FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, KIRKUK, Iraq— Hawijah Iraqi Police Station 3, Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 46th Iraqi Army Brigade along with their partners from the Mortar Platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 37th Armor of the Ready First Combat Team, also known at the "Bandits" of Fort Bliss, Texas, worked together for the first time in a combined dismounted patrol in the city of Hawijah, Iraq, Jan. 4.
"This mission was a small part of a larger mission that ISF and the Bandits will continue to work on together throughout their time here," said 1st Sgt. Frederick Nash, a native of Colfax, La., and the first sergeant for HHC.
"The main mission between the ISF and their Bandit partners is gaining the trust of the people in Hawijah and denying the violent extremist networks a safe haven here," Nash said. "Together, ISF and the Bandits successfully completed the mission today, but it was just a small step."
According to Nash, the partnership was able to provide more than 150 bags of food and other household goods to families in need throughout the area.
"The ISF and Bandits, we were able to show the neighborhood they are here to help them, and they care for the people in the city," said Maj. Hatam Nzli Knln, police chief for Hawijah Station 3.
"We also opened up the lines of communication by giving out numbers for the citizens to call to report any trouble," Hatam said. "In the end, we formed a better relationship with the citizens of Hawijah by doing this patrol.
"They know we are here to support them and will do anything to keep the extremists out of their city."