Paratroopers provide security for city council meeting

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Marcus Butler | Staff Sgt. Jason Boyle a native of Crestline, Calif., stares out over the town of Tahirr, Iraq providing security for the first meeting of the Jurf as Sakhr City Council Dec. 20. Boyle is assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division. (Photo by Sgt. Marcus Butler)  

ISKANDARIYAH, IRAQ

12.20.2006

Courtesy Story

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division Public Affairs

By Sgt. Marcus Butler
4th BCT (Airborne) 25th Inf. Div. Public Affairs

ISKANDARIYAH, Iraq (Dec. 20, 2006) - Paratroopers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division provided security for the first meeting of the Jurf as Sakhr City Council at an Iraqi police station in Tahirr, Iraq.

The meeting was held so that the representatives from Jurf as Sakhr could come together to work out issues facing the city. They intended to come up with a plan to better help the people they represent..

The original location for the meeting was to be held in Jurf as Sakhr, but due to security reasons, the city council decided to move the location to Tahirr.

Dispatched to provide security for this mission were the first and third platoons from Company C.

"This meeting was very important and safety was our first priority," said Capt. Don L. Kingston, Jr., the company commander.

"This meeting of the Jurf as Sakhr council was to be completely run by the council," added Kingston. "We were there for security measures only."

During the meeting, various representatives brought forth suggestions and questions about future plans.

"Our goal is not to do everything for them. We will provide them with the skill and knowledge for what they need and help them with whatever else we can," said Staff Sgt. Kevin Toscino, with the battalion's civil affairs team.

Capt. Scott Nelson, commander for Company A, was the primary advocate for the council meeting, listening to the issues and plans they brought up.

"The turn out was not what we expected," said Kingston. "A lot of the major council members did not show, but a lot of the surrounding village representatives did, which was a good thing."

This council meeting is the first step in the right direction for establishing a more structured government system, said Toscino.

The Jurf as Sakhr council represents the needs for approximately 50,000 people for their town and the surrounding area.

• Date Taken: 12.20.2006
• Date Posted: 12.29.2006 10:34
• Story ID: 8701
• Location: ISKANDARIYAH, IQ