Knee Deep in the Hooah!

It’s the first of November! I can barely believe we are this close to Thanksgiving. Last year at this time I was anticipating the arrival of ToySoldier. He was coming home for leave, and Mr. Hooah! was stuck in HHC at Ft. Benning. I didn’t know if their paths would cross before ToySoldier had to head back to Baqubah. They did have a couple of days. Now, we are on the other side of that deployment and bracing for whatever the future holds. In the meantime, the news coming from Iraq just gets better and better — and more normal. Enjoy this week’s roundup.

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Gone Fishing: Marines Enjoying Unexpected Leisure
Posted on 10.29.2008 at 07:55PM

By Lance Cpl. Achilles Tsantarliotis
Regimental Combat Team 1

CAMP BAHARIA, Iraq – It’s early Sunday morning, the sun is just beginning to rise, and Master Sgt. Troy Buss walks across the desert sand with a fishing rod in tow.

Having deployed at least once during each Iraq operation since Operation Desert Shield in 1990, Buss never imagined he would fish in a man-made, Iraqi lake formerly used by Saddam Hussein and his Baath party elite.

Buss, a 43-year-old operations chief from Bonduel, Wis., with Company W, Task Force 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, spends at least an hour fishing at the lake each Sunday to unwind.

“Fishing is something we do in Wisconsin to relieve stress,” Buss said. “I call it a break back to reality. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to come here [to Iraq] and relax on the lake.”

Buss said he is able to make his weekly ventures to the lakeshore due to a sharp increase in independent operations of the Iraqi security forces since the transfer of provincial Iraqi control to the Iraq government in August.

Buss and Marines in his unit have transitioned into to an over-watch position as Iraqi security forces have begun to take over and conduct their own operations.

The increase of the Iraqi security forces ability to operate independently proves that the Marines partnered with their Iraqi counterparts have made a difference in the al Anbar province, he said.

Even if there was a lake near him during his previous deployments, there would not have been any time to enjoy it, he added.

“Back then we didn’t have a chance to do anything but operations,” said Buss.

Several other Marines aboard the camp have also enjoyed spending time at the lake.

“Fishing is something to look forward to each week and it makes time go by,” said Lance Cpl. Dustin Riesterer, a 21-year-old mortar man from Manitowoc, Wis., with Company W.

Riesterer, who deployed here a year ago, said operational tempo has changed drastically in the little time he was back stateside.

“I credit the change to the Iraqi police and Iraqi army stepping up,” he said. “It’s quiet enough to have just a little time to ourselves. I didn’t expect to have any leisure time—last year operational tempo was non-stop.”

The Marines say there is just enough time to fish once a week, but even that is a sign of Iraqis’ dedication to a becoming a self-sustaining, democratic nation. Source Link

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Roots of Transition
Posted on 10.30.2008 at 02:44PM
By Lance Cpl. Scott Schmidt
Regimental Combat Team 1

Excerpt
SATTACK, Iraq – An area formerly used by Iraq’s Baath party to produce chemical and biological weapons has taken a turn for the better.

The area, known to coaliton forces as the “Tri-Cities”, encompasses Iraq’s government-planned housing areas of Jiko, Sattack, Mukalan and their outlying farming areas. The Tri-Cities City Council was formed only three months ago, and has quickly established itself as the local government in the region.

But only recently has security in the area improved enough to allow the council to provide governance in the area.

According to CIA reports, the Iraqi chemical facility, the Muthanna Chemical Complex, dominated the area but was left in ruins after precision bombing attacks on Saddam Hussein’s infrastructures during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. The facility employed hundreds of Iraqis, and included housing to make working there more convenient.

From 1992 to 1994, United Nations Special Commission’s Chemical Destruction Group oversaw destruction operations to dispose of the weapons and the chemicals and agents used to make them.

Later, Iraqis from numerous provinces and tribal areas moved to and now inhabit the facility’s former housing areas.

Insurgents began using the region as a transit area and the community could do little to prosper, but coalition forces and Iraqi security forces have recently had success in rooting them out.

