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

As part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Task Force Rogue worked with the Sons of Iraq to thwart criminal activity in the Al Mansour District of northwest Baghdad for 13 months.

Now the plan is to add women to the ranks.

On, May 17, 31 women from the Adil and Jamia neighborhoods of northwest Baghdad began training to become part of the Daughters of Iraq.

The 10-day training program was held at the Joint Security Station in Adil. There Soldiers incorporated hands-on-instruction with classroom activities to teach women basic military skills.

The women learned how to search rooms, how to handle Kalashnikov rifles and how to identify the threat of a suicide bomber.

The program was designed to give women the skills necessary to conduct operations alongside their Iraqi brethren.

After graduation the women will use these skills to shore up security at schools, checkpoints and government buildings.

The Daughters of Iraq will give Iraqi security forces the ability to combat the increasing threat of females being used as suicide bombers.

“The Iraqi culture has some strict rules on how men should treat women,” said Maj. Christopher Budihas, a plans officer with 1st Bn., 64th AR. “A lot of times they will not search women because of these cultural rules.”

The Daughters of Iraq presence at checkpoints will be an acknowledgement of these cultural rules.

They will also assist security forces with routine house searches where it is not uncommon to find a house full of men, children and women.

Capt. John Dixon commander of Co. A said the goal is to search everyone and to do it within Iraqi cultural standards.

After graduation the new recruits will work in Adil and Jamia.

Dixon also said TF Rogue hopes the success of the program will encourage more women to train and in turn double the amount of women in the program.

DVIDS

PERSIAN GULF (May 18, 2008) Chief Aviation Machinist’s Mate Crystal Crawford, assigned to the "Blue Blasters" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34 waits near an F/A-18C Hornet on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) as the strike fighter is prepared for a mission. Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting maritime security operations. U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James R. Evans

PERSIAN GULF (May 17, 2008) Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Jaimie Dickey installs a tailhook assembly on an F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the "Kestrels" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 137 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Airman Ashley Houp

NORFOLK, Va. (May 15, 2008) Ens. Virginia Teti, one of 14 graduating military medical students from Eastern Virginia Medical School, is promoted to lieutenant during a re-commissioning ceremony aboard the battleship USS Wisconsin (BB-64). The students, members of the U.S. Navy, Army and Air Force, advanced from ensign/second lieutenant to lieutenant/captain after reciting an oath of office led by Rear Adm. (ret) Philip Geib. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kitt Amaritnant

ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 19, 2008) Seaman Janell Vasquez steers the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7). Iwo Jima is participating in the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group integration training. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Chad R. Erdmann

PACIFIC OCEAN (May 19, 2008) Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Olivia Dimas communicates with flight deck control aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jennifer S. Kimball

SAN DIEGO (May 2, 2008) Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Mandi Parks says goodbye to her daughter and her husband before deploying aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph M. Buliavac