Maintenance window scheduled to begin at February 14th 2200 est. until 0400 est. February 15th

(e.g. yourname@email.com)

Forgot Password?

    Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Logo

    ‘Wolfhound’ Soldiers partner with ISF for school opening in Salah ad Din province

    Col. Khalil cuts the ribbon

    Photo By Staff Sgt. David Strayer | Standing alongside Lt. Col. Donald Brown, commander of 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry...... read more read more

    CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – “Wolfhound” soldiers of 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, opened a school in the rural village area of al Noman, located south of Tikrit, Iraq, Feb. 7.

    The newly opened, modern school facility replaced a smaller two-room mud-hut that had a 20-student capacity and would collapse during the area’s rainy, winter season.

    “This is the type of project that will pay dividends for the people of this area for generations to come,” said Lt. Col. Donald Brown, commander of 1st Bn., 27th Inf. Regt. “My mother was a teacher for 40 years; projects like this are special to me. I know the impact education can have.”

    The school opening project is one of 21 education-related projects completed by the Wolfhounds since taking over in the Salah ad Din province in August 2010.

    “The new school is a huge improvement over the mud school that the children were forced to go to in the past,” said Muhammad Abraham, a contractor who worked with U.S. forces and local Iraqi government to facilitate the building of the school. “This new school is going to attract more families to the area, which will not only improve education, but will draw more farmers and improve agriculture in the area.”

    The Wolfhounds made an immediate positive impact in the quality of life and local economies in the province, but they understand the greatest benefits are not always seen right away, said 1st Lt. Matthew Wolfe, civil affairs officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Bn., 27th Inf. Regt., 2nd AAB, 25th Inf. Div.

    “These projects are not just about numbers and immediate results,” Wolfe said. “Schools, water purification and agricultural projects all make an immediate impact, but will benefit the local areas the most over the long haul.”

    The Wolfhound Battalion has worked with the local Iraqi governments on, and completed 49 different projects related to transportation, water, electricity and education, he said.

    “At this point, we can look back at the work we have done so far and see the positive effects of the efforts of our soldiers,” said Wolfe, a native of Orlando, Fla.

    “We understand that what we do now will have effects that last for years,” he said.

    Wolfe added these types of projects are the foundation for a healthy, stable and self-sustaining government.

    LEAVE A COMMENT

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 02.10.2011
    Date Posted: 02.10.2011 12:08
    Story ID: 65160
    Location: TIKRIT, IQ

    Web Views: 155
    Downloads: 2

    PUBLIC DOMAIN