“The security provided by the Iraqi army battalion and Iraqi police in the Tri-Cities has laid the foundation for real progress,” said Gunnery Sgt. Jayson Franco, 4th Platoon commander with Mobile Assault Company, Task Force 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, and security adviser to Iraqi security forces in the area. Read More
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Iraqi National Policemen Discover Weapons Cache in Ghartan
Posted on 10.28.2008 at 11:56PM
By Multi-National Division – Baghdad Public Affairs Office

Excerpt
BAGHDAD, Iraq – National policemen from the 5th Brigade, 2nd NP Division reported discovering a weapons cache Oct. 28, 2008 in the Rashid District of southern Baghdad.

At approximately 10:30 a.m., Soldiers from the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, reported the 1st Battalion, 5th Bde., 2nd NP Div., found 10 60 mm mortar rounds, four 82 mm mortar rounds, three 120 mm mortar rounds, two 122 mm rockets, one 155 mm artillery round, one 60 mm mortar tube, two RKG3 rocket propelled grenades, four undisclosed rockets and two undisclosed artillery rounds while conducting a patrol in the Ghartan community. Read More
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Navy ‘Doc’ Only Medic for Miles in Remote Western Anbar
Posted on 10.31.2008 at 12:46PM
By Cpl. G.P. Ingersoll
I Marine Expeditionary Force Forward

Excerpt
BORDER FORT NINE, Iraq – He can be an intimidating sight to his patients, but as the Border Tansition Team 4222 corpsman, he’s always there to help.

At 6’3” and 210 pounds, Petty Officer 2nd Class John H. Holscher is a veritable tower of care and comfort for the people here, Iraqi and American.

Not that any of them have a choice, because the next nearest medic is more than 100 kilometers away.

“The biggest challenge to being out here is being the only doc. [Iraqi] medics depend on me to train them, Iraqis patients depend on me, taking care of the Marines, going on every patrol, and then the villagers, I can’t take care of them all,” said Holscher.

With a squad of Marines, a handful of interpreters, hundreds of Iraqis and countless civilians to care for, it’s a surprise ‘Doc’ Holscher doesn’t crack under the pressure. His cool demeanor and “can do” attitude were forged from his first deployment.

He wasn’t yet a petty officer when he deployed aboard the USS Comfort.

“It was the opening day of [the invasion into] Iraq, the USS Comfort was there for the first casualties of the war,” said Holscher, 28, New London, N.C.

Holscher said his team treated 75 patients in 20 minutes. He said it seemed like service members flying on the casevac helicopters had only enough time to pass casualties into the arms of corpsmen and take off again, due to the sheer volume of incoming calls for help. Read More
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Transition Team Keeps Watchful Eye Over Iraqi Population
Posted on 10.31.2008 at 12:23PM
By Cpl. GP Ingersoll
I Marine Expeditionary Force Forward

Excerpt
BORDER FORT NINE, Iraq – Their mission is to train, mentor and advise Iraqi security forces on Anbar’s border, but the Marines of Border Transition Team 4222 don’t forget to provide help to western Anbar’s civilian population.

“Helping them out helps the mission out greatly, as far as winning them over,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class John H. Holscher, corpsman, BTT 4222. “Turning them from the impression that the military is bad, that all we do is kick in doors and cause hell, it’s not like that at all. We’re trying to help them.”

The transition team headed up a small civil affairs engagement, Oct. 24, 2008, to provide local Iraqis with medical, dental and logistical aid. Though it’s not part of their primary mission, team members here have learned that reaching out to the Iraqi people will make them more likely to reach out to Marines.

“It’s important we gain their trust, if we have their trust they’ll talk to us and tell us where [foreign fighters] are, and we’re able to eradicate any insurgent presence,” said Gunnery Sgt. Rob T. Mantilla, operations chief. “It provides safety for us to maintain contact with these people; we keep them safe and they keep us safe.” Read More
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Rough Riders Kick Off Partnership in Iraq
Posted on 10.31.2008 at 09:54AM
By Sgt. 1st Class Damian Steptore
4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

Excerpt
CONTINGENY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq – As the sun began to set on the base’s soccer complex, 15 U.S. Soldiers warmed up for a big game, Oct. 23, 2008.

The ‘Rough Rider’ Soldiers of 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division were set to play the Motorized Transportation Regiment of the 10th Iraqi Army Division in a partnership-building contest where both sides were eager to get started.

