Photo By 1st Sgt. Brent Williams | Sgt. Keith Fosmire, a team leader assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry...... read more read more
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By Staff Sgt. Brent Williams
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
BAGHDAD – The Raider Brigade Combat Team has a new ally in its mission to help the government of Iraq and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers build upon the Doura beladiya, a predominately Sunni neighborhood located in Baghdad's Rashid District.
The 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment "Warriors," will be attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, next week, as part of its mission to assist the government of Iraq and the Iraqi people.
"It is our intent to create a safe and stable living environment for the people of the Doura District," said Lt. Col. Timothy Watson, commander of the 2-4 Inf. Regt., which is part 4th BCT, 10th Mountain Division, which is based out of Fort Polk, La.
The battalion's current mission is to work with Iraqi security forces and the local district councils responsible for the community, which is home to the Doura market, a social, cultural and economic center in southern Baghdad, explained Watson.
"This area has all the potential to flourish economically and contribute to the proud cultural heritage of the Iraqi nation," Watson said. "Much of our time and effort has been devoted to facilitating the growth of the market complex while providing a non-intrusive yet highly effective security presence."
The units of the 2-4 Inf. Regt. have partnered with the local Iraqi army and Iraqi police forces, as well as the Sons of Iraq (Abna al-Iraq), to better secure the Doura mulhallas, or neighborhoods, from criminal and terrorist activity.
Soldiers maintain a presence in Doura 24 hours a day to better assist local ISF in providing security for the approximately 5,000 homes in the local community, said 2nd Lt. Jay Parsons, a platoon leader assigned to Company B, 2-4 Inf. Regt.
Units conduct joint and platoon-sized operations with their Iraqi counterparts every day, operating out of combat outposts and joint security stations in Doura, he explained.
"I try to ensure that we conduct some type of combat operation every day," said Parsons, who calls Wichita, Kan., his home. "Be it cordon and search, or dismounted and mounted patrols, it's a constant thing. There are still a small group of criminal elements within the district that we are weeding out, but I do not see a major threat."
Security is not the platoon's only function, said Parsons, a graduate of Wichita State University with a bachelor's degree in history and criminal justice. He said his Soldiers also conduct daily atmospherics meetings with the Doura residents and visit local community businesses.
"There is still a lot of potential for growth in there," Parsons said. "There is a need for community services, and there are definitely capable people within the district to run all that."
Company commanders of the 2-4 Inf. Regt. are also working to stimulate the local economy and assist local business owners with micro-grants, a small business loan to help revitalize areas such as the Doura market, he added.
Sgt. Keith Fosmire, a native of Cloversfield, N.Y., and a team leader in Parsons' platoon, said that in the short time since his unit began working with the Doura residents, he has seen an improvement in the quality of life and an increase in the people's respect for their community.
"We had a big problem with garbage," said Fosmire, who describes himself as being devoted to the military and the mission.
"Now we're actually seeing the guys in the yellow jump suits and garbage trucks going around picking up the trash," he explained. "And, we're seeing more jobs and more activity in the area than before."
Fosmire, who is on his fifth deployment of his 11-year career, said that he accredits the unit's success to the squared away and dedicated Soldiers of the 2-4 Inf. Regt., as well as the extensive training the battalion conducted last year prior to its deployment.
He also attributed the progress made in Doura to the cooperation between the Iraqi people and coalition forces, as well as the work accomplished by previous units, such as the 2nd Bn., 12th Inf. Regt., 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., from Fort Carson, Colo.
The Warrior Battalion arrived at Baghdad in December to become part of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division.
The 2-4 Inf. Regt. will attach to the 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., as the Raider BCT bids farewell to the outgoing unit and assumes responsibility of the Rashid District.
| Date Taken: | 04.09.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 04.09.2008 13:42 |
| Story ID: | 18226 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 255 |
| Downloads: | 224 |
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