csan. “I use this one analogy: Right now there are 50,000 SoIs (in Baghdad province). You line 50,000 U.S. soldiers up, and I dare you to find that there were no pay problems whatsoever. (It’s) the same situation.”

One of the issues that surfaced was some of the SoI leaders hadn’t been paid their full salary as of Nov. 18 because when the money was drawn for the payday, the extra amount they receive for being leaders was not taken into consideration. Plans were quickly set in motion to establish dates to pay the SoI leaders the rest of the money owed them.

With the first pay period over, the focus of all parties involved now moves to the future of the SoI. Next month’s payday and the eventual transition of the SoI into the Iraqi Police, the Iraqi Army or into other meaningful and productive employment are the next steps in the process.

“The (next) step is then to transition the Sons of Iraq – 20 percent of them will transition into the Iraq Security Forces and, over time, the remaining 80 percent will transfer to other government jobs (or other forms of civilian employment) according to their qualifications,” said Brig. Gen. Robin Swan, deputy commanding general with 4th Inf. Div. and MND-B. “The government of Iraq is committed to the … transition that will occur. We have every confidence that will occur. In the mean time, the Sons of Iraq will continue to perform their security functions throughout Baghdad province until they transition to other employment.”

Until that transition is final, MND-B leaders and Iraqi government and ISF officials will continue to conduct partnered roles during future payday operations.

“We’ve been doing this (conducting paydays) with our Iraqi partners out on the street now for three iterations,” said Csan. “The first two they observed us doing it. This time we’re observing them, and next time we’ll continue to observe them because this is all about a partnership.

“As it goes on, we’ll continue to monitor the paydays because it is something that is in our battle space.

“The pay system will be looked at and refined for next month, with this month’s pay rosters generating next month’s pay rosters and so on, said Csan.

“It’s about really tightening the shot group.”

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An Iraqi family stands in the doorjamb of the empty house, where once they lived before the specter of sectarian violence overwhelmed their lives. The residence once used by insurgents as part of a network of anti-Iraqi forces’ safe houses now stands empty in a suburban muhallah of closely-knit houses characteristic of the Rashid District’s Hadar community — but not for long.

Soldiers of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division are working with Iraqi security forces commanders, local community leaders and Sons of Iraq in southern Baghdad to return Iraq’s displaced families home.

The fact that nearly 6,000 Iraqi families have returned to their communities and neighborhoods in the Rashid District of southern Baghdad since April when the “Raider” Brigade assumed responsibility for the mixed Shia, Sunni and Christian area is a good indicator that security is improving for the area that is home to approximately 1.6 million Iraqi citizens, said Capt. Dave Lombardo, commander of Troop B, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B.

When the Soldiers of “Bulldog” Troop began patrolling the streets of the predominately Sunni community in southeastern Baghdad, Hadar was like a “ghost town,” said Lombardo, with only approximately 15 percent of its houses and buildings occupied.

That is changing now that Rashid’s displaced Iraqi citizens are returning by the hundreds, explained Lombardo, who estimated nearly 50 percent of Hadar’s structures to be occupied.

The troop’s current mission to support Iraqi security forces with offensive operations and secure the Iraqi people keeps the enemy out of the Hadar community, said Lombardo, who hails from Kennesaw, Ga.

“We are security plain and simple,” said Lombardo. “We keep the people safe, set the conditions to be able to perform civil affairs projects, and at the same time transition the ISF to the lead.”

The Soldiers of ‘Bulldog’ Troop ensure that the displaced Iraqi citizens can move back to their homes safely, and works to ensure there is a good representation of security forces in the communities, which will allow returning Iraqis to rebuild their lives and return to a sense of normalcy, said 2nd Lt. Jon Byrd, a platoon leader from Gulf Port, Miss., assigned to Troop B, 7th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Regt., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B.