“We got players from all over the world out here,” said Spc. Larry Walker, a petroleum specialist assigned to 27th BSB. “Plus, I’m a part-time soccer coach back home; so it’s all good.”

Walker, from Sacramento, Calif., was easily recognizable during this contest, as his large frame towered over the smaller Iraqi soldiers, but his size and coaching experience didn’t help his team this day.

The Iraqi MTR dominated the Rough Rider Soldiers by a score of five goals to one in a contest where both teams came out winners.

“They came out here ready to play, but we’ll get ‘em next time,” he said, as the sweat rolled off his shiny bald head.

The interaction and camaraderie the Soldiers shared during the game was the result of planning that began weeks before the match. Read More
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Coalition Forces Provide Professional Development for Iraqi Police
By Navy Seaman William Selby
Special to American Forces Press Service

Excerpt
WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2008 – The Iraqi police have achieved operational proficiency, allowing coalition trainers to shift their focus to professional development, an officer said yesterday.

“We’re continuing to develop big numbers of recruits, but at the same time we’re also starting to add to the professional training,” U.S. Army Col. Bryan Bequette, director of training support for the Civilian Police Assistance Training Team, told bloggers during a teleconference. “Investigator courses, follow on leadership courses, management course … as we start working on professionalism of the force along and in parallel with the size of it.”

Bequette is in command of a team of former police officers, most of them from the United States, that are Iraq in contract positions advising at Iraqi police training centers. They serve primarily in an advisory role.

“Most of what we do is overwatch and assist,” he said.

Bequette said his primary concern is training the Iraqi leadership in logistics, management and administration. In order to help the Iraqi leadership become more adept in dealing with logistics, international police advisors also assist in mentoring and logistic support.

“From a trainer’s prospective, we’re going through right now and scrubbing all the curriculums… the officer curriculums, commissioner curriculums, trying to put more administrative and logistics training in those curriculums,” Bequette said.

“The biggest thing is fuel…keeping their local electrical generation going…they just don’t have the mindset of sustained maintenance like we do in our military,” he added. Read More
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From Combat to Congress
Posted on 10.29.2008 at 04:49PM
By Cpl. Sean P. McGinty
I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward)

Excerpt
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq – During a speech on the five-year anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom, President George W. Bush said with Americans like ‘Spanky’ Gibson serving on our side, the enemy in Iraq doesn’t have a chance.

Now, after nine-months in Iraq, Master Sgt. William “Spanky” Gibson is headed to Washington D.C. to represent the Marine Corps in the halls of Congress.

Gibson was one of three staff non-commissioned officers selected for the inaugural Marine staff non-commissioned officer Congressional Fellowship. According to a recent Marine Administrative Message, the Secretary of Defense requested all services increase their presence on Capitol Hill. Gibson and the other two staff NCOs are the Marine Corps answer to that call.

The Marine Corps Congressional Fellowship is a Department of Defense program, managed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs. Read More
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Soldiers Distribute School Supplies to Iraqi Students
Posted on 10.29.2008 at 03:18PM
By Sgt. 1st Class Christina Bhatti
2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

Excerpt
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – The al Hayal Primary School sits in a farming community in Bassam, northwest of Baghdad. The small compound is a center for learning to approximately 400 students, taught by 14 teachers.

Like many children in Iraq, the students lack many of the most basic school supplies, such as pens, pencils and paper.

To help meet the needs of students attending the school, five organizations from across the United States sent boxes of supplies. These boxes were distributed, Oct. 26, 2008, by Soldiers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

While the donation was well received by the school, Capt. Timothy Cho, a native of Oakland, Calif., and embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team officer, said this kind of aid is not sustainable.

“This is not a long term solution,” Cho said. “This kind of donation is great, and it definitely lets the people know we are here and that we care.” Read More
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Baghdad Chaplain Gives Words of Encouragement to Soldiers: ‘God Bless You’
Posted on 10.30.2008 at 02:14PM
By Spc. Benjamin Crane
Multi-National Division – Baghdad

Excerpt
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Military chaplains are a vital part of a Soldier’s everyday life. They look after service members’ spiritual wellbeing as well as their morale. The chaplain is the one person Soldiers can open up to without worry of consequence.

