Two Civil Service Corps schools open in Sidera, TaqTaq village

IRAQ

11.23.2008

Story by Spc. Karla Elliott 

11th Public Affairs Detachment

By Spc. Karla P. Elliott
11th Public Affairs Detachment

HAWIJA, Iraq – Two schools from the Civil Service Corps program celebrated their grand opening Nov. 23, near the city of Hawija in the Kirkuk province, Iraq.

Sidera village and TaqTaq village, two areas once claimed unsafe by both contractors and the Iraqi government, now opened two schools. Now they will have the capabilities of training more than 180 locals on road repair, painting, canal maintenance, municipal clean up and administrative duties.

"This program will provide employment and training for 12 months with the effective establishment of an organization that will continue to train members of the communities, providing employment and economic benefits to the people of TaqTaq and Sidera," said Lt. Col. Kenneth R. Casey, commander of 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division from Fort Carson, Colo.

The CSC employed more than 150 former members of the Sons of Iraq.

These two villages have come a long way in such a short time, that this accomplishment shows a bright future for the locals.

"In the past, the areas of Sidera and TaqTaq had a lot of al Qaida influence, but there was a big battle six months ago that rooted them out," said Capt. Larry Brown, commander of Company A, 1st Bn, 67 AR Reg.

With security in place, the locals in these villages can now focus on rebuilding the community, he continued.

"The Civil Service Corps is a testament not only to the will and enterprise of the individual, but the support and growth of a society that has turned its back on the terrorists who attempted to derail the progress being made, for the very people they have claimed to represent," concluded Casey.

• Date Taken: 11.23.2008
• Date Posted: 01.17.2009 05:47
• Story ID: 28954
• Location: IQ