Photo By Sgt. Rodney Foliente | Lt. Gen. Ali Salih Farhood Oothman, 8th Iraqi army Div. commander, hosts an SoI...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Rodney Foliente
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
DIWANIYA, Iraq – Iraqi military and government leaders met with coalition forces to coordinate the government of Iraq's plans for the Sons of Iraq program at the headquarters of the 8th Iraqi army Division on Jan. 21.
Lt. Gen. Ali Salih Farhood Oothman, 8th IA Div. commander and host of the meeting, discussed the importance of the transition and his confidence in the 8th IA Div. and the local government to take control of the program, which is scheduled to be entirely under GoI control in March.
"This is one more thing where we can step back, and you can step forward in taking over the security of Iraq," said Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, Multi-National Division – Center deputy commanding general for operations.
A plan outlined to local government and military leaders by Muzhir al Mawla in December 2008 gave the 8th IA Div. primary responsibility for managing the SoI program throughout the province and ensures its members are properly manning their areas of responsibility.
A large number of SoI will eventually transition into Iraqi security forces positions, which makes oversight by the 8th IA Div. a logical step, said Chief Warrant Officer 2 James Outlaw, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div. targeting officer.
"It allows the SoI to transition easily into the ISF or into government jobs. [The ISF] is the next step for many of them," said Outlaw, who comes from Wallace, S.C.
"It is important to take care of the SoI as if they were our own Soldiers. If you treat them right, they will continue to take care of the people," said Oothman.
The 8th IA Div. is in charge of security for approximately 25 percent of Iraq and encompasses five provinces, and approximately 10,635 registered SoI members will fall under the 8th IA Div.'s area of operations.
"This SoI transfer signifies how committed the GoI is to taking control of the SoI program. The fact that the GoI has sent its representatives down to Qadisiya to meet with SoI leaders and conduct this rehearsal further reinforces how committed the GoI is to help prepare the SoI transfer in its southern provinces," said Lt. Col. Michael Brandt, MND-C reconciliation chief.
"Lt. Gen. Oothman is ready to support the Government of Iraq in the transition of the SoI program," said Capt. Adam Cmerek, fire support officer, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Div.
Cmerek, from Taylor, Texas, expressed his confidence in the Iraqis' ability to take over responsibility of the program, and ultimately, of the country's security.
"This SoI transfer is a critical part of national reconciliation and one of the key means to re-connect Iraqi citizens to their government and return to some degree of normalcy. The outlook looks pretty good, in that the security situation we have encountered over the past eight months will continue into the future, in large part because of the SoI efforts in our area," said Brandt.
Brandt added that the transfer in the Baghdad area three months ago has remained smooth and the security situation there remains stable.
During the December meeting, leaders also discussed the eventual dissolution of the SoI program, and the GoI plans to offer approximately 80 percent of the SoI members vocational training and government job placement assistance. The remaining 20 percent is slated to transition into positions within the ISF.
| Date Taken: | 01.24.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.24.2009 18:14 |
| Story ID: | 29223 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 215 |
| Downloads: | 177 |
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