Former U.S. Soldier provides his language skills to help the people of Iraq

Photo By Sgt. Waine Haley | Omar El Menshawi a former member of the U.S. military, now a contract interpreter, works with an Iraqi National to sort through possible intelligence documents found during the raid of a man's home suspected of being a member of an IED cell.  

TIKRIT, IRAQ

03.10.2006

Courtesy Story

133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

TIKRIT, Iraq (February 24, 2006) " Coalition forces are made up of many different cultures and many different nationalities, bringing many different talents to the rebuilding of the Iraqi nation.

Omar El Memshawi, U.S. Army contractor, helps Coalition Forces build strong relations with the people of Iraq by using his skills as an interpreter. Memshawi is currently working with the Rakkasans of the 3rd Brigade Combat team, 101st Airborne Division in the city of Tikrit.

Memshawi, better known by his first name of Omar, started working with the Iraqis in Operation Iraqi Freedom II. At that point in the war he was a U.S. Soldier.

"I was an U.S. Army intelligence noncommissioned officer with a specialty in interrogation and counter intelligence during OIF II.," Omar said. "When my enlistment was over, I came back to Iraq as a U.S. contractor and I have been here ever since."

"Being a soldier has helped me in the job I'm doing now," Omar said, "I think I'm more effective now then when I was in the Army. One example, as soldiers there are military boundaries you can't cross but as a contractor there are suggestions you can make in certain situations without loosing your military-bearings."

As a contractor, Omar has been in Tikrit for two years. During that time he has built strong relationships with all forms of government officials, Iraqi Police, Iraqi Army as well as Iraqi residents.

"I know all the key leaders in the Salah Ad Din province from the governor down," Omar said. "I even received awards in the [Tikrit] area from the governor, brigade commander, and battalion commander."

"My relationship with the people matured pretty fast because they know I'm neutral," Omar said. "I'm not here against them ... I'm not here just to make money ... I'm honest and they learned that pretty fast."

Omar added the Iraqis are smart people; they are able to judge people quite well and it doesn't take them long to do this. They realize he is only here to help them, not to make it harder on them.

"Two reasons why Omar is the best -- One, he is very honest," Brigadier General Abdel Jabar Saleh, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Division Commander, Iraqi Army said.

"Two, his translations are very accurate. Other translators have a hard time with [the] accuracy of their translations."

Omar attributes his interpreter's skill to two different factors. One is his military training, but he believes his most contributing factor is his heritage. His mother is of Egyptian descent. Growing up with those customs has taught him to be more sensitive to the needs of other Middle Eastern nationalities and cultures and to understand the mind-set of the Iraqi nationals. This in itself gives him an edge over people that have learned Arabic as a second language.

"The [Iraqi] culture is close to the culture I grew-up with," Omar said. "This allows me a greater understanding than someone who has just studied the language."

Omar added that the culture here appreciates respect. "If you respect them they will respect you back," Omar said. "There are two ways you can treat people -- by force or by kindness and respect. If you show them that you care, the people will confide in you and that will give us [CF] a better sense of what can be done to help the people here."

Lt. Col. Todd R. Wood, a Task Force Commander for the 3rd Infantry Division, teamed up with Omar to do a radio show during OIF III. They would have locals call in and talk about their problems. It was not just about military issues -- it was also about personal things.

"We [Lt. Col. Wood and Omar] would sympathize with the problems and help, Omar said. "That allowed us to build a respected reputation in the area [Tikrit]."

Omar believes a lot of the locals realize Coalition Forces are here to help but there remain a few that don't believe in the work the Soldiers are doing here.

Omar understands why Coalition Forces are here. He is trying to change the Iraqi's opinion of Coalition Forces by showing that they are here with the best intentions for the country.

"The main thing I would like to accomplish before I leave here is to stop all the insurgents by helping the remaining people understand Coalition Forces don't want to be an occupying force," Omar said. "I'm doing this because I feel like I'm needed here. What I can bring to the fight will help the mission. I can also help my country [U.S.A.] by serving in this manner and as long as I'm needed I'm going to stay."

• Date Taken: 03.10.2006
• Date Posted: 03.10.2006 14:10
• Story ID: 5661
• Location: TIKRIT, IQ