thedrifter
01-02-07, 03:10 PM
Sapulpan reaching out in Iraq
Marine unit helping Iraqis rebuild towns
By LANCE CPL. NATHANIEL SAPP
Combat Correspondent
COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq – Mothers of Marines here have another reason to be proud of their sons and daughters – their children are trying to solve problems with words, instead of violence.
By talking with local Iraqis, Marines from 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion are making headway, too.
With the help of a U.S. civil affairs detachment, the Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based battalion is reaching out to help Iraqi civilians rebuild the infrastructure in the local cities of Rawah and Anah, in an area about 150 miles northwest of Baghdad.
Among those deployed with the unit is 21-year-old Cpl. Jennifer Brix of Sapulpa.
After only three months here, they’re already making progress.
So far, the biggest step forward has been getting the “key leaders” in both cities together with Coalition Forces to discuss local concerns, and how Marines here can help, said Maj. Jeffrey Stivers, the 36-year-old civil affairs officer here.
“We want to enhance our support from the local civilian population,” said Stivers, who leads the local civil affairs team, a handful of U.S. Marines with the primary mission of assisting Iraqi communities with improving local infrastructures and governance.
“Governance and key leaders are our number one priority,” said Staff Sgt. Christopher Wright, a 29-year-old team chief for the civil affairs detachment here. “Having the city council meet with the Iraqi Army and Iraqi police, and working with them, that’s the key to us going home.”
But Iraqi Security Forces still have a ways to go until they’re ready to take over control from Marines here, added Stivers. In fact, until just recently, civilians in positions of authority would not even work with Coalition Forces for fear of retaliation against their families, said one Iraqi school official during a Nov. 28, 2006, meeting with Marines in Rawah.
“Getting these leaders together helps us identify problems, priorities and helps us get the necessary people to take care of it,” said Stivers, a Fountain, Colo., native who is on his second Iraq deployment.
However, the Marines seem to have alleviated some of those fears by apprehending almost 150 suspected insurgents, finding about 50 improvised explosive devices and more than 30 weapons caches in the area in four months.
As Marines here work to help local Iraqis, they realize that finding weapons and only dealing with “key leaders” might mean nothing to the average citizen who might live without power, or not have a sewage system, said Stivers.
In order to make sure the local people’s needs, on an individual basis, are taken care of, Marines here run a Civil Military Operations Center (CMOC).
Not an actual facility, a CMOC is a set date and time when locals can meet with Marines to settle claims, address problems within the city, and basically “come and talk about anything they want,” said Wright.
“In this environment, in this type of war, having the populace behind us keeps them from joining the enemy,” said Stivers. “This is their world – they’re living here. They need to see why they should support us.”
In order to help build support, as well as infrastructure, the Marines offer two services to locals during regular CMOC meetings – damage claims and funding for local projects.
Locals can file claims for property damage incurred by the U.S. military during operations, then show up at a CMOC meeting to receive payment, if their claim is approved.
But the CMOC is more than just putting cash in locals’ hands, according to the Marines. It’s also an opportunity for community leaders to discuss funding for local projects like building renovations, the recent opening of a bank in Rawah and the building of a courthouse in Anah, said Wright.
Marines provide the money in hopes that the people will be able to “get on their feet” and finance future projects them, he added.
“Ultimately we want to help Iraqis spend their own money on Iraq,” said Stivers. “If they can take care of themselves, then they obviously won’t need us anymore.”
However, Iraqi self-sufficiency is a long term goal, said Stivers. But the most important part in ensuring it happens is making sure that all Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces are working together to achieve it, he added.
Part of achieving that goal is up to the troops on the streets, said Stivers. The way Marines work the cities, whether they’re violent and aggressive or open and friendly, will change how the “local people work with us and themselves to rebuild their communities,” he added.
“All the Marines on the streets are civilian affairs Marines,” said Stivers. “When they’re out there, whatever they do impacts how people will work with us here.”
So far, they’re doing a pretty great job, said Redman.
Ellie
Marine unit helping Iraqis rebuild towns
By LANCE CPL. NATHANIEL SAPP
Combat Correspondent
COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq – Mothers of Marines here have another reason to be proud of their sons and daughters – their children are trying to solve problems with words, instead of violence.
By talking with local Iraqis, Marines from 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion are making headway, too.
With the help of a U.S. civil affairs detachment, the Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based battalion is reaching out to help Iraqi civilians rebuild the infrastructure in the local cities of Rawah and Anah, in an area about 150 miles northwest of Baghdad.
Among those deployed with the unit is 21-year-old Cpl. Jennifer Brix of Sapulpa.
After only three months here, they’re already making progress.
So far, the biggest step forward has been getting the “key leaders” in both cities together with Coalition Forces to discuss local concerns, and how Marines here can help, said Maj. Jeffrey Stivers, the 36-year-old civil affairs officer here.
“We want to enhance our support from the local civilian population,” said Stivers, who leads the local civil affairs team, a handful of U.S. Marines with the primary mission of assisting Iraqi communities with improving local infrastructures and governance.
“Governance and key leaders are our number one priority,” said Staff Sgt. Christopher Wright, a 29-year-old team chief for the civil affairs detachment here. “Having the city council meet with the Iraqi Army and Iraqi police, and working with them, that’s the key to us going home.”
But Iraqi Security Forces still have a ways to go until they’re ready to take over control from Marines here, added Stivers. In fact, until just recently, civilians in positions of authority would not even work with Coalition Forces for fear of retaliation against their families, said one Iraqi school official during a Nov. 28, 2006, meeting with Marines in Rawah.
“Getting these leaders together helps us identify problems, priorities and helps us get the necessary people to take care of it,” said Stivers, a Fountain, Colo., native who is on his second Iraq deployment.
However, the Marines seem to have alleviated some of those fears by apprehending almost 150 suspected insurgents, finding about 50 improvised explosive devices and more than 30 weapons caches in the area in four months.
As Marines here work to help local Iraqis, they realize that finding weapons and only dealing with “key leaders” might mean nothing to the average citizen who might live without power, or not have a sewage system, said Stivers.
In order to make sure the local people’s needs, on an individual basis, are taken care of, Marines here run a Civil Military Operations Center (CMOC).
Not an actual facility, a CMOC is a set date and time when locals can meet with Marines to settle claims, address problems within the city, and basically “come and talk about anything they want,” said Wright.
“In this environment, in this type of war, having the populace behind us keeps them from joining the enemy,” said Stivers. “This is their world – they’re living here. They need to see why they should support us.”
In order to help build support, as well as infrastructure, the Marines offer two services to locals during regular CMOC meetings – damage claims and funding for local projects.
Locals can file claims for property damage incurred by the U.S. military during operations, then show up at a CMOC meeting to receive payment, if their claim is approved.
But the CMOC is more than just putting cash in locals’ hands, according to the Marines. It’s also an opportunity for community leaders to discuss funding for local projects like building renovations, the recent opening of a bank in Rawah and the building of a courthouse in Anah, said Wright.
Marines provide the money in hopes that the people will be able to “get on their feet” and finance future projects them, he added.
“Ultimately we want to help Iraqis spend their own money on Iraq,” said Stivers. