Daily Afghan-Iraq Update/11-08
KHOST PROVINCE - Khost PRT engrs walk with Afghan contractors to survey the 25 km road project in Speyra, Nov. 1. The road is being built to connect the local populace to their district center.
Afghan road construction contractors speak with ISAF engrs from the Khost PRT about new road construction taking place in Speyra district in Khost prov.
A young farmer tries to control his cow while waiting to see a vet, Oct. 25, at the Baraki Barak District Center.
The large procession of animals included cows, goats, mules and donkeys. “We helped 492 animals and over 200 villagers,” said Army Staff Sgt. Dwaine Hood, Fire Support NCO for Able Troop. Although 3-71 CAV and Czech soldiers from the Logar PRT provided security and helped direct traffic, the vets were all Afghan and the medications for the animals were bought on the local economy, Hood said. “Farming and livestock are a huge deal in this area,” said Hood. “Many people’s whole livelihood is based around their livestock.”
The treatment of the animals was intended to benefit the farmers and their livestock. But most importantly, the VetCap introduced them to their own local vets, who'll be responsible for the medical upkeep of their livestock in the future. “It shows we care for the local populace and the hard work they do,” said Hood. Although this event was the first of its kind Able Troop hopes it won’t be the last. “Our plan is to help as many as we can before the harsh winter,” said Hood.
A veterinarian explains to a young farmer why he's about to vaccinate his cow.
Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO
ANP Prepare for Medical Outreach in Their Village
Photo by Master Sgt. Sarah Webb
Army Spc. Seth Stout, SECFOR member of Ghazni PRT, provides security for the female search team during a village medical outreach program mission, Oct. 31. The PRT conducted the VMOP with the assistance of the ANP. The VMO was held at an ANP outpost inside the village of Slemanji.
Ahmed Deab, the village mukhtar, said the supplies were great, and that it helps to encourage the students to study more, and builds upon the relationship they have with the IA. "We have a good relationship with the IA in the area," Deab said. "The IA come to the village whenever something happens or there is a problem."
The school headmaster, Motar Kalaf, says the supplies are a welcome addition to his school, and believes the supplies will also help motivate his students to learn. "We've received a lot of supplies from the Iraqi education office, but this delivery will also help encourage the students to learn," Kalaf said.
During the visit, Deab and Kalaf also relayed some issues they had with their school. The 2 men both indicated that one of the school's structures was failing; there's a lack of consistent electrical power, and the road leading to the school was in need of repair. They'd also like to have a secondary school built, since the Jadeeda Primary School only teaches up to grade 6. "The school is old and we'd like to have a secondary school because the older children have to go to Hawijah to attend secondary school," Deab said.
As far as the road, Kalaf explained that the teachers traveled from Kirkuk city, some distance away. When weather was particularly bad it made travel on the road difficult, often keeping teachers from making the trip to the village.
According to Spencer, these issues and others were already in the process of being addressed. "Many of the buildings are dilapidated," Spencer said. Additions to the school were also part of that consideration, since the school currently seats 150 students, 55 more than it was built for. "We've considered nominating the school for a reconstruction project."
MOSUL — U.S. and ISF delivered 400 new desks and chairs to the Qosh High School in northern Ninewah prov., Oct. 31. The furniture delivery was the culmination of the school's opening, and the final project for Btry B, 2nd Bn, 82nd FAR, 3rd HBCT, 1st Cav Div.
"The ministry of education built them a new high school, but was unable to furnish it with desks and chairs so we were able to fill in that gap," said Capt. Joseph Himpelmann, cmdr of Btry B. "The whole process came together today from our relationship with local leaders to meet an urgent and compelling need in the community," Himpelmann said.
As the bell rang for recess between classes, teenage boys spilled into the freshly painted halls of the high school. They were eager to help unload the furniture from the truck parked on the street outside the school.
Over the course of their deployment, Btry. B not only provided furniture to local schools, but has also organized trash clean-up, sewage projects, opened soccer fields and recreational parks, creating sustainable, lasting services for Iraqis throughout Ninewah prov.
"No pump house – no Q-West. That's the truth," Phelps said, summarizing the importance of the workers' jobs. Some of the workers said that they were grateful to be invited to the luncheon. "When someone does a good job, you invite them to eat bread with you," Subaa Khamees, an asst mgr for an Iraqi engineering co., said.
"We really appreciate you guys, and hope you come down to the pump house," Naif Dhahy, the pump house mgr. told Phelps.
FOB WARRIOR — Driving from one end of Bidawa village in Kirkuk prov. to the other used to be a challenge, but thanks to the addition of 2 new road culverts, the trip is now much easier. After nearly 70 days of construction, these new road culverts are ready for use.
The concrete culverts span over a 50-meter waterbed, linking one side of the road to another. Water flows easier now underneath the culverts between irrigation canals that have increased water flow to local farmers’ crops. "Building these 2 road culverts will greatly increase the transportation infrastructure of the village," said 2nd Lt. Jonathan Lent, a civil military ops officer with 4th Sqdrn, 9th Cav Regt, 2nd BCT, 1st Cav Div.
Not only will these culverts increase the flow of traffic in the village, but it will also increase the flow of water between the 2 irrigation canals that the villages use for crop irrigation, Lent explained. "The village of Bidawa was recently rebuilt after being demolished under the former regime," said Lent.
"Many of the residents have yet to return," said Capt. Brennan Mullaney, cmdr of Troop Bravo, 4-9 Cav. "The project was geared at encouraging the original residents to return to their homes. Right now there're approx 800 people in Bidawa," Mullaney said. According to Mullaney, this project supports all of them, and if all the former residents move back, it will be supporting about 2,400 people.
"Hiring the local villagers helps to build the local economy and increase employment," explained Lent. "In addition, workers from the area will take greater pride in their work." The Iraqi contractor, a resident of the village, offered to do additional free work on the culverts, that wasn't covered under the contract to make the culverts even better, said Lent. “It's important to support local communities in 2 respects,” said Lent. “One, by hiring local workers, and 2, by providing small communities with projects that support them.”
This is one of 2 projects completed recently; the other being a water pump house that was constructed in Laylan. "The residents appeared to be pleased with the work, and were happy that their small village was receiving assistance," said Mullaney.
Staff Sgt. William Andrews shares a laugh with an SoI security member at an SoI checkpoint near Mahmudiyah, Oct. 31.
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MNF-I
Army Pfc. Patrick Camp, left, and Spc. Thomas Garrard, truck drivers attached to the 3rd ID, share a few laughs, as they wait to convoy M1 Abrams tanks through the night from COB Speicher to FOB Taji, Nov. 3.
Army Sgt. Amy Emde, 30th HBCT, holds a little girl, as the girl's mother receives clothing from Iraq's 5-2 NP Bde and the 5-2 IFP Training Team, in one of the poorest areas of Baghdad, Nov. 1.
