Photo By Staff Sgt. Zachary Mott | Lt. Col. Michael Pemrick (left), a Greenwich, N.Y., native, speaks with Capt. Garrett...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Zach Mott
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Public Affairs Office
ADHAMIYAH, Iraq – The man walked away from the payment office with a stack of Iraqi dinar in one hand and a smile on his face.
Hadi Naser Emsa'ed, who works as a Sons of Iraq guard in the Sha'ab neighborhood of Adhamiyah, was being paid by the Iraqi government for his work protecting the people of northern Baghdad; the payments were made at outposts across the Adhamiyah district Dec. 22.
Hadi received his at Joint Security Station Basateen.
"I have to pay rent and my debts; I have too many expenses," he said, "but the money is good today."
The Sons of Iraq program was officially handed over to ministry of Iraq control Oct. 1, with payments following shortly behind. When the program was under the control of coalition forces, the men were typically paid on the last days of the month. Now, the Iraqi army pays the SoI members after drawing their salaries from the government of Iraq.
"We only got paid for one month today, but they promised to pay us on time," said Mohammed Baghreeth Faraj, a shift leader for the SoI in Hayy Ur.
He used to be responsible for 35 men, but following the changeover to GoI control, some now work for the interior ministry while others work within various government offices. Mohammad now commands 10 other SoI.
"I'm staying because I want to help protect my neighborhood," Mohammed said.
Payments will continue in Adhamiyah until the more than 3,000 currently employed SoI are paid.
| Date Taken: | 12.25.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 12.25.2008 01:25 |
| Story ID: | 28121 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 253 |
| Downloads: | 236 |
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