On any given day, Soldiers working on Camp Liberty are likely to walk past a grey-mustached Army captain who, with a salute, will render a friendly “God Bless You” to them as he walks by.

Capt. Timothy Meier is a chaplain, a scholar and a wise man.

For Meier, a Catholic priest who serves with 142nd Chaplains Detachment, California Army National Guard, currently attached to the chaplain’s office, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, he said he felt it was his calling to serve this role to the Soldier.

“In the summer of 2005, I made a 30-day silent retreat called the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius Loyola,” said Meier, a Northville, Mich. native. “In the course of the retreat, it became clear to me that I was being asked to join the Army, which was not at all what I had ever seen myself doing. And so, it was a big surprise and something of a concern for me since I was never a big fan of war. But I could see that the need for Catholic chaplaincy was very great, and if I could be of service, then that’s what I feel I needed to do.” Read More
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Record Number of ‘Warriors’ Choose to Remain Army Strong
Posted on 10.30.2008 at 12:10PM
By Maj. Al Hing
2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

Excerpt
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Soldiers from Multi-National Division – Baghdad’s 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team “Warrior,” 25th Infantry Division, have reenlisted to “stay Army” at record rates during fiscal 2008.

In fact, so many Warriors committed to remaining with the team, they broke the U.S. Army’s reenlistment record for Soldiers in a deployed brigade.

The brigade’s Soldiers kicked off the deployment strong as Soldiers began lining up to reenlist when they arrived in Kuwait in December. By the end of the fiscal year, 1,263 Warriors had reenlisted to remain part of the Army’s Team. The previous record had been 1,253 reenlisting Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, which is based out of Fort Lewis, Wash.

The Warrior Brigade’s retention sergeants knew just making the mission was going to be a tough task let alone setting a new standard for others to follow.

“Before we left Hawaii, the [United States Army Pacific] reenlistment mission was at 1,140 [Soldiers], and that’s a jump from the previous deployed brigade requirement of 1,113,” said Master Sgt. Sean Milhauser, of Clearwater, Fla., brigade senior retention sergeant. “That’s a big jump of a requirement – and the highest mission I’ve seen as a retention sergeant.”

The reenlistment mission was aggressively attacked with reenlistments happening just as the Warrior Brigade arrived in theater. Read More
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Meetings key to success in Ramadi
by Pfc. Jerry Murphy
RCT-1 PAO

Excerpt
RAMADI, Iraq (Oct. 27, 2008) – Ensuring community wellness is an essential component to 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1’s success during their current deployment to Ramadi, Iraq.

Maj. James B. “J.B.” Runyon, the battalion’s executive officer, along with other members of the battalion and its subordinate Marine and Army units, attended a weekly meeting between Ramadi Mayor Latif Obaid Ayadah and local civic leaders at the Ramadi Government Center, Oct. 20, 2008.

“The secure environment that we hope to provide the people of Ramadi will allow the community to participate more fully in what direction the community is going,” said Runyon, a native of Albemarle, N.C. “These weekly meetings are a way for the directors general of Ramadi to convene with the mayor to discuss problems and what they will do in the next few weeks to fix them.”

In this week’s meeting, which is just one of many to have convened over the past six months, attendees discussed several problems with traffic, sewage and electricity in the city.

“They’ve had some problems with traffic and are trying to move a couple of checkpoints to help the traffic flow,” Runyon said. “They’re also having problems with sewage and electricity. Basically, the mayor gives the DGs his [ideas to fix the problems] and they put them into action.”

Marines with the battalion and members of Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team- Ramadi assist the civic leaders in planning and providing security for projects to improve the city’s infrastructure.

The ePRT is a joint state department unit tasked with working with the military to manage projects within a given community.

“We’re here to assist in providing a secure environment for the community. We’re trying to make it to where the people can live their day to day lives and are more willing to come out and participate in events going on in the community,” Runyon said. “We work with ePRT to do this, and we coordinate events so that the Iraqis have [the basic necessities] they need.”

Runyon said senior leaders with the battalion meet with the mayor regularly to inform him about things Marines are seeing and hearing while engaging the community. Read More
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