By Cpt. Randy Tester
1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment
FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – Iraqi Army troops and paratroopers from 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division worked together to distribute more than 200,000 pounds of a fertilizer to a local farmers' union in the town of Al Rasheed, Iraq Dec. 12.
Once the fertilizer was delivered, Sheik Arkan, a local leader and member of the farmer's union, managed the distribution operation.
This was the second distribution of fertilizer in two weeks. While double the amount of fertilizer was delivered, the union completed distribution two hours earlier than before.
Members of the union purchase the donated fertilizer from the union while simultaneously generating revenue for the union through the sale of crops.
Cooperation between the Iraqi Army and the paratroopers provided seamless security for the distribution of the fertilizer.