“The ISF and the coalition forces are doing a good job securing the area, and it’s a good time to move back, that plus the microgrants are making the economy a lot stronger, so jobs are getting better,” Byrd said.

The Soldiers of ‘Bulldog’ Troop patrol the streets of Hadar daily conducting combined patrols with Iraqi national police of the 1st Bn., 7th Bde., 2nd NP Div., and Sons of Iraq, a citizens-led security program that assists ISF in securing the District, said Staff Sgt. Jesus Villareal, a cavalry scout from Chico, Calif., and section sergeant assigned to Troop B, 7th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Regt.

“The area is a lot safer now,” Villareal said. “The ISF are doing their part, so that these families can return home.”

Villareal said that the collective efforts between ISF and CF, circulating throughout the community, handing out flyers and talking with the Iraqi residents, recruits the support of the local citizens, who continue to report weapons caches, special groups criminals and intimidation attacks in Hadar.

“We have been saturating the area,” said Sgt. 1st Class Joaquim Garcia, a platoon sergeant from Converse, Texas, assigned to Troop B, 7th Squadron, 10th Cav. Regt. “We constantly visit the families that are moving in, so we have constant eyes on the people in the area. There are small intimidation cells that are trying to stop these movements and they will get caught.”

Their mission is still the same but the situation has changed, said Garcia, who is serving his third deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and seventh deployment, since entering active service more than 16 years ago.

Most of the Soldiers, leaders and non-commissioned officers in the platoon have two and three tours to Iraq, explained Garcia.

“The NPs and all the Sons of Iraq have cleaned up the city,” Garcia said. “We all know what it was like, and we all see the major change and how security is now.

“Doing small operations like this right here to help resettlement and help bring the people back to their home — that makes us happy, because we know that our mission is almost complete.”

The key to reinforcing security during the resettlement phase is working with the ISF and maintaining contact with the people in the communities, said Garcia.

The Iraqi national police of the 1st Bn., 7th Bde., 2nd NP Div. conduct educational classes with the Iraqi citizens of the community that is part of the Doura area in Rashid, said 2nd Lt. Hassan, an Iraqi NP, who works to secure Hadar with his forces.

“The National Reconciliation in our country under the leadership of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki has played an effective role in returning safety and security to all Iraq and especially in the Doura area,” Hassan explained.

The curfew has been canceled, and ISF commanders are using community leaders, Iraqi media and word of mouth to ask Iraq’s displaced families to return to their homes in Hadar, he explained.

“Today, in a secure Doura, we see cars moving freely, displaced families start to return, as well as shops are staying open for late hours, all confirming the security improvement in Doura,” he said.

The security and stability in Hadar and surrounding areas has prompted more than 1,000 families to return to southeastern Baghdad, said Lt. Col. Troy Smith, commander of the 7th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Regt., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B.

“It’s a huge difference,” said Smith, who hails from Culpepper, Va. “People are moving in where people are, and the resettlement just keeps spreading. As more families move in, the place gets more populated; therefore, it’s even more secure, and as resettlement comes back, more resettlement picks up because the security gets better.”

DVIDS
By Staff Sgt. Brent Williams
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Sons of Iraq members and Iraqi Police in Riyadh thwarted an attempt by terrorists to place a bicycle laden with explosives near a busy market area Sept. 21.

SoI and IP, at a nearby checkpoint, observed a truck whose occupants unloaded a bicycle then left it as they departed the area at a high-rate of speed. Upon further investigation, they noticed a suspicious white bag attached to the bicycle’s frame, and immediately notified Soldiers of Delta Company, 1-87 Inf. Regt., located nearby at Patrol Base Howell. SoI and IP commonly work together in this city.

“We are grateful for the brave public servants of Iraq to include the Iraqi Police and the Sons of Iraq who acted quickly to avert what might have been a horrendous attack against the citizens of Riyadh as felt today in another attack just outside the city of Kirkuk, the provincial capital,” Lt. Col. Christopher Vanek, commander, 1st Battalion, 87th Inf. Regt., 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division said.

