Small group, huge impact

Photo By Staff Sgt. Garrettgarrett Ralston | Dr. Tanya Thompson, team leader of the Babil Human Terrain Team on Contingency Operating Site Kalsu, a native of Saddlebrook, N.J., hands out paper and colored pencils to students March 2010. The HTT conducts socio cultural studies and uses their skills to engage local populations. This information is provided to commanders so that informed decisions can be made prior to missions.  

BABIL PROVINCE, IRAQ

01.21.2011

Story by Staff Sgt. Garrettgarrett Ralston 

3d Cavalry Regiment Public Affairs Office

BABIL PROVINCE, Iraq -- Since 2003, military units in Iraq have been challenged to learn the cultures of the populace around which they operate. Many considerations must be made before successful missions can be conducted.

In southern Iraq, across the five provinces where 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment currently operates, the studies of a very small, but invaluable, group of people have paid dividends in the military’s efforts to understand the needs of Iraq’s people.

The members of the Human Terrain Team on Contingency Operating Site Kalsu provide socio-cultural information and atmospherics on tribal alliances to the complex networks within local populations. The team’s research allows the regiment to make informed and effective decisions before they act.

“We are very approachable for the local people,” said Dr. Tanya L. Thompson, team leader for the Kalsu HTT, a native of Saddlebrook, N.J. “The information we gather lets units know where they are successful and where improvement is needed.”

The current team has been operating out of COS Kalsu since 2006. They have worked with numerous different units but have maintained a continuity of successes through each transition.

The team focuses great effort on atmospherics in order to get a truly clear picture of what is happening in a certain area. When a commander gathers information through internal sources, he may be told that a small neighborhood receives electricity for 12 hours a day. The team members will speak to the people themselves, and discover it is only two hours a day. Knowing the reality of the situation provides a focus point for mission development.

The team also helps units understand certain cultural practices that influence justice and political systems.

“It really depends on the nature of say, a criminal act, as to who people will go to when there is a problem,” Said Mounim, a cultural analyst for the HTT said. “They will usually go to whoever will provide the swiftest solution. Who that may be, whether it is the police, army, or maybe the local sheik, depends on the location. It is different in different areas.”

Historically, the team has had a direct impact on many projects around the five provinces. Their research assisted in the planning for the Wasit province Fish and Meat Market, the Hillah Courthouse project, and the Salman Pak Bridge.

The Salman Pak Bridge was a major success that stemmed from the team’s studies. It had been earmarked by United States Forces-Iraq to be removed. After the HTT met with and interviewed local people near the bridge, it was discovered that the bridge served as a main route for Iraqi Security Forces and USF and allowed quick access to a medical clinic nearby. The USF-I commander was not aware of these facts. After the teams’ report, the commander was able to make an informed decision based upon the needs of the people.

“The HTT is truly invaluable,” said Maj. Joe Hammond, the Regimental Information and Operations officer, a native of Fort Leavenworth, Kan. “They help the regiment understand a situation from the view of the people. By getting the perspective of the populace, we can give the Iraqi government and its officials a better view of themselves, as well as the security and civil services they now provide.”

Now, as other units once did on this base in southern Iraq, the 3rd ACR looks to the HTT to provide accurate information on the concerns of Iraqis in the area. This is essential to the success of today’s Advise and Assist Brigade concept. As units like the 3rd ACR set the conditions for a stronger Iraq, the HTT is there to help ensure that each decision made is an informed one.

• Date Taken: 01.21.2011
• Date Posted: 01.27.2011 09:07
• Story ID: 64301
• Location: BABIL PROVINCE, IQ