Sons of Iraq register with Iraqi government

Photo By 1st Sgt. Justin A. Naylor | Members of the Sons of Iraq continue the registration process to transfer payment responsibility from the U.S. to the Iraqi government at Gains-Mills in Kirkuk Feb. 1. This is part of the official transfer of the SoI from U.S. to Government of Iraq support which is slated to occur April 1.  

KIRKUK, IRAQ

02.07.2009

Story by Spc. Justin A. Naylor 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, KIRKUK, Iraq—As part of the transition of control of Iraqi governance to the duly-elected Government of Iraq, the highly successful citizen security force called the "Sons of Iraq" will become the responsibility of Iraq in a process that began on Feb. 1st with Kirkuk-wide registration at military installations.

The commander of the 46th Brigade, 12th Iraqi Army Division, Brig. Gen. Abdul Razaq hosted Col. Ryan Gonsalves, the commander of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division during the event. Gonsalves had a chance to observe the registration process at Forward Operating Base Gains-Mills, a military base outside of Kirkuk city.

"The Iraqi army is in charge. They are putting together this registration and they are committing themselves fully to integrating the SoI into their regular forces and helping out those who don't become soldiers or policemen," said Gonsalves.

The Sons of Iraq began working with coalition forces in 2007 to help fight the insurgency in Kirkuk.

Up to 20 percent of the roughly 8,000 estimated SoI in Kirkuk will become regular Iraqi Soldiers or Iraqi policemen. Those who do not will continue to be employed as SoI until they receive full-time employment, a personal commitment from the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki.

"This way it [the military] is all under one government," said Shelburne, Vt. native 2nd Lt. Chris Freeman, the fire support officer for Company C, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd BCT. Prior to now, the SoI worked closely with coalition forces.

The SoI registering at Gains-Mills are being scanned and entered into the Iraqi army's pay system. Each SoI will undergo a thorough background check to ensure their eligibility to become an Iraqi soldier or policemen, as well as a medical screening to ensure they are physically capable to serve.

This registration process is about more than just changing the way SoI are paid. This process gives SoI members a chance to protect their own country, while working for the Iraqi government.

"It gives them more of a sense of nationality," said Freeman. "It allows them to feel that their government is taking over. It helps them understand that the government is self-sufficient and able to take care of itself."

April 1st is the next target date, at which time the Iraqis will be completely responsible for the SoI program.

"We want everything to go perfectly on April 1st," said Gonsalves.

• Date Taken: 02.07.2009
• Date Posted: 02.20.2009 09:42
• Story ID: 30229
• Location: KIRKUK, IQ