Photo By Capt. Meghan E. Keefe | A Soldier from A Company, 37th Engineer Battalion, uses a mine detector in order to...... read more read more
SALAH AD DIN, Iraq —Shi'a Muslims begin their pilgrimage to religious shrines during the observance of Arba'een; in efforts to make their passage a more safe one, U.S. forces partner with the Iraqi army to engage locals and clear the streets of hazards, Feb. 2.
Arba'een, which means 40 in Arabic, is the 40th day after Ashura or the death and martyrdom of Iman Husain ibn Ali, the 3rd Imam and grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. The religious observance is known to some as the Muharram ritual and has many variations around the world. During this time, observers make their pilgrimage to the Husyan and Abbas shrines in Karbala, Iraq, by traveling on roadways that, in the past, have had threats imposed on them from improvised explosive devices.
Soldiers from the 37th Engineer Battalion- Joint Task Force Eagle, based out of Fort Bragg, N.C., and 1-28 Infantry Battalion, based out of Fort Riley, Kan., work closely with the 17th Iraqi Army Brigade operations and intelligence officer, Maj. Hayder, on clearing the shoulder of Highway 1 in the Salah ad Din province, while engaging locals on what they are doing and why.
According the 1st. Lt. Curtis Fields, the Battle Company 1st platoon leader and a Junction City, Kan., native, the purpose of the patrol is to support the primary mission of the 17th IA Bde., which is securing the safety of the highway.
"A joint patrol not only allows us the ability to assist them with the engineer assets, but it also serves as a public message to anyone who drives by and sees us working together. We hope that this shows people who travel along this highway on a daily basis, that the 4th IA Div. is dedicated to keeping the public safe," said Fields.
Joint operations between U.S. forces and the Iraqi security forces, is all you will see in Iraq these days and are a true testament to the fact that security, and capacity, develops everyday in this once war torn country. A Company, 37th Eng. Bn. - JTF Eagle supports missions such as this with Battle Company, 1-28 IBCT, along with civil development projects, such as the Salah ad Din Canal Campaign, with the 4th IA Field Engineer Regiment.
"As engineers, we have the internal ability to identify and reduce hazards imposed onto civilians. Which in turn supports our partnership, as we play a supporting role to the Iraqi army's mission by enabling their success with our capabilities," said Capt. Jim Wade, the A Company commander and a Nashville, Tenn., native.
During the patrol, Fields and Hayder walk along the shoulder of the road as cars pass by honking their horns and people wave hello. With their mine detectors, searching for any metal objects that could potentially pose a threat, the engineers move ahead of Fields' platoon of infantrymen. In the mix of the patrol, is Fritz, the German Sheppard military search dog and his handler, a trained team in finding threats that would otherwise be left unseen to Soldiers.
Before reaching their end point, Fields and Hayder meet farmers tending to their crops, digging irrigation ditches. The eldest man distinguishes himself as a Sheik and Hayder shakes hands and introduces himself, while making conversation about local activity and the upcoming pilgrimage. Hayder believes in the partnership and believes missions such as this and opportunities to truly get out into the public eye are attributed to the teamwork between his Soldiers and Battle Company, 1-28 Inf. Bn.
"The partnership is a really great opportunity," said Hayder, "while we support many missions in Iraq, one relationship we hope to continue to build is the partnership with U.S. forces."
| Date Taken: | 02.02.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 02.03.2010 06:24 |
| Story ID: | 44844 |
| Location: | SALAH AD DIN, IQ |
| Web Views: | 287 |
| Downloads: | 251 |
This work, Keeping Streets Safe through Partnership, by CPT Meghan E. Keefe, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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