Photo By Master Sgt. David Johnson | Spc. Bilal Rasul (center), a civil affairs specialist who speaks Arabic, diffuses a...... read more read more
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FORT IRWIN, Calif. - Army Civil Affairs Specialist Bilal Rasul was born in Youngstown, Ohio. Soon afterward, his family relocated to the town of Al-Birah, in Palestine, when he was a toddler.
There, Rasul learned Arabic in school and spoke Arabic at home until he returned to the United States when he was in fourth grade.
Fast forward nine years to 2010, when Rasul joined the Army Reserve to earn education benefits. At the time, he enlisted to train as a food service specialist.
After he deployed to Kuwait in 2012, leaders in the 316th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, noticed Rasul’s proficiency at speaking Arabic to local residents. Supervisors immediately began working to get him transferred into a position utilizing his language skills rather than his baking ability.
It was hard work, either way.
“I am not fluent in Arabic,” said Rasul. “I left Palestine in fourth grade and spoke English at home when I returned.”
Kuwait and see
Local Kuwaitis and other Arabic translators did hear Rasul’s Arabic skills, however. They told Army leaders they thought Rasul was proficient enough to work in civil affairs.
“Muscle memory,” said Rasul, explained of his ongoing language learning. “I can still understand some of the basics.”
Rasul worked in civil affairs administration for the remainder of his tour in Kuwait.
Leaders from 316th put him in contact with 412th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Kloha. Kloha did the legwork to bring Rasul into the 412th, based in Columbus, Ohio.
When Rasul came to 412th to process in, he ran into an old colleague. Rasul’s first sergeant, Kevin Morgan, remembered him from Fort Hunter-Liggett, California. Both Soldiers were in different units, preparing to deploy.
“He had language skills,” said Morgan, referring to Rasul. “I recognized his special talents right away; the way he interacted with people”
Morgan was elated to bring Rasul into Alpha Company, so he could attend the civil affairs specialist course.
“He improves the team,” said Morgan. “Not just his language skills, but he is an overall special Soldier with great team skills.”
California bound
Rasul used his language skills in training at National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin during the 412th’’s rotation there. Many of the local role-players at NTC are Iraqi by birth, and they commended Rasul on his speaking ability and problem solving.
“I am able to de-escalate conflicts,” said Rasul. “I can tell by body language and basic Arabic when I need to step in to help.”
Diminishing conflicts and mediating between civil authorities and military commanders are what civil affairs Soldiers do, and Rasul has a natural propensity.
“Spc. Rasul excelled at the decisive point of the exercise,” said Capt. Byron Davison, an observer controller from 360th Civil Affairs Brigade, based at Fort Jackson, S.C. Davison observed Rasul’s expertise during NTC Rotation 15-07.
Rasul will decide later this year if he will reenlist in the Army Reserve to stay in the service.
“I am attached to the culture of Palestine,” said Rasul. I want to help other cultures, and that is exactly what civil affairs Soldiers do.
Civil Affairs Soldiers must adapt quickly to different situations, which the language specialist is aware.
“The civil affairs Soldier’s job is very non-linear,” said Rasul. “It is different for every mission we encounter.”
Back at home
Rasul will graduate from Akron University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Emergency Response and Homeland Security. His academic background, along with his civil affairs skills, will put him high on the radar screen of Army career counselors who will work to persuade him to reenlist.
Leaders in Alpha Company, 412th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), where Rasul is assigned, are working to reenlist him, too.
“He is a valuable asset to the team, our unit and the United States Army,” said Morgan.
| Date Taken: | 04.27.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.02.2015 15:51 |
| Story ID: | 171877 |
| Location: | FORT IRWIN, CA, US |
| Hometown: | AKRON, OH, US |
| Web Views: | 297 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 412th Civil Affairs Battalion specialist uses language skills to help, by MSG David Johnson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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