By Staff Sgt. Aaron Thacker
Multi-National Division-South East Public Affairs
BASRA, Iraq - Grim expressions were replaced by smiles on children's faces as Iraqi soldiers passed out backpacks, notebooks and other school supplies during a humanitarian visit to grade schools Jan. 9.
This was the second combined-civil military mission made by Iraqi and U.S. forces in Basrah province.
In addition to schools, the team also visited an Abu Al Khasib fish market to assess what improvements are needed and a future playground site.
"There was good cooperation between the Iraqi Army and the Americans," said Lt. Col. Hussain Jassim Abdalla, an engineer and Chief Assistant of Civil Military Operations for the 14th Division, through a translator. "I really appreciate the effort being put into this
operation."
Abdalla plays an intricate part in developing a civil-military program for the Iraqis. He recently led a CMO training course for Iraqi army and police.
Today's mission was the second application of this training. Their first mission was to a water lock a week ago that was damaged during the war. The lock is a system regulating how much salt water can enter fresh water rivers and canals, preventing damage to farmland and drinking water systems. Abdalla said having the skills to make proper assessments for these missions was very important as the Army gets more involved in reconstruction.
"This mission is a culmination of their training," said U.S. Navy Capt. Robert Lansden, chief of civil military operations for Multi-National Division- Southeast. "Abdalla's troops were very friendly with the children."
Working with the Iraqis in a civil capacity isn't just required protocol to Lansden. It has become a part of his personal philosophy.
"This is their home," he said. "We are safer when we work with Iraqis." To make this work, Lansden has pledged to Iraqi-military leadership that all future civil-military missions in Basrah will be a joint effort between the coalition and Iraq.
Lansden explained how civil military operations will progress in phases for the Iraqis. It starts with training and then a combined effort like what is happening now.
"We spent more than five months training Abdalla's civil-affairs team," Lansden said. "Now we roll together. We've really developed the first joint Iraqi civil affairs team."
"Eventually we'll pull out and they will continue," he said.
| Date Taken: | 01.09.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.10.2009 03:43 |
| Story ID: | 28682 |
| Location: | BASRA, IQ |
| Web Views: | 189 |
| Downloads: | 182 |
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