A Coalition forces explosive ordinance disposal team was dispatched to the scene and confirmed the presence of an improvised explosive device. The EOD team safely facilitated its removal—detonating the device at a secure location.

“Today’s event symbolizes everything the terrorist and insurgents represent. While Iraqi Security Forces and the Coalition force do everything possible to respect the significance of Ramadan, the terrorists use a child’s toy to potentially cause death and destruction to the innocent, unsuspecting residents of Riyadh during this sacred, holy month,” Vanek said.

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A U.S. Soldier from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, walks with two young girls during a visit to the Sons of Iraq Headquarters near Fursan, Iraq, on Sept. 17, 2008. Photographer: Spc. David Marshall

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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The Rashid Olympic Games are underway in southern Baghdad as 14 teams compete in a local soccer tournament for the chance to become champions.

Two teams from the Masafee Hayys, part of the Doura community in southeastern Baghdad, faced off in a championship match at a community soccer field July 31 in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad.

Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers played a key role in the event, working as advisors to the local community leaders and, best of all, observing the games, said Capt. Thao Reed, commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

Reed said her primary role is to help the Iraqi leaders from the local neighborhood councils with their initial planning and ongoing efforts to create a community program for Iraqis.

“The games are very well-organized with officials, referees, halftimes and rules,” Reed said. “It shows the potential of what the Iraqi leaders have when they really want to do something.”

Reed said the games provide the Iraqis a sense of normalcy and, in the long term, the people see their local leaders doing something good for the community.

“Through sports, they are also building a loyalty base with the kids – building pride and respect within the communities,” Reed said.

Saif, a member of Sons of Iraq (Abna al-Iraq), said he is very happy to see the two teams play in Masafee.

“Things have changed in the last year,” Saif said. “Last year, no one could play. Everyone had to stay in their house, but now we can come together and be together.”

The SoI provided security for the soccer match, which members of the Rashid District Council and the Director of Masafee attended, he said.

“I help to ensure security in the area,” Saif said. “I help to make this event possible for the Iraqis to come together and play soccer together.”

The Rashid Olympics Hayy Championship Soccer tournament will continue through the month of August; the Rashid District Championship game is tentatively scheduled for September.

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For more than a year, the former Ba’ath Party stronghold of Siniyah was without its main thoroughfare for trade and commerce, but that all changed as the city’s Mayor officially opened Market Street during a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 26.

More than 40 shops and small businesses were forced to close due to the lack of business when the restriction of the road was announced in July of 2007.

The Joint Security Station located near the market area was vulnerable to vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, causing Iraqi Security and Coalition forces to take measures ensuring the safety of the forces housed there.

Market Street was also closed due to the high levels of violence and the significant number of attacks the area was experiencing.

“Shop owners were anxious to reopen their shops,” said Capt. Aaron Billingsley, commander of U.S. forces in Siniyah.

The recent successes in Siniyah are directly contributed to the hard work of the joint efforts by the Iraqi Police, Iraqi Army, Sons of Iraq, City Council, Coalition forces and the people of Siniyah, Billingsley said. There is now an opportunity for them to improve the local economy in the city.

“There are micro-grants and micro-loans that will be offered to some of the shops,” said Billingsley. “This will help them expand their businesses and revitalize the economy.”

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Corporal Sam Weaver, from Fayetteville, N.C., an assistant team leader with Company B, 13th Psychological Operations Battalion, talks to residents of the city of Suwayrah in northern Wasit province. As part of a patrol with Soldiers of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment. Weaver spoke with citizens to learn about their views and concerns on several issues.

Walking down the busy streets of Suwayrah at sundown, the city’s residents met Soldiers with handshakes and friendly smiles. Children gathered everywhere the Soldiers stopped to talk to residents.

