B Company, 451st Civil Affairs Battalion helps out at a local school

Courtesy Photo | School children at Ishtar Elementary School in the Arapha district of Kirkuk sing to the soldiers of B Company, 451st CA BN after receiving school supplies donated by US citizens. (Photo submitted by B Company, 451st Civil Affairs Battalion)  

KIRKUK, IRAQ

10.12.2005

Courtesy Story

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CPT Monte Hibbert
116th BCT Public Affairs


FOB WARRIOR, Iraq -- As part of the 116th Brigade Combat Team, soldiers of B Company, 451st Civil Affairs Battalion are working hard to assess vital services with the goal of improving the quality of life for families in Kirkuk Province, Iraq.

The B Company, 451st Civil Affairs Battalion mission is multi-faceted as it often requires a thorough assessment of towns, villages, and city neighborhoods throughout the Kirkuk province and surrounding areas. The civil affairs soldier is prepared to submit various reports based on information collected during an assessment and it is during this gathering of information that the soldier is often presented an opportunity to do one of the most rewarding missions -- that of visiting local schools and delivering supplies to the children.

The civil affairs soldiers are often the recipients of numerous school supply packages, either donated from their own family members and friends or from organizations that work with the U.S. military in supplying large-scale school supply packages.

"We work closely with Operation Provide School Supplies and we are working closely with the Kirkuk DG of Education to ensure that school supplies are distributed equitably across the city, across all ethnic groups -- we don't play favorites", said Maj. Eric Boettcher, Commander of the B Company, 451st Civil Affairs Battalion.

The civil affairs soldiers of B Company, 451st Civil Affairs Battalion are working to improve the quality of life for school children in the province of Kirkuk, as this is only a small part of the 116th Brigade Combat Team's mission while deployed in north central Iraq.

"Many times the civil affairs soldiers are the ones that are in the best position to deliver donated school supplies throughout the city because we are out in the city so often during the week", said Capt. Alex Carter, Civil Affairs Team Chief. "On this particular day, we were able to donate over 600 lbs of pens, pencils, folders, notebooks, staplers, soccer balls, gum, and paper to the Ishtar Elementary School, right here in the city."

The 116th BCT mission also includes assisting Iraq's new government, supporting economic development, facilitating communications and improving security and stability in the region.

• Date Taken: 10.12.2005
• Date Posted: 10.12.2005 12:35
• Story ID: 3299
• Location: KIRKUK, IQ