1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Brent Williams

By Sgt. 1st Class Brent Williams
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq — Iraqi citizens in the Rashid District of southern Baghdad took to the streets, standing in lines at polling stations across southern Baghdad, Jan. 31, to cast their votes participating in Iraq's third democratic election since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

The "Raider" Brigade's main effort during the month leading up to the Iraqi provincial elections was to assist the Iraqi security forces secure 221 polling sites so that the citizens of Rashid would have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote, said Col. Ted Martin, commander of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

"The many accomplishments of this brigade during this deployment helped to create the conditions for another milestone event in the history of the Iraqi nation," said Martin, who hails from Jacksonville Beach, Fla.

Increasing its combat patrols throughout the Rashid District, the brigade pushed its support Soldiers from the 4th Support Battalion and the 1st Special Troops Battalion forward to joint security stations and patrol bases to allow its combat units to increase their security patrols, said Martin.

"It's been tough, but this incredible tactical operation was executed flawlessly by the Soldiers of this brigade working alongside our ISF counterparts," he said.

During the last week of January, Soldiers increased their security patrols and the number of Soldiers operating in sector, clearing polling sites and inspecting ISF positions to ensure that all needed security measures were in place for the historic elections, said 2nd Lt. Gregory Bassett, a platoon leader assigned to Troop C, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B.

The troop also assisted the ISF in implementing the physical security and force protection measures at polling sites in the Rashid District's Abu T'shir and Saha communities, providing standing metal detectors and wands, and stringing concertina wire at the many poll sites.

Iraq's Ministry of Interior also provided females officers to assist Iraqi national police and Iraqi police searching voters at the polling sites, he added.

This provincial election is more important than any before, because Iraq's 2009 election will be the first with the government of Iraq and the ISF working independently of Coalition Forces, said Bassett, who hails from Midland, Mich.

The free expression of political power by the populous of the nation the provincial elections are the basis to Iraq's democratic process, he added.

"If things go well, it will be a real sign to the Iraqi people that the ISF are capable and taking the lead," Bassett said. "It shows the other countries that democracy is feasible in Middle Eastern countries; that all people need to do is take up a little responsibility and stand up against people who would use fear and terror and oppression for personal gain."

The success of the Iraqi elections is important to maintain the public's trust and prevent the security gains in Baghdad from lapsing, said Spc. Travis Isaacs, a cavalry scout from Frederick, Md.

The elections in Abu T'shir and Saha went well because of the combined security efforts of both the ISF and the CF, he said.

"We worked to win the local populous and turn them away from the insurgents, and by just being nice and working to help them with their problems, we have won them over," said Isaacs, pointing to the fact that there has been only one attack against CF in Abu T'shir in the last six months as a sign that security is at an all-time high.

The polling sites in the Abu T'shir and Saha communities of southern Baghdad were set up as well as could be, said 1st Lt. Isaac Hedtke, 2nd Platoon Leader, assigned to Troop C, 7th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Regt., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

In the final days leading up to Iraq's second provincial elections, the Soldiers worked with the ISF to identify and reduce potential threats at the polling sites and made recommendations to assist the NP and IP units ensure that the elections occurred without any disruptions.

On Election Day, the Soldiers of Comanche Troop increased their patrols placing more than two platoons worth of Soldiers in and around southern Baghdad to serve as a Quick Reaction Force for the ISF manning the polling stations in the predominately Shia communities of Abu T'shir and Saha communities.

"Our leadership was impressed with our troop's ability to react, due to the fact that we know our areas as well as we do," Hedtke said to his troops before the election. "They're confident in our ability to react if something happens in the next couple days. They are also confident in how we have been helping out the ISF, helping them set up for the provincial elections."

The troop began preparing for the elections during their daily security patrols, working alongside the NP and IP in southeastern Baghdad, talking with the Iraqi citizens about their right to vote, said Staff Sgt. Justin Works, a cavalry scout section sergeant assigned to Troop C, 7th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Regt., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

In the days leading up to the elections, coalition forces Soldiers assured the Iraqis that the polling sites are secured and encouraged the local citizens to exercise their right to vote, said Works, who calls Crossett, Ark., his home.

"When we first got here in March of 2008 security was in question," Works said. "[Special Groups criminals] still had affiliation and a pretty good stronghold, and the Iraqi people still trusted them more than the Americans and the ISF."

Working with the people, showing respect for their customs and their city, and helping Iraqis to face their problems helped to build a base of support for the Soldiers and the ISF in southeastern Baghdad, he said.

As a result, there have been very few incidents during the past 11 months, as the local citizens continue to assist both ISF and CF maintain security in Rashid, he added.

Nothing has really changed with the implementation of the Security Agreement," said Works. "We're still in support of the ISF. They see that they are in charge and are stepping up to take the lead. The transition is more and more every day."

Currently serving his third deployment in support of OIF, Works said that he was shocked to find a more peaceful Iraq and the ISF standing up and taking charge.

"Things are gradually getting better," he said. "The ISF are gradually getting to the point where they are taking over everything, and they are doing it on their own; and I think that well before the cut off date for CF to be out of Iraq, the majority of the effort will be purely in a support role with the ISF pulling 100 percent of their own security and maybe CF serving only as a QRF."

Works also said that he believes there were a lot more people voting than in the prior elections due to the improved security situation in Baghdad.

"There is going to be a change in the government," he added. "The people are starting to step up and stand up for what they want instead of being scared and going by just what the tribal leaders want; or being scared and not voting because of threats or intimidation."

Command Sgt. Maj. Russell Reimers, top enlisted leader of the 7th "Ghost" Sqdn., 10th Cav. Regt., said that he is proud of the work that his Soldiers accomplished during their time in southeastern Rashid.

Reimers, a native of Rockmart, Ga., said that the goal is to get to a point that when the Iraqi people see American Soldiers, they know that coalition forces are here to assist the ISF.

"The ISF are going to do well," he said. "They are going to grow and do great things. We're going to help them make sure that happens."

Reimers also said that he takes great pride in the fact that his Soldiers provided support for Iraq's provincial elections, and said he took every opportunity to encourage Iraqi citizens and the ISF to vote.

"Hopefully, the Iraqi people can relate once they understand that not all Americans are born with the freedom to choose and select their government officials," Reimers explained, saying that as a second-generation American, voting is very important to him and his family.

Soldiers of the Raider Brigade will continue to maintain a presence in the communities and neighborhoods of the Rashid District after the election to assist the ISF provide security and stability for Baghdad as the new provincial leaders take seat in February and the Iraqi people observe the Islamic holiday of Arbaeen.

Associated Images

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