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    Airman oil advisor greases her way into Iraqi women’s prison

    Airman oil advisor greases her way into Iraqi women’s prison

    Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Larry Schneck | U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Kaylin Haywood Zapata, Edmond, Okla., native and an Iraq...... read more read more

    BAGHDAD - A typical day for an oil and electric police advisor in Iraq does not include trekking through a roomful of more than 100 women prisoners and their children, including three infants.

    “We needed women going into this prison,” commented U.S. Army Capt. Mark Weber, U.S. Forces – Iraq corrections assistance transition team officer in charge, from Greenfield, Iowa. “She gave us the experience we needed on our team and the access inside the prison to get a balanced report on the conditions within the women’s facility.”

    Weber found U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Kaylin Haywood Zapata, a native of Edmond, Okla., and an Iraq Training and Advisory Mission – Police oil and electric police advisor, during a previous assessment at the Rusafa Prison Complex, Baghdad, Iraq. He asked her if she would assist with an upcoming visit requiring only women.

    Cultural sensitivities in Iraq, a mostly-Muslim, paternal society, do not permit men to enter areas where the female inmates live. Some of the women serve their time alongside their young children.

    “The CATT was on our base for an assessment,” described Zapata deployed from the Pentagon. “As happens in most cases, the team lead and I just started talking to learn more about what each other do for the military. He mentioned how difficult it is to find female military members to conduct assessments of female prisons.”

    Her job experiences include being part of unit inspection teams for the Air Force. A female Army captain in her office is a military police officer, making both a perfect fit for CATT.

    “When the call for assistance sounded, we answered the call,” remarked the oil and electric police advisor. “I volunteered myself and the captain to assist.”

    The assessment at the Rusafa women’s prison took about three hours to complete. She started the visit with a chat in the warden’s office.

    CATT provided Zapata with a list of prepared questions from an established checklist of prison inspection items.

    “I was very impressed with the cleanliness of the facility and the professionalism of the warden and her staff,” she exclaimed. “Despite being severely overcrowded and having scarce resources, they have managed to ensure tolerable living conditions which do not endanger or harm the inmates.”

    One of the items on the assessment checklist surprised Zapata. She didn’t expect to find a vocational course offered to the inmates. Prison officials teach the prisoners the skill of sewing.

    “These types of experiences make us more effective airmen and Soldiers,” said Zapata. “It exposes us to alternative methods and means of employment and ways of thinking. The tremendous amount of synergy in a joint, integrated team makes us more flexible war fighters.”

    Wrapping up the visit at Rusafa women’s prison means a return to her job at Joint Security Station Shield, Baghdad, Iraq, of advising and mentoring the oil police. She’s seen tremendous progress and improvements in the oil infrastructure.

    “The oil police progress and achievements are further ensuring the stability and long-term prosperity of Iraq,” said Zapata. “These successes make the time spent away from my children worth it.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 04.12.2011
    Date Posted: 04.12.2011 14:31
    Story ID: 68639
    Location: BAGHDAD, IQ

    Web Views: 186
    Downloads: 1

    PUBLIC DOMAIN