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FOB KALSU, Iraq (May 3, 2008) - The Under Secretary of Defense
for Policy visited Patrol Base Stone in southern Baghdad May 1, to
see progress in a unique program that teaches job skills to local
citizens.
Eric Edelman met with members of the 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry
Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (BCT), 3rd Infantry Division,
attached to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and
Airmen of the 557th Expeditionary Red Horse Squadron (ERHS) to see
developments in the Village of Hope (VoH) project.
The VoH is a program that teaches local citizens, most of them
former members of the Sons of Iraq (SoI) volunteer security group,
construction skills to earn better jobs and help rebuild their
communities. Funding for the project comes from the U.S. Congress'
Demilitarization, Demobilization and Reconstruction (DDR) fund.
Col. James W. Adams, deputy commander for 2nd BCT, briefed
Edelman on the project, showing him how DDR funds help rebuild one
village at a time in Iraq.
"We've applied these funds to demobilize (SoI) from their
security role, to phase them into this jobs-works program and to
help begin reconstruction in their local neighborhoods," said
Adams, of Middleton, Tenn. "It's a perfect fit for what Congress
designed DDR funds for."
Air Force Capt. Michael Askegren, 557th ERHS, VoH site
commander, showed Edelman the training facility at PB Stone, where
U.S. military engineers teach students carpentry, plumbing and
electrical engineering.
"The primary point of the Village of Hope program is to provide
a sustainable skill set that they can use later," Askegren said.
"They will have a sustainable skill that will lead to economic
growth and a better community."
One major reason for the project taking hold here is many homes
and buildings in the area were destroyed last fall when al-Qaida
fighters attacked citizens, Iraqi Army and Coalition forces.
Currently, 36 Airmen are working with members of the 2nd BCT and
20th Engineer Brigade to train the first class of approximately 50
students, which will graduate May 8. Three more VoH classes, 50
students each, will take place over the course of the year.
Adams said the future of the program looks promising.
"Our obligation is to see this program through," he said. "It
will continue even when we leave. This program will continue and
Hawr Rajab will be rebuilt to its pre-war state."
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