Baqubah students receive visit from local heroes

Photo By Senior Chief Petty Officer Bryan Weyers | Iraqi special operations forces pass out soccer jerseys to students, April 12, at an elementary school in Baqubah, Iraq. During the humanitarian visit, ISOF soldiers visited two local schools and distributed hundreds of school supply kits, shoes, soccer balls and jerseys to approximately 1,300 elementary school students.  

TIKRIT, IRAQ

04.12.2009

Story by Staff Sgt. Heidi West 

Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Arabian Peninsula

TIKRIT, Iraq — Baqubah Iraqi secial operations forces delivered hundreds of school supply kits, shoes, soccer jerseys and soccer balls to nearly 1,300 elementary school students in Baqubah, Iraq, April 12.

"Today, we bring you gifts. Tomorrow, you will be heroes and the new generation of Iraqi who will help our country be better," said Lt. Dirgham Hussan, ISOF 1st Company commander, to a class of first graders.

While terrorists are recruiting Iraq's youth, Iraqi security forces are engaging future hopefuls, said a U.S. Special Forces civil affairs officer, who has partnered with ISOF on numerous humanitarian missions.

"Iraqi forces organized the entire visit," said a civil affairs team leader. "They selected two schools — one predominantly Shia and the other Sunni-dominant, both expressing gratitude for the school supplies."

The first school, an all-boys institution established in 1987 with 35 instructors to teach approximately 600 students. From an early age, the boys are taught about ISOF and the unity they bring to the area, said the school headmaster.

"The students are very comfortable with them," said the school headmaster. "The teachers tell the students what is going on in the region and they know ISOF is here to protect them. Also, many of them have brothers and uncles in ISOF."

While he and other ISOF soldiers passed out Iraqi national soccer team jerseys and soccer balls, Hussan engaged the boys in conversation and encouraged them to aspire for greatness.

"When I was in first grade, my mom asked me what I wanted to be when I got older," said Hussan. "I told her I wanted to be an officer, and today, I'm in the Army. All you have to do is dream and you can do anything you want."

Leaving the school, the ISOF and USSF headed just down the road to an all-girls institution. The school houses 650 girls taught by 50 instructors.

"[ISOF] tell the students 'we are here to protect you," a teacher said. "This deepens the relationship with the children so they are not afraid ... and naturally, some of them talk of becoming Soldiers when they get older, but it's different for every child."

Visiting each of the classrooms, ISOF Soldiers passed out shoes and backpacks filled with school supplies. Two U.S. Soldiers also visited the classrooms to enlighten the girls about the freedom of choice.

"Women can be doctors or teachers or even Soldiers," said the male Soldier pointing to the female Soldier. "It's important to find out what you want to be and pursue that dream."

Receptive to the message, each of the girls grinned and thanked the two for coming.

"It was a huge success," said a coalition forces civil affairs officer. "The Soldiers did a great job interacting with the students, and the teachers seemed pleased with the visit."

• Date Taken: 04.12.2009
• Date Posted: 04.20.2009 09:26
• Story ID: 32599
• Location: TIKRIT, IQ