Seeds of progress spread in Hawr Rajab

Photo By Sgt. Kevin Stabinsky | Capt. Ken Guglielmina, Team 11 Civil Affairs team leader, discusses the issue of electricity with a local Hawr Rajab sheik. Twenty-two local sheiks have banded together to create a council representing their people for the common goal of restoring Hawr Rajab.  

ISKANDARIYAH, IRAQ

10.22.2007

Story by Sgt. Kevin Stabinsky 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

Sgt. Kevin Stabinsky
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – After weeding out insurgents in their community, residents of Hawr Rajab are coming home and joining together to rebuild.

Nearly two months ago, an al-Qaida offensive caused a mass exodus from the area. Now, with local citizens aided by coalition forces taking a stand, al-Qaida has been driven out and the residents are returning home.

"A lot more people are moving back in Hawr Rajab," said Capt. Chad Klascius, of Troop A, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division. "We've worked with the people and are helping them move back into town."

Klascius said about 30 percent of those who fled have returned to date.

Reaching out to the other 70 percent, Capt. Ken Guglielmina, the Team 11 Civil Affairs team leader, said his teams are working to provide the essential services in the area so that people are willing to come back.

The effort is made possible by the help of local Sheiks and concerned citizens.

"The concerned citizens are facilitating a secure environment so the contractors can come in and actually do some good," Klascius said.

One contribution has been in the detection and removal of improvised explosive devices. Over the last three weeks citizens have removed 13 IEDs, Klascius said.

Now that contractors are willing to venture into the area, Klascius said, two major efforts are being undertaken. The first effort is to repair a broken sewage line; the second is to repair a bridge along the main route into the area.

Other projects on the horizon include getting a medical clinic back up, running power lines and repairing the existing ones, said Guglielmina, whose team is attached to 1-40th Cavalry Squadron.

To help bring legitimacy to these projects as well as government involvement, Guglielmina said they are working to involve key ministerial figures in the areas of electricity and health.

While many provinces struggle with bridging the gap between provincial government and the Iraqi government, Guglielmina said by working with Al Rasheed Nahia Council and the council managers, communication is enhanced.

The council is a collection of 22 local sheiks who represent their people and work toward a common goal of rebuilding Hawr Rajab, Klascius said. The council is broken down into different committees such as the infrastructure committee, security committee and finance committee, to best sort and solve these issues amongst the community.

The Iraqi army has also been a big part in facilitating communication.

Working side-by-side with Klascius' Paratroopers are soldiers of the Company A, 5th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division. The Iraqi soldiers also work side by side with the concerned citizens, manning checkpoints with them and supplying them with ammunition.

The IA is also building a police station in the area, to integrate and transition the concerned citizens into the police force, Klascius said. Because of this, the concerned citizens have legitimacy as a viable security force in Hawr Rajab unlike some areas, where the government fears them as militias.

Such legitimacy is causing government officials to take notice.

With government officials' help, Guglielmina is hopeful that more projects will take place. These include opening a boys' school, a girls' school and a fuel station.

• Date Taken: 10.22.2007
• Date Posted: 10.22.2007 11:12
• Story ID: 13174
• Location: ISKANDARIYAH, IQ