Aug 2007 Newsletter
ABLE 6 Sends (Aug 07):
As we enter our 7th month deployed and watch the mercury rising beyond 120 degrees on many afternoons, we hope the month of August passes as quickly as July did! September promises to bring slightly cooler temperatures by month's end and shorter days will mean a welcome break from the heat. The Task Force has worked hard to prevent what many thought would be an increase in enemy events during the summer months. We did see a slight increase in enemy activity in the form of IEDs and other attacks during June and July, but overall, things have remained relatively stable and quiet.
Though we continue to hold tight to Camp Hit, our Iraqi friends, and our familiar area of responsibility, we've recently received official word we'll be moving to Rutbah, a smaller town in western Al Anbar Province by mid-Sep. We will assume responsibility for the largest battalion task force sector in the Al Anbar Province and among the largest in all of Iraq. It's a largely rural area of nearly 20,000 square kilometers with a total population of approximately 50,000. We'll also inherit responsibility for oversight of the ports of entry from both Jordan and Syria. It's a strategically important sector in the long-term stability of Iraq and we look forward to the change of scenery and mission, and the challenges it brings. For those who send mail, don't worry, all of our mail will follow us even with the old address on it. Our new address will only substitute "Camp Korean Village for "Camp Hit."
Aerial view of Camp Korean Village - Future home to TF 2-7 IN.
The task Force conducted a large operation with the help of both the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police in the town of Kubaysah late last month. With considerable planning, we brought together over 400 soldiers, 100 Marines, 150 Iraqi Army, and 75 Iraqi Police to clear our 2nd largest population center (pop. ~ 10,000) over a 3-day period. As part of the operation, heavy engineers from the Marines constructed a 10-foot berm around the city to assist the local authorities with keeping foreign fighters and insurgents out. The berm has two entrances/exits, now jointly manned 24/7 by Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police. Additionally, we established a combat outpost on the edge of the city which is now occupied 24/7 by an Iraqi Army Company and an infantry platoon from A Co. Overall, the operation was a success, and was immediately followed by the replacement of the local Police Chief by the District Chief of Police which we hope will have some positive effects of its own.
10-foot berm surrounding Kubayash
Constructing the 10-foot berm surrounding Kubayash.
We also participated in an operation to clear the Regimental Security Area - essentially a sparsely populated expanse of desert in the center of Al Anbar Province. We provided just under 100 soldiers and Marines from the Task Force as "Team Bushmaster" which consisted of a platoon from B Company, a platoon from D Company, and the Task Force Scout Platoon. Also included was a Marine Forward Air Control Element from our Task Force Headquarters, and a Forward Logistics Element (FLE) from F Company which provided water, MREs, and even a refrigerator van on the back of one of their flatbed trailers which carried our secret weapon - 1800 bags of ice! The operation was scheduled to last 6 days, but instead lasted 3. It provided a welcome change of scenery and some initial excitement, but Team Bushmaster was glad to return early!
Based on some successful attacks on key infrastructure in other locations across Al Anbar Province, we've taken some precautionary measures to attempt to prevent similar attacks in Hit and the surrounding area. Specifically, B Co has positioned Coalition elements at each of the two vehicle entrances to the city of Hit. These positions have previously only been manned with Iraqi Police with occasional check from us, but our permanent presence ensures they are truly applying the right inspection techniques with will deter attacks. It's a hot, monotonous job, but we're hoping it will cause the insurgents to think twice about trying to get a vehicle-borne explosive device into Hit to detonate on our single bridge over the Euphrates or in our crowded marketplace.
CPT Fitch gives convoy briefing to 83 Cottonbalers
before departing on OPERATION PUNISHER.
B Co partners with the Iraqi Police at a checkpoint outside the city of Hit.
