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KIRKUT, Iraq (February 17, 2008) - The 2nd Brigade, 4th Iraq
Army (IA) Division's Civil Affairs Office extended its reach
recently to include educating and training their fellow Soldiers in
Civil Military Operations during two village visits, Feb. 12 and
13, in the Kirkuk province of northeastern Iraq. From the planning
and execution, to instructing the infantry Soldiers on proper
etiquette, Maj. Zyad Junade Omar, 2nd Brigade, 4th Iraq Army
Division's Civil Affairs officer told the IA Soldiers of K-1's
Garrison Support Unit (GSU) and its Regional Training Center (RTC),
that they were putting a new face on today's Iraqi Soldier and its
Army. "You are showing your fellow Iraqis that you are
representative of an Army that is here to help and protect them,"
Zyad said.
Both commanders, Brig. Gen. Younis Mohammad Younis al Zabari,
GSU, and Brig. Gen. Basil Mohamed Ishmael, RTC, attended both days.
The GSU and RTC are co-located with the 2-4 IA in Kirkuk at the K-1
base. The GSU commander is the landowner-in-charge of the base's
life support needs and supplies, to include the medical clinic. The
RTC is its training facility for IA recruits in the northeast.
"With security increasing here overall, we now have to focus on the
welfare of its people," Younis said.
He explained the importance of showing the Iraqi people that
Soldiers are here to protect and defend them. "This is a way to
develop trust, and increase security for all," he said. The
villages selected are in close proximity to K-1. "By knowing our
neighbors and assisting them, we are forming good neighbor
relations," Zyad said. "Everybody benefits."
"This is a great day for the Iraqi Army," Coalition Army
Advisory Training Team's (CAATT) senior advisor Lt. Col. John Olson
told the IA Soldiers. "You are showing the Iraqi people and the
children of Iraq all that is good in its Army."
The CAATT team who mans, equips and trains the Iraqi Army at
K-1, were invited to attend by the IA, "to show the close
partnership that U.S. and Iraqi security forces enjoy to the Iraqi
people," Zyad said. "This is probably the first time the villagers
have a chance to see and speak to both IA and U.S. Soldiers. It is
my hope that they see them as brothers," he said.
Security was visibly enforced by both the IA and Coaltion, but
the Soldiers of both armies relieved each other so that each had
the opportunity to mingle with the villagers. The children and
young adults were the most curious about the Coalition Soldiers;
inquiring about their names and families. They also practiced what
little English they knew, mimicking the Soldier's responses.
The commanders met with the village muktars (elected mayors),
tribal and religious leaders, and discussed issues and events
unique to each village. Younis offered emergency medical
transportation and emergency treatment at the K-1 facilities to
both, in addition to bringing blankets and kerosene heaters to the
most in need selected by the villages' leadership. The CAATT
Soldiers also brought school supplies donated by their churches,
friends and family.
"This is a united effort. Both armies working together to build
positive relationships between themselves and with Kirkuk's people
and their children," Basil said.
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