As the patrol of Soldiers from 1st Platoon, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment continued on its way, the children followed, practicing their English and enjoying the early evening stroll.

“Wherever we roll, it’s like a parade,” said Sgt. Robert Delong, an infantryman from central Minnesota, whose previous deployment to Iraq was in Ramadi. This time around, he said, things are different.

Soldiers of Co. B, 2nd Bn., 6th Inf. Regt. conducted joint patrols with their Iraqi army counterparts in the northern Wasit province, July 10. The patrol was not only a way of showing their presence, but to gather information on local businesses and to hear local citizens’ concerns.

Soldiers of Co. B’s 1st Plt. began their day with an early morning patrol in Raminiyah, along the west bank of the Tigris River, visiting Sons of Iraq checkpoints and talking with local citizens and community leaders. In the rural parts of Co. B’s area, where there are few police, the SoI help keep the roads safe and prevent insurgents and weapons from coming into the area. It’s an around-the-clock task, and many of the checkpoints have tents or shelters nearby where SoI members rest between shifts.

The Soldiers of Co. B, attached to the 1st Bn., 76th Field Artillery Regt., 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, make sure the checkpoints are manned and the SoI have what they need as part of their patrols.

Later, they met up with IA Soldiers of the 3rd Bde., 2nd IA Div. in the city of Suwayrah. After pairing up with their IA “battle buddies,” the Soldiers conducted a joint patrol on foot, taking them through the city’s main streets.

“At this stage we try to get the population on our side,” Delong said. “We try to maintain their happiness and give them things that they need. Basically, we ask them what they need, and we take notes.”

“It’s been unusual for me, because I’m not used to working with the population. This deployment, it’s candy and sunshine every day. People come out of their houses to see you. It’s been difficult for a lot of us vets to get used to. It’s just like talking to friends back home.”

Another difference Delong noted is the quiet.

“When I go to sleep, I don’t hear bombs going off. I don’t hear gunfire,” he said.

In recent years, Suwayrah has been a relative island of peace in comparison to its neighbors to the north and west. Since Company B arrived here more than two months ago, there have been no attacks aimed at coalition forces, said Capt. Dustin Ornatowski, commander of Company B. With little insurgent or criminal activity in the area, his company’s main mission now is to help local citizens repair damaged infrastructure and build their economy, he said.

“Economics and infrastructure are the biggest problems in this area,” said Ornatowski, of Edwardsburg, Mich. “You’re always going to have leftover insurgency elements and criminal elements wherever you go. Right now, those elements are not actively fighting against us in this area,” he said.

Company B Soldiers are working to identify key leaders and find out what the communities in their area need the most. Currently, they hear mostly of the need for reliable electricity and water pumps to keep the region’s irrigation canals flowing, said Ornatowski. Many pumps are damaged or missing, and getting them running again is necessary to supply farmers in the area.

“The [citizens] are expecting us to come in here and help them get infrastructure working,” Ornatowski said. “That’s going to be the hardest thing.”

Gathering information on local businesses, schools and hospitals is a vital part of their patrols, said Ornatowski. Working with the IA helps them to get that information, as well as puts an Iraqi face on the mission, he said. Partnering his Soldiers with IA Soldiers also helps to foster mutual trust and cooperation. One thing Company B Soldiers took note of was the number of businesses owned by women, something they hope to encourage with micro-grants and working with community groups.

“Now that we’ve been working with them a little more, they’ve started to get to know my Soldiers and see how my Soldiers interact with the people, and they’re more willing to do joint projects,” said Ornatowski.

“They’re feeling us out as much as we’re feeling them out,” he said.

Though Company B is committed to helping residents in their area help with projects, Delong said establishing trust is the first priority.

“The IA absolutely love going out on missions. They tell us what buildings are what. They like working with us and we like working with them,” he said. “We don’t promise anything, but we always tell them we will do the best we can, and they appreciate everything we do,” he said.

