Civil affairs team delivers supplies and conducts assessments at Kirkuk schools

Courtesy Photo | Repair of this water tank was identified as a potential project by a coalition civil affairs team during a village assessment in the Jadida-Taza area August 11. (Photo submitted by 451st Civil Affairs)  

KIRKUK, IRAQ

08.19.2005

Courtesy Story

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FOB WARRIOR, Iraq --Civil affairs soldiers from the 116th Brigade Combat Team's 451st Civil Affairs Battalion spent a busy day with local leaders delivering school supplies and then assessing area schools August 11.

Civil affairs team 42 began their day by meeting with Sheik Rahuan Juna"a Mustafa and Iraqi Army Major Ziad of the Jadida-Taza area to discuss projects. Later, the same team performed school assessments and delivered school supplies at the Musala and Al Sader Primary Schools in Kirkuk.

"Civil affairs teams are out every day supporting our maneuver battalions," said Capt. Alex Carter, a civil affairs officer from the 451st CA Battalion. "Our mission today was no different than the hundreds of other missions we have conducted in this province. We help our commanders understand the ground truth of how Iraq has been impacted by military operations here and we recommend ways to restore essential services."

During its village assessment with the leaders, the team was able to identify a need to repair the village's only water storage tank.

"Today we were able to tell our commanders the most critical needs of this community. In this case they need an adequate and clean water system," said Carter.

The school assessments were to determine it the schools would be eligible for a technology pilot program to upgrade network infrastructure and connectivity for the Iraqi classrooms. The results of the assessment were forwarded to the brigade for consideration.

Providing civil affairs services to Iraqis is one way the soldiers of the 116th BCT are accomplishing their mission while deployed in north central Iraq. The unit's mission includes assisting Iraq's new government, supporting economic development, facilitating communications and improving security and stability in the region.

The 116th BCT is comprised of headquarters and staff sections, two armor battalions, a mechanized infantry battalion, a support battalion, a field artillery battalion, an engineer battalion, and various intelligence, signal, and specialized units. The 116th BCT is one of several Army National Guard units deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.

• Date Taken: 08.19.2005
• Date Posted: 08.19.2005 13:49
• Story ID: 2791
• Location: KIRKUK, IQ