Infantrymen meet & greet residents, looking for tips

Photo By Staff Sgt. James Hunter | 1st Lt. Adrian Monzingo, platoon leader and native of Sour Lake, Texas, with 3rd...... read more read more

Photo By Staff Sgt. James Hunter | 1st Lt. Adrian Monzingo, platoon leader and native of Sour Lake, Texas, with 3rd Platoon, Company C, 1st Sqaudron, 75th cavalry Regiment, walks through a pool hall during a dismounted patrol through northwest Baghdad, Nov. 20. The Company C troops are speaking, or engaging, local citizens of Baghdad in hopes to lead to the apprehension of known insurgents operating in the area.  see less | View Image Page

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

11.27.2007

Story by Staff Sgt. James Hunter 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

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By Sgt. James P. Hunter
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Public Affairs

BAGHDAD — In many western Baghdad markets, Iraqi homes sit behind the shops, with the shop in a garage-like setting. The markets are very open visually, with Iraqi citizens spilling onto the streets at all hours of the night. Shops are open to the public, selling cakes, candies and goodies of all sorts. Cell phones, jewelry and dress apparel can all be found in shops cluttered throughout these streets. But sometimes hidden amongst these men and women, shopping or walking to or from school, is your everyday bomb maker.

Though things have calmed down immensely in the past few months, with reports of violence and coalition casualties at a low, the need to find these criminals is still a priority for troops operating in and around Baghdad.

Troops from Company C, 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, run operations out of Joint Security Station Maverick, in northwest Baghdad daily to ensure security is upheld, to interact with the local citizens and gather information, much like detectives would, looking for known insurgents responsible for attacks plotted against coalition and Iraqi security forces.

According to Spc. Michael Mullins, a medic and native of Jacksonville, Fla., with Co. C's 3rd Platoon, the troops patrol their entire sector, trying to cut down on insurgency within, and conduct population engagements to continue to build the populations trust in coalition forces.

"Basically our intent is to get to know the area, know the populace, and continue to track intelligence on (known insurgents)," said Mullins. "We've picked up nearly three sources within sector who have passed on a fair bit of intelligence."

Mullins said the people within are fairly friendly, but constant communication and trust opens them up even more.

"The more you isolate yourself from the local people the more they are going to be inclined to believe the lies," said Pfc. Cezar Cocu, an infantryman and native of White Plains, N.Y., with Co. C's 1st Platoon.

"I think the people who have been here long enough to see what's happened their entire lives, they want change, but the younger folks pretty much have their ways set," Mullins said. "Education for the children is going to be the biggest step. It all starts with the kids, interacting with them, shaking their hands, showing we care is a really big step forward."

But here is the thing, being able to gather the information and earn the peoples' trust can be difficult, said Staff Sgt. Rodney Nelson, platoon sergeant and native of St. Louis with 3rd Platoon, Co. C. He said area residents will follow whoever is going to keep them secure, help their families and provide services.

On Nov. 20, 1st Platoon engaged the local populace, talking with Iraqi workers at an electrical power plant and concrete facility in Kateib. Their purpose was to continue to build rapport with the local Iraqi army battalion in the area and gain intelligence from the Iraqis to continue to build their cases against known insurgents operating in the area.

"I got a good vibe from the people," said 1st Lt. Kristopher Zavala, a platoon leader from Moraga, Calif. "They like us. They want us here. The unit we replaced did a good job helping these people out and maintaining that good relation with IA and IP (Iraqi police). We want to continue to build on that relationship and work hand and hand with them."

They work mainly on stability operations, with the help of Iraqi army and IP forces to capture known insurgents, he said. The more help they have coming from all directions, the more likely they are going to be able to stop those responsible for these attacks.

Later that night, 3rd Platoon conducted a foot patrol on Market Street to talk with area residents. While dismounted, they received small arms fire and immediately started pushing toward the home of where the firing came from. They were unable, however, to find out any information regarding the shooting.

"The objective today was to go down to Market Street and find some information that would lead to where some of these (high value targets) are bedding down," said 1st Lt. Adrian Monzingo, a platoon leader and native of Sour Lake, Texas.

On this particular night they were unable to find any information, but they were able to reach out to a local sheik who plays an important role in the community – a key local figure, said Monzingo. They wanted to introduce themselves.

Maintaining positive relationships with the residents is important.

"We want to continue to develop these connections," Nelson said. "So we can pinpoint the location of the (high-value targets), so we can go pick them all up."