Besides helping to get reconstruction projects going, Ornatowski said establishing trust has direct benefits for his Soldiers as well.

“That’s the best thing we can do,” he said. “Then, if criminal elements move into the area and attempt to fight us or take direct action against us, the populace will be the first ones to let us know about that.”

DVIDS
By Sgt. David Turner
4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

Two middle-aged men enjoying a ‘friendly’ afternoon game of checkers in a bustling marketplace as shoppers and traffic pass-by. A scene that would not warrant a double–take in any small town in America’s heartland, however, this game; united a U.S. battalion commander and a Sons of Iraq leader in a demonstration of ‘normalcy’ in an area once nicknamed ‘the Anbar of the North’.

“This is an incredible period in the development of a democratic, representative form of government in the district of Hawijah, and specifically, this once violence plagued city,” Lt. Col. Christopher Vanek, commander, 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regt. said, reflecting on a before-after comparison to the Hawijah the battalion faced upon their arrival in October. “A game of checkers, a crowd of shoppers, traffic, no body-armor, partnered with Khalaf Ibrahim Ali, not against him, this—is, success in Iraq,” he said.

Both Vanek and Ali credit the change to an increased confidence in the Iraq security forces, coalition tactics–targeting only suspected terrorists, and the empowerment of local citizens to re-claim their streets through the Sons of Iraq, according to Vanek. These efforts have nearly eliminated Al-Qaida in Iraq’s presence here he said.

“They disguise themselves, like thieves in the night now,” Ali said, comparing AQI’s unchallenged presence in the past. “Now, during the day, they disguise themselves by changing their eye color, cut their hair—change their appearance,” Ali said. He also said that the insurgents are getting the message that the citizens of Hawijah will not assist their efforts. “They are not wanted here. They have brought us nothing but violence, destruction, fear and lies.”

Close to 8,000 SoI’s are positioned throughout the Hawijah District, measuring roughly, 4,200 square miles, since the inception of the reconciliation program here in December.

“We were able to offer a choice to fathers who were trying to feed their families and men who where trying to begin families–eliminating a huge recruiting pool for the insurgents here,” Vanek said.

Sons of Iraq also provided an avenue for the coalition force and Iraqis to interface.

“Before Sons of Iraq, the coalition force would be too busy fighting the enemy to get to know the people around them,” Ali said. Both–were able to interact and form relationships such as the bond that Vanek and Ali have developed, during their efforts to establish the city of Hawijah’s SoIs.

“We are not so different,” Ali said. “We all want peace and a place where our children and grandchildren can live and prosper without fear and violence.”

As to who won the checker game, Vanek smiled and said, “considering Ali and I are here together; me–without body-armor, in an area where commerce has returned, and the citizens can reap the benefits without fear or reprisals, in an area once thought lost to the insurgency—we’re both winners, more importantly—the citizens of the district are the true winners.”

The idea for the game of checkers’ came about when the key leaders of Task Force Summit and the Hawijah district began to realize the “dynamic” security gains in January, according to Vanek. He thought that a true demonstration of increased security would be to, “conduct a game of checkers in the middle of the day in the most crowded area of the city, with no body armor in June.”

He said that the intent of both had several purposes. “It’s a statement to the enemy, the peace loving people of Hawijah, and to the provincial government–that enduring security gains have been established, representative government is working well, ISF is responsible for security, the economy is booming and it is time for the provincial government to step forward and serve all districts.”

DVIDS
By Staff Sgt. Margaret C. Nelson
1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs Office

And by thwart, we mean “killed them dead”.

Sons of Iraq members thwarted an enemy attack in the Salah ad Din Province that resulted in the killing of four al-Qaeda in Iraq members June 11.

An SOI element killed four AQI members, three of whom were wearing suicide vests, after being attacked while responding to a report of civilians being attacked in their homes.

Additionally, a vehicle at the scene was wired to be a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device.

MNF-I