Iraq 2009

Female Military Police 'driven' to Protect

By Pfc. Kelly LeCompte

BAGHDAD, IRAQ - Spc. Yessenia Morales, of High Point, N.C., and Spc. Felicia Sloan, of Lumberton, N.C., are two military police Soldiers that serve as mine resistant ambush protected vehicle drivers in security details for the command group of the 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team.

Commander of Multinational Forces Iraq: Iraqi Response Paves Way for More Progress

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq, – The commander of Multinational Forces Iraq said today he’s extremely pleased with the way Iraqi security forces have stepped to the plate following the June 30 withdrawal of American forces from the cities and towns of the country.

Container Repair Yard Increases Production, Reaches Milestone 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) RSS Story by Spc. Michael

By Spc. Michael Behlin

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – Just seven months ago, Joint Base Balad's Iraqi-owned container repair yard consisted of 45 workers and a quota to repair a minimum of 60 containers per month.

Bridging the Gap: American High School Students Deliver the Goods

By Spc. Phillip Adam Turner

BAGHDAD, Iraq – In an effort to give a group of high school students a glimpse into the lives of Iraqis, a Dubuque, Iowa teacher assigned a service project to her students to apply 'real world problem solving solutions' that would benefit the people of the war torn country.

Brenda Foust, a world history teacher at Hemp Stead High School, and her students decided that a focus on education promoted the most, with the common belief that 'knowledge is power.'

U.S. Soldiers Train Iraqi Police on First Aid

By Sgt. Joshua Risner
TAJI, Iraq – Iraqi policemen at the Tarmiyah Police Station here, learned some useful techniques in first aid from Soldiers of the 591st Military Police Company, 93rd MP Battalion, 8th MP Brigade, May 16.

The training focused on controlling bleeding from an arm or leg, according to Pfc. Evan Mead, from Londonderry, N.H., a medic with 591st MP Co.

Intelligence Coming From the Ground Up

By Jared Sollars

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, MOSUL, Iraq — The U.S. Army has begun out fitting units with a new intelligence gathering and distributing system as they prepare for deployment. The 3rd Heavy Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division is spearheading the charge in this new direction of intelligence.

Iraqis and the Long Knives Unleash "Lion's Roar"

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IRAQ – The Iraqi army's 10th Division sent out their ground troops and air support assets to conduct the first large-scale combined-arms live-fire exercise, nicknamed Operation "Lion's Roar" in southern Iraq, April 19.

"They did outstanding," said Maj. Gen. Michael Oates, the 10th Mountain Division's commander, said about the Iraqis' efforts during the training event. "The Iraqi army is here to defend its citizens and protect their borders."

The Fighting 36th at Al Asad Helps With Escorting Convoys

By Spc. Kiyoshi Freeman

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq – Texas guardsmen escort fuel convoys around Anbar province every week and build relationships with their Iraqi partners to support coalition operations.

On the Ground: Troops in Iraq Focus on Schools

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. forces in Iraq increasingly are putting down weapons to build schools in their changing role there. Some of Diwaniya's brightest female students between 13 and 15 years old participated in their new school's opening Feb. 26.

Troops in Iraq Find Recently Made Iranian Munitions

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, DC – American and Iraqi forces have discovered Iranian weapons in Iraq that were manufactured as recently as last year, a U.S. military official said today. The yield of Iranian-made weapons consisted of hundreds of rockets and makeshift bombs, Army Col. Philip Battaglia, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team said in a Baghdad news conference.