Building Canals in Ancient City of Ninevah, Iraq

Civil Service Corps Offers Trade Skills, Jobs

Multi-National Division – North Release - MOSUL — Local shaykhs, Iraqi military leaders and U.S. personnel attended a Civil Service Corps (CSC) graduation ceremony for 185 students in the Nimrud sub-district of the Ninewa province, July 20.

The CSC program is funded by the United States Agency for International Development and provides on-the-job training to young men approximately 40 kilometers southeast of Mosul.

The CSC started a road and canal construction project, Jan. 4, and hired students from the local area to become skilled journeymen.

They built 20 kilometers of paved roads, which provide better access to and from small villages, and

18 canals throughout, intended to allow farmers to irrigate fields.

“This type of project shows that American forces are dedicated to improving the lives of the Iraqi people,” said Capt. Matthew L. Keith, a company commander with the 1st Cavalry Division.

A U.S. Civil Affairs Team with 67th Armor Regiment Soldiers conducted quality control inspections throughout the entire phase of construction.

The graduation ceremony was mainly an Iraqi-led event. Iraqi Security Forces leaders from the 2nd and 7th Iraqi Army Division, and Nimrud Iraqi Police attended the graduation ceremony and provided security for the event.