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.”

MNF-I