First Women in Iraqi Army Honored at Conference

10.01.2004

Courtesy Story

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By Spc. Marie Whitney

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Twenty-five women sat on white plastic lawn chairs in a small park area next to the U.S. Embassy building, not far from a swimming pool. The women quietly chatted in the midday heat while drinking bottled water out of a large blue bucket filled to the top with chunks of ice.

But these were no ordinary women. These were 25 of the first 88 women to join the ranks of the New Iraqi Army. They awaited the arrival of the congressmen¸ military officials¸ and other guests set to attend a Sept. 26 conference; a conference held in their honor.

Also taking part in the conference was a small group of women from the 1st Cavalry Division's Headquarters Company.

Every First Team Soldier volunteered to be a part of the event."I am very excited to get to go on this mission. We get to meet the females of the New Iraqi army. It's great because they are the first ones [to serve in the army]" said Sgt. Dawn Handley, one of the HHC Soldiers who attended the conference.

The conference started with some of the congressmen and military officials giving speeches, telling the Iraqi soldiers how proud they are of the courage the women have displayed and the historical importance of what they are doing.

After the speeches, the whole group walked over to the Embassy building to watch a documentary called "Journey of Courage: Women in the New Iraqi Army," displaying the sacrifices and the changes made by these women in their pursuit of serving their country.

This video, which was written, filmed and produced by Kristen Hickman a film producer from the U.S. Department of State, was the Iraqi soldiers" answer to a documentary on the history of women in the U.S. military they were shown during a conference put on by the U.S. Army in June 2004.

This new video documented the time the women spent in Jordan taking part in an 8-week basic training program put on by the Jordanian army with the help of the U.S. Army. The film showed footage of the women going through all of the training along with their thoughts and feelings on serving in the military and what they learned from their time together.

Once the video was over, the group returned to the poolside park for lunch. Under the cover of an umbrella-shaped tree, American and Iraqi female Soldiers ate together from a large buffet of Iraqi food while conversing with each other with the help of translators.

The occasion was wrapped up with Hickman giving a speech to the group of women, thanking them for their dedication to their country and their people. "Even though what you have begun is valiant, remember that it will not be an easy task," Hickman said.

"But I think that if anyone can do it, it would be you, because it takes a special type of person to be able to handle what you had undertaken."While individual courage of the Iraqi military women has seen them make history in their country, a common bond keeps their focus on the future. "When we first came together, we had many differences," said one. "But the one thing we have in common is the will and determination to work hand in hand as a team."

• Date Taken: 10.01.2004
• Date Posted: 10.01.2004 08:50
• Story ID: 446