We continue to help our Iraqi partners make progress in the area of municipal governance and specifically, their ability to conduct business as a regional government based in the city of Hit, but responsible for out outlying cities of Muhammadi, Kubaysah, Zuwaya, etc. As you can imagine, this is something that's very difficult to teach/coach in a society that grew up under a government run by Saddam Hussein. Our team has made great strides and City Council now sends representatives to Ramadi each week to ensure their voice is heard at the Provincial Council meeting. This personal presence has paid big dividends for them and even resulted in their receiving their first monthly salaries in July. As mentioned lat month, our newly reconstructed Municipal Building and Hit City Council complex are complete and now in use. The mayor's office and city council meeting room pictured below are vital facilities now in use by a flourishing local government in the city of Hit. The city leaders feel a sense of pride in their new spaces, too.
New City Council Meeting Room
Newly-renovated mayor's Office
We also initiated a local women's group in Hit last month. With allegedly 53% of the local population being female, we're attempting to take appropriate steps to engage with the female population in order to better address their needs. Our Iraqi Women's Engagement Program now meets each Tuesday evening with some of our female Cottonbalers and a female interpreter. It's interesting to find that the needs of the women of Hit are not unlike those of a similar group in the United States. They want to learn a trade and be able to make money for their families (sewing and cosmetology seem to be the front-runners at this point). They want to serve their community in a positive way (they're open to volunteer work to low-income public service jobs). They are looking for an opportunity to get out of the house, get a break from the kids, and socialize with other women (we're looking at developing a women's center with a day-care co-op...and continuing our weekly meetings)! Our last meeting had a women's health theme and we passed out "goodie bags" of various toiletries for the women and various treats and school supplies to the kids. Both U.S. and Iraqi doctors (male and female) were on hand to address their health concerns and even give quick exams to the women and their children. While the women are meeting, we men do our part to stay out of the way and entertain the children!
Entertaining the Children
In an effort to help our Iraqi partners become more and more self-sufficient, we suggested they execute an Emergency Response Drill in the city of Hit recently. This drill integrated fire, ambulance, and police assets into a realistic scenario which demonstrated the readiness and capability of Hit emergency services to the local population. Last month's exercise involved fire department extinguishing a fire next to the Hit High School and then "rescuing" a stranded man from the roof. The ambulance evacuated some "injured" people to the Hit Hospital and the Police cordoned off the area, conducted an investigation, and detained the "arsonist." Best of all, though the original idea was ours, the Iraqis planned, coordinated and executed themselves.
City of Hit Emergency Response Drill
As we enter the final stretch of the fiscal year, reenlistment is on many Soldier's minds. We reenlisted 43 soldiers during the month of July and most Soldiers are celebrating their demonstrated commitment with some great incentives -- tax-free bonuses, 6-month college options, 4-day passes to Qatar, etc. We're very close to making out Task Force reenlistment mission in all categories already, but are still looking for a few good men and women to raise their right hands and Stay Army!
CPT John Busa reenlists CPL Moravac
With GEN Petraeus' September testimony before Congress quickly approaching, it's important that we pull ourselves away from the headlines of the main stream media and consider that for every car bomb or suicide vest which detonates, there are countless examples of progress throughout Iraq every day. City councils being established and learning to govern for themselves, reconstruction projects underway utilizing Iraqi laborers and engineers, local police fighting insurgents with and without Coalition Force support, children walking to school safely, women's groups meeting - just to name a few. It's unfortunate that U.S. Servicemen and women are still in harm's way doing this kind of work, but honestly, who else could do what we're doing? As I said last month, I only hope you will search for opportunities to share these stories with those who may not believe our continued presence here is making a difference.
LT Galeotti and Iraqi Army with children from Kubaysah
As always, I must thank our wonderful Rear Detachment Leaders, FRG Leaders, co-leaders and POCs who continue to take of business on the home front. We thank you for all you do and each of us looks forward to his or her opportunity to return to the States (or wherever) for R&R leave.
Until next time....
LTC Doug Crissman...Able 6