Soldiers return to school to hand out more supplies

Photo By Spc. Richard Vogt | Soldiers from 401st Civil Affairs Battalion and 4th Battalion 23 Infantry hand out school supplies at the Al Abed Primary School in Mosul.  

MOSUL, IRAQ

02.23.2006

Courtesy Story

345th Public Affairs Detachment

MOSUL, Iraq - Teachers and students of the Alabed Middle School in the Palestine neighborhood of Mosul, gratefully accepted donated school supplies for the second time this month from the 401st Civil Affairs Battalion and 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, today.

Along with Coalition Forces, the Iraqi security forces participate in Operation Iraqi Children, a program that brings much needed school supplies to children.

"This is a good way for the community to see with their own eyes, that we are there to support the community," said Maj. Roy A. Outcelt, team leader, 401st Civil Affairs Team Alpha, who was on site to assist the Iraqi Police.

This was the second time this month that the 401st Civil Affairs Battalion was there to hand out the supplies. The Local Iraqi Police and the 401st were there earlier this month to hand out the school supplies to 400 girls who attend the school. This time the supplies were given to 340 of the boys.

The school day is split in half in order house all the students in one day. During the morning hours the girls are taught. The afternoon hours are when the boys are able to come to their classes.

The school, which served as an election site for the recently past December elections, houses over 740 boys and girls ranging in age from 7-12 years old.

The supplies were provided by Operation Iraqi Children. The individual bags were put together consisting of pencils, erasers, folders, rulers and a few other items to help the school girls with their studies.

In the last year, OIC provided supplies for over 200,000 Iraqi children.

• Date Taken: 02.23.2006
• Date Posted: 02.23.2006 15:09
• Story ID: 5484
• Location: MOSUL, IQ