Cyclone Company pushes Neighborhood Advisory Councils to forefront of day-to-day operations in Risalah/Soldiers look to finish deployment with Iraqi Security Forces in the lead

Photo By 1st Sgt. Brent Williams | 1st Sgt. Scott Lambert, an armor crewmember from Lowell, Mass., and Sgt. Chris Gibson, a food service non-commissioned officer, from Fort Stewart, Ga., both assigned to Company C, 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, direct Iraqi contractors to move armored containerized housing units, Oct. 30, 2008, onto a joint security station in the Risalah community of the Rashid District in southern Baghdad. The "Tuskers" Battalion of the 64th Armor Regt., attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, are closing combat outposts and joint security stations throughout southwestern Baghdad as Iraqi security forces transitioned into the leading role for security operations in the Rashid District.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

11.02.2008

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Brent Williams 

1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

By Sgt. 1st Class Brent Williams
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq — In October 2007, the Soldiers of Company C, 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, a mix of armor and infantry, assumed responsibility for the majority of the Risalah community in southern Baghdad, an area comprised of 12 muhallahs and home to approximately 250,000 Iraqis.

The company's third deployment to Iraq took them to the Rashid District in Baghdad and introduced the Soldiers to an area recovering from the violence and turmoil of Special Groups and militias trying to impose their will on the Iraqi people.

Currently attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, the Soldiers of "Cyclone" Company recently took a huge step in the right direction, said Capt. Michael Berriman, commander of Co. C, 4th Bn., 64th Armor Regt., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div..

Operations changed significantly since his first deployment in 2003, through his second tour in 2005, and now near the conclusion of his third deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, said Berriman.

The armor officer from Springfield, Mo., explained that he saw the focus of efforts change from major kinetic operations of past deployments to the tasks of increasing the capabilities of the Iraqi security forces and working to return normalcy to the daily lives of the Iraqi people.

"Our approach has always been that it is going to be a joint effort," said Berriman. "The company has always included the Iraqi security forces as my goal was to get the ISF involved because I knew that they would take ownership."

During the past seven months, the ISF took ownership of their communities and are good at it, he said.

"We got past that part involving ISF," he said. "The next thing we did is start incorporating the Neighborhood Advisory Councils."

The new NAC Hall, co-located with two Iraqi national police battalions and coalition forces at a joint security station in the Risalah community, opened Oct. 26, 2008, to provide local leaders a venue where they can meet with Iraqis in a secure area and maintain direct coordination with their community, said Berriman.

Berriman served more than two years as the "Cyclone" Company commander and his career, like many of the Soldiers in his company, spanned the many phases of Operation Iraqi Freedom, working through major combat operations to providing stability and support for the people of Baghdad.

"It has been a very interesting deployment, very challenging, and I think the Soldiers of this company can walk away with a good feeling – a better appreciation for what they have done," he said.

The citizens of Risalah started reaping the benefits of the improving security situation through the start of micro-power generation programs, which provide local power to the neighborhoods, and micro-grant funding, one-time grants for local Iraqi entrepreneurs to help stimulate the local businesses and economy, said 2nd Lt. Daniel Gorczynski, fire support officer, Co. C, 4th Bn., 64th Armor Regt.

Community events, such as school supply distributions and community medical engagements, are critical opportunities to get local leadership, ISF and the people involved, he added.

"The NAC has the biggest potential for development, especially with civil operations in Risalah, because they are knowledgeable of the area," Gorczynski said. "The power lines, generators, micro-generators, and [essential services] in the area all belong to the NAC."

The Soldiers of Cyclone Co. recently started working with the NAC to gain Ministry of Education support to refurbish the schools in the area, said Gorczynski, a native of Basking Ridge, N.J.

The NAC also played an essential role in assisting with resettlement in Risalah, said Gorczynski, adding that the new governance building in the ISF compound provides a haven for Iraqis to bring their problems.

The unit's relationship with the NAC and the Rashid District Council helped to improve the security situation on the ground, said Staff Sgt. Herbert Smitley, mechanized infantry platoon sergeant, Co. C., 4th Bn., 64th Armor Regt.

In fact, said Smitley, a native of Waynesburgh, Pa., it is the best he has seen in his three deployments to Baghdad.

"We have a good relationship with the NACs, and that plays an important part in getting the Iraqi people to work with the U.S. Forces and work with the people to get the [Special Groups] out and build trust," he said.

Conditions in Risalah and Saydiyah changed drastically from the heavy fighting at the beginning of 2008, said Smitley, who re-enlisted during the deployment.

"I think that we're closer than we ever have been in building a functioning government," he said. "This year has been a complete success."

Taking ISF out on every mission, the focus of the company was to push the ISF to do their job and work to their maximum potential, said Smitley, who credited the Iraqi national police with taking responsibility for their area of operations. "We are taking a step back with the ISF, letting them work to meet the needs of their people. A lot of our focus is to step out, step back and watch to make sure that they are doing the right thing.

"Over-watch for us means using their leaders. If they have one good leader per platoon, then we focus that leader, mainly the lieutenants and high ranking non-commissioned officers, forcing them to do more of the job."

Staff Sgt. William Bailey, mechanized infantry squad leader assigned to Co. C, 4th Bn., 64th Armor Regt., said he saw a drastic change in conditions and quality of life for the Iraqi people in Risalah.

"The people have returned to the streets, returned to their daily lives," he explained. "People are out; they are smiling and living their lives."

Missions vary day-to-day for the armor company, said Bailey, which. at a minimum, include conducting cordon and knock operations, raids, security over-watch, market assessments, atmospherics and checkpoint inspections.

There has not been a drastic change since the company assumed its mission, but the ISF gradually transitioned into a leading role in providing security for their country, said Bailey, a native of Worland, Wy.

The unit which primarily conducted patrols from their M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, now work primarily from humvees and conducts dismounted patrols through the area, which is another indicator of the continuing progress in the area, said Bailey.

As the unit looks toward the end of its 15-month deployment in December, he said that Co. C will focus their efforts to preparing the Soldiers of the "Raider" Brigade to assume the mission in southern Baghdad. He said he believes it is a daunting task for the Soldiers of the 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., to absorb the territory once controlled by the "Surge" forces, which are the units that will not be replaced once they leave Iraq.

Fortunately, the Iraqi national police of the 1st Bn. and 3rd Bn., 5th Bde., 2nd NP Div., did an excellent job stepping up their operations to take control of their areas of responsibility, he added, which helps the Soldiers as they maintain over watch for the entire Rashid District.

"I think it is important to maintain the relationships we have built with the ISF," he said. "We have to continue to work and use the ISF to help accomplish the mission.

The Iraqi national police made great accomplishments since Staff Sgt. Joshua Mager worked on a Military Transition and Training Team for the Rashid District ISF in 2005.

Since the violence in Iraq subsided, the armor section sergeant and tank commander traded his M1 Abrams Tank for a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle and assumed many of the duties and responsibilities normally allocated to an infantryman.

While day-to-day operations remain the same, Mager, a native of Statesboro, Ga., said he takes personal pride in watching the NPs grow into the lead, becoming more competent in the pursuit of the enemy and taking a more active role in their community.

"Now, to see the NP doing the same thing that the Iraqi army did back [in 2005], I think we have made great strides and progress in their security forces," Mager said. "The aggression of the NP and the aggression of the American Forces pushing the ISF to accomplish the mission have caused the people in the area to get to a point where they trust us – and where they trust the NP."

"Things are getting better all the time, and looking over time here in the next few years, I think we will see a good turning point," said Mager, adding he wants to maintain what has been accomplished during his three deployments in the last five years.

The "Tuskers" Bn. of the 64th Armor Regt., is part of the 4th BCT, 3rd Inf. Div., stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga., and deployed to the Rashid District of southern Baghdad. The combined arms battalion is attached to the 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., in support of OIF and MND-B.

• Date Taken: 11.02.2008
• Date Posted: 11.02.2008 09:24
• Story ID: 25822
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