3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs

Story by Sgt. Philip Klein

By Sgt. Philip Klein
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Public Affairs Office

JOINT SECURITY STATION UR, Iraq – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers conducted a presence patrol in northwest Baghdad to disrupt the manufacturing of improvised-rocket assisted mortars and engaging the local population to provide humanitarian assistance and security July 21, 2008.

Soldiers with Company A, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, searched and cleared a warehouse facility adjacent to the Sadr City district of Baghdad looking for materials used in the construction of IRAMs.

An equally important aspect to this patrol was to continue to establish relations with the local community and assessing their needs and concerns.

"There are lots of displaced families in this area who fled the violence and oppression inflicted upon them by special group criminals in Sadr City," said 1st Lt. Matthew George, a platoon leader for 1st CAB, 68th Armor Regiment.

George said that in addition to providing security for the people of this community, getting to know their needs and concerns are also crucial to achieving success in Iraq.

"These are very poor people and they have fled what was their home and, like us, all they want is a better life for themselves and their families, so we come out here to learn about them and provide what assistance we can," said George, a native of Los Angeles.

The search for illegal weapons is also crucial to the mission's success. The patrol looks for any material that could be used in the building of IRAMs such as the equipment used to put the weapon together.

Sgt. Thomas Artes, a team leader with 1st CAB, 68th AR., who was born in England and recently became a U.S. citizen, calls Orlando, Fla., home, says that security efforts are not always productive but the presence of Soldiers encourages locals who are concerned about their safety and discourages criminals from coming back to the area.

"The people are receptive to us and we are welcomed in the neighborhood though they are still fearful of criminal reprisals, they are very friendly but they are concerned about their future and for their families," said Artes.

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