189th CSSB brings Arabic culture to Al Asad

Courtesy Photo | Staff Sgt. Helmi Sassi, a battalion maintenance noncommissioned officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 189th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command and a Tanzania native, teaches class about Arabic language and culture. Sassi speaks five dialects of Arabic as well as French and English. (Photo by: Spc. Maribel Granados)  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IRAQ

05.24.2011

Courtesy Story

4th Sustainment Brigade

By: 1st Lt. Christopher Hutchins

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq – A maintenance noncommissioned officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 189th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command volunteers his personal time to teach Arabic to soldiers stationed at Al Asad Air Base every weekend.

Staff Sgt. Helmi Sassi, the battalion maintenance noncommissioned officer for the 189th CSSB, deployed from Fort Bragg, N.C., as a wheeled vehicle mechanic but felt he could do more than his duty required.

“We work with the Iraqis every day,” Sassi said. “But most soldiers don’t know anything about the Arabic culture or language.”

Sassi said he began volunteering his off-duty time to promote learning and understanding between the two cultures.

Sassi spent the first 23 years of his life in the small North African country of Tanzania. Because he grew up in an environment with rich cultural diversity, he became fluent in five dialects of Arabic, as well as French. He immigrated to the United States in 1999 searching for work.

Sassi said he initially joined the Army for a steady job and income, as well as the opportunity to travel. Soon after enlisting, he deployed as part of a military transition team, training the Iraqi army on how to properly run a unit maintenance program.

He said his personal background helped him understand the culture behind Iraqi army operations and organization, which, paired with effective communication, lead to successfully training the Iraqi soldiers.

Sassi said his success with the MITT motivated him to coordinate the Arabic program on Al Asad. He offers classes in the education center on Saturday and Sunday, with each day broken down into two sessions.

The first session covers the Arabic alphabet, as well as very basic reading and writing techniques. Then Sassi steps away from the dry erase board and teaches common Arabic customs, courtesies and expressions.

“I am giving soldiers the opportunity to practice basic communication they may be able to use when dealing with advise and assist mission situations,” he said.

This portion includes learning, understanding, and recognizing the Iraqi military ranks and how to appropriately address them in accordance with Iraqi customs.

Sassi said he enjoys the opportunity to teach soldiers about the Arabic culture and hopes to provide helpful insight into the Arabic world.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about helping out our soldiers,” Sassi said. “Being able to even say a few phrases in Arabic may be the first step in building a relationship.”

• Date Taken: 05.24.2011
• Date Posted: 06.05.2011 02:17
• Story ID: 71601
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IQ