In this edition
ISF detain suspected criminals in Mansour Multi-National Division
Anbar ‘Sons of Iraq’ Transfer Complete
Japanese Defense Group Bids Farewell
ISF, MND-B Soldiers confiscate weapons, discover EFP Multi-National Division
Staff Sgt. Owens Receives Samuel Sharpe Ordnance Award
An Important Mission in Joint Service Station Hunter
U.S., Iraqi Engineers Clean Up on First Joint Route Sanitation Mission
Boots on Ground
The 590th Quartermaster Company Shower, Laundry and Clothing Renovation Team
ISF detain suspected criminals in Mansour Multi-National Division
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces arrested three wanted criminals during operations Feb. 10 in the Mansour district of northwest Baghdad.
At noon, Iraqi Army Soldiers serving with the 3rd Battalion, 54th Brigade, 6th IA Division arrested the criminals, who had outstanding warrants for participating in terrorist activities.
“The Iraqi Security Forces will continue to target and pursue criminals who intend to disrupt security in northwest Baghdad,” said Maj. Kone Faulkner, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team spokesman, 1st Inf. Div. “Soldiers of the 2nd ‘Dagger’ Brigade will continue to provide support to our ISF counterpart as they work to secure the citizens here.”
Anbar ‘Sons of Iraq’ Transfer Complete
Friday, 13 February 2009 Multi-National Corps – Iraq Release
BAGHDAD — Anbar’s Sons of Iraq (SoI) recently joined thousands of other members across the country in transferring from Coalition control to the responsibility of the Iraqi government.
The transfer has special significance in Anbar, a western Iraqi province where authorities say violent insurgent groups like al-Qaida once controlled the populace with fear.
“That’s where it started,” said Col. Jeffrey Kulmayer, chief of reconciliation for Multi-National Corps – Iraq, referring to the fall of 2006 when the Sahawa, or Awakening movement, first established local tribal-led security forces to pursue the fight against al-Qaida in Iraq
In June 2007, Coalition forces began entering into security contracts with Awakening volunteers, creating the SoI. The movement grew rapidly throughout the country, speeding the nation’s return to peace and stability.
“Unlike the other eight provinces where the Iraqi Army is taking control of the men, in Anbar, the Sons of Iraq are transferring to the Iraqi Police,” Kulmayer said.
That’s because the security volunteers in Anbar forged a close relationship with the local Police forces early on in their operations, Kulmayer said.
Anbar’s SoI will be officially
recognized in an Iraqi-led transfer ceremony later this month. Today,
more than 4,900 SoI continue to serve in the province.
The
progress in Anbar is part of a larger plan to transfer the nation’s
nearly 94,000 SoI over to the government and give them new
opportunities to serve their country. The plan, which is moving ahead
smoothly, is another sign of Iraq’s progress toward peace and
self-government, said Maj. Gen. Michael Ferriter, MNC-I’s deputy
commanding general of operations.
“This is truly the leading edge of reconciliation in a nation that saw so much discord and distrust under the old regime,” Ferriter said.
More than 74,000 SoI have been transferred already, with the other 20,000 in Ninewah, Kirkuk and Salah Ah Din provinces set to become Iraqi responsibility by April 1. In Baghdad, where nearly 51,000 SoI reside, the men are set to receive their fourth paychecks from the government.
That trend is set to continue next in Diyala province, where Coalition leadership held their final pay coordination meeting Feb. 5 with representatives of the SoI, the 5th Iraqi Army Division and the Baghdad government.
“It’s the first Iraqi-led payday in Diyala,” Kulmayer said. “We expect the men to be paid beginning Feb. 20.”
Kulmayer said paying the men is just the beginning of the Iraqi government’s commitment to the SoI. They will also receive assistance transitioning into future livelihoods, with 20 percent of the men slated for service in the Army or Police.
“We’re continuing to develop other avenues of employment, through the Iraqi Civil Service Corps and a whole panoply of jobs- and skills-training programs,” Kulmayer said.
Those alternatives include microgrants of up to several thousand dollars for SoI members to set up small-business ventures to benefit themselves and their communities. Eighty-nine grants have already been given out in Baghdad.
“There’s another 118 of these microgrants pending,” Kulmayer said.
Such local successes in the SoI transition would pay off in major advances nationwide, Kulmayer said.
“This is a crucial measure of reconciliation and a sign of things returning to normal in Iraq,” he said.
Japanese Defense Group Bids Farewell
A Japanese C-130 prepares for the flight home at an air base in Southwest Asia, Feb. 10, 2009. Since 2004, the Japanese have provided airlift for the Coalition and United Nations in support of Iraqi reconstruction efforts. Photo by Senior Airman Courtney Richardson, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing.
BAGHDAD — The last of the Japanese Air Self Defense Force Redeployment Group members lowered their colors for the last time before departing for Japan, Feb. 10, bringing an end to the final chapter of the JASDF's Iraq Reconstruction Support Airlift Wing mission after nearly five years.
More than a hundred JASDF members had remained behind after the IRSAW mission formally ended in order to restore the facilities they used and ship equipment back to Japan.
"As the commander, I've always told my Airmen, 'Leave everything neat and clean behind you,'" JASDF Col. Isami Sagae, JASDF Redeployment Group commander said, summing up the Redeployment Group's mission. "This is one of the most important values for Japanese. I believe we leave a good reputation behind us."
The JASDF worked alongside Coalition forces since 2004, providing airlift for the Coalition and United Nations and supporting Iraqi reconstruction efforts. More than 3,600 Japanese Airmen have been part of the JASDF contingent here, and it was the first time that the JASDF had deployed overseas for such a long period of time.
Col. Sagae said the Airmen of the IRSAW and the Redeployment Group completed their mission perfectly.
"Besides the success of airlift operations, redeployment, which is also a first experience for JASDF, has been completed perfectly," he said. "It shows an aspect of our mission capability. I'm proud of our Airmen to conclude this historical operation of JASDF."
Col. Paul "Otto" Feather, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing vice commander, praised the accomplishments of the JASDF here and said the Japanese people should be proud of their Airmen.
"They should be leaving here with a great sense of pride and satisfaction of a job well done," Feather said. "They have done a meticulous job of standing down this operation."
The Japanese played an indispensable role in airlift operations, Feather added.
"These guys have played a huge role in what we've done up here," he said. "It was their first big deployment away from home, and it was the first time they could really stretch out their wings and get out there and go, and they've just done an outstanding job."
Both commanders said their units learned important lessons from working together, lessons that will help the U.S. and Japanese forces work better together in the future.
"The way they have conducted themselves has caused us to look at ourselves and how we do business a little closer," Feather said. "You have to examine yourself when you're watching other pros out there. It allowed us to exchange ideas on how we conduct maintenance, how we fly the missions, how we distribute and collect our intelligence. It allowed us to do an awful lot of training with them and make ourselves more interoperable with them."
Search Party
ISF, MND-B Soldiers confiscate weapons, discover EFP Multi-National Division
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces partnered with Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers confiscated four AK-47 assault rifles, one SKS assault rifle and two pistols Feb. 10 while conducting operations in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad. The weapons were transported to ISF facilities.
Additionally,
police officers from the 1st Battalion, 3rd Abu Risha National Police
Brigade, attached to 7th Brigade, 2nd NP Div., partnered with Soldiers
from Troop A, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st BCT, 4th Inf.
Div., MND-B, discovered an Explosively Formed Penetrator while
conducting operations in the Hadar community at approximately 9:15
p.m. A Coalition forces explosive ordnance disposal team responded to
safely remove the device.
“Iraqi Security Forces and the 1st
‘Raider’ Brigade conduct patrols around-the-clock to find criminals,
bombs and illegal weapons,” said Maj. Dave Olson, 1st BCT spokesman,
4th Inf. Div., MND-B. “Together, we provide a safe and secure
environment for the law abiding citizens of the Rashid district.”
Staff Sgt. Owens Receives Samuel Sharpe Ordnance Award
Staff Sgt. Thomas Owens, a native of Charlotte, N.C., and the motor sergeant for the 991st Transportation Company, 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, received Samuel Sharpe Ordnance Award for his dedication to the Ordnance Corp and his unit over his 14 years of service. Owens is currently serving his second tour in support of Multi-National Division – Baghdad, and his third deployment to Iraq including Desert Storm as a member of the Ordnance Corp.
By 1st Lt. Andrew B. Burquest
10th Sustainment Brigade
CAMP TAJI, Iraq - The U.S. Army Ordnance Corps honors one of its enlisted Soldiers each year with The Ordnance Order of Samuel Sharpe for a career commitment to the proud tradition of ordinance excellence. This year, Staff Sgt. Thomas Owens of Charlotte, N.C., received this honor for his dedication to the Ordnance Corp and his unit over his 14 years of service.
The Ordnance Order of Samuel Sharpe was created in honor of Samuel Sharpe, a member of the Council of 13 freemen of the original 13 American Colonies. On April 17th, 1629 Samuel Sharpe was appointed the “Master gunner of Ordnance” by the Massachusetts Bay Colonies for his knowledge, expertise and professionalism. The U.S. Army Ordnance Corp continues to honor career Soldiers who exemplify those same traits as Samuel Sharpe with an award that bears his namesake.
Owens, motor sergeant for the 991st Transportation Company, 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade is currently serving his second tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and his third deployment to Iraq including Desert Storm as a member of the Ordnance Corp. His peers and superiors recognize him as the backbone of the Maintenance Platoon for his outstanding performance and support for Company operations. He dedicates his off duty hours to mentoring younger Soldiers in his Platoon, developing their skill sets and providing career guidance.
One of his mechanics, Sgt. Adam Lunceford, a Mountain City, Tenn., native, had this to say about his shop foreman, “Staff Sgt. Owens always demonstrates true military bearing and sets high standards for his maintenance section. His commitment to his career and dedication to his troops is among the most respected. I am honored to know Staff Sgt. Owens the Soldier, the father, the friend, and I am honored to serve under his leadership.”
The knowledge and skills under Owens’s command are unrivaled according to 1st Lt. Andrew Burquest, 991st Trans. Co. Executive Officer, also from Charlotte, N.C. “This is my second deployment with Staff Sgt. Owens and I have yet to see a maintenance issue that he could not figure out. Anytime someone in the Battalion had a problem that they could not handle, Staff Sgt. Owens was always there to assist, no matter what kind of equipment they had to work with,” he said.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Donald Dillon, the Maintenance Platoon leader, and a Johnson City, Tenn., native, made this statement about his senior enlisted man being this years’ awardee, “Staff Sgt. Thomas Owens has always been an asset to the 991st Trans. Co. He is well known throughout the Battalion for getting the job done right. Staff Sgt. Owens has also dedicated most of his time to Physical fitness training with his soldiers.”
The Ordnance Corp has done well to recognize one of its outstanding sons, and the 991st Trans. Co. is certainly fortunate to have a Soldier of Owens’s caliber in its ranks.
Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Swanson, 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion command sergeant major, and a Perris, Calif., native, congratulates Staff Sgt. Thomas Owens, a Charlotte, N.C., native, on an outstanding performance and support for company operations. Owens is currently deployed with the 991st Transportation Company, 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion,10th Sustainment Brigade in support of Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
An Important Mission in Joint Service Station Hunter
Shower, Laundry and Clothing Repair, or SLCR, Soldiers hard at work receiving, sorting and issuing clean laundry. Soldiers of the 590th Quartermaster Company, 398th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade are deployed in support of Multi-National Division – Baghdad. Photo by 1st Lt. Man Fung Wong
By 1st Lt. Man Fung Wong
10th Sustainment Brigade
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq — In the harshest parts of Iraq where civilian contractors are rare, you will find the field service companies that provide some of the most basic luxuries to our battle-ridden Soldiers. One such group is the 590th Quartermaster Company from Fort Drum, N.Y. The 590th QM Co. provides Shower, Laundry and Clothing Repair, or SLCR, services to some of the most underdeveloped Forward Operating Bases, or FOBs, Combat Outposts, or COPs, and Joint Service Stations, or JSS, in Iraq.
One of the company’s most remote sites is JSS Hunter. While it is not the prettiest location in the world, it provides a base of operation for over 800 Soldiers. There are few luxuries offered. There is only a small Post Exchange, or PX, trailer that sells snacks and drinks, and a small Morale, Welfare, and Recreations, or MWR, facility that provides entertainment to the Soldiers located on JSS Hunter.
The 590th Quartermaster Company, 398th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, provides a service that makes these soldiers lives just a little bit better.
Staff Sgt. Victor Pinell, a native of Long Island, N.Y., and the non-commissioned officer in charge, or NCOIC, of the SLCR team located at JSS Hunter says, “We give Soldiers the luxuries of life which we take for granted. A hot shower and clean clothes after spending days outside the wire should be provided to every warrior in a modern fighting force.”
In addition, the Soldiers of the SLCR team have found other ways to make the living conditions at JSS Hunter better for everyone.
Staff Sgt. Jason Duggins from New York reports, “We built rooms in our tents to give each other a little bit of privacy. After the compliments and accolades we received from other Soldiers, we began teaching and guiding others on the fundamentals of planning and erecting structures within their tents to make life more tolerable for everyone.”
Most service members in the United States Armed Forces fail to realize that the Army still provides shower and laundry services.
“I always thought that we contracted out the shower and laundry jobs to civilians,” says Capt. James Lucas, company commander of Delta Troop, 1- 9th Calvary, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Calvary Division. “In remote locations such as these, where even contractors won’t provide services, I can see the need for this Military Occupation Specialty, or MOS, in the Army.”
Although it is not the most glamorous of jobs, the Soldiers from the SLCR team are still highly motivated and complete the mission to the best of their ability.
“Everyone has a role in this war, and I guess this is ours” says Spc. Jesus Rodriguez, a native of New York.
This motivation attributes to the vast accolades and compliments from all the Soldiers who operate at JSS Hunter.
The mission of the SLCR team is to provide shower, laundry and renovation to every Soldier that requires it. In reality, they are providing a greater service. They are improving the quality of life for their fellow Soldiers, and making life just a little bit easier. Not many people are aware of these dedicated Soldiers and the great service they provide. However, the few that are aware truly appreciate and acknowledge the importance of their mission.
The Shower, Laundry and Clothing Repair, or SLCR, site at Joint Service Station Hunter. The shower tent is the smaller green tent located to the left. The Laundry Advanced System, or LADS, washes and dries the laundry; it is the green fixture located on the right.
U.S., Iraqi Engineers Clean Up on First Joint Route Sanitation Mission
Army engineers from earth moving (EM) platoon, Company A, 46th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), and the 6th Iraqi Army, executed their first joint route sanitation mission just a few days after the new year and the institution of the new Security Agreement which puts Iraqis in the lead of all projects being conducted in Iraq. While deployed, the 46th ECB (H) is attached to the 926th Engineer Brigade, Multi-National Division-Baghdad.
Boots on Ground
After nearly five months of pre-mobilization and post-mobilization training, the 3rd Detachment, 374th Finance Management Company, 10th Sustainment Brigade Troops Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade arrived at Camp Stryker on Dec. 14 and were ready to take the reins of one of the busier finance operations in Iraq.
The 590th Quartermaster Company Shower, Laundry and Clothing Renovation Team
If cleanliness is next to godliness, then the Soldiers of the 590th Quartermaster Company, 398th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, are truly angels of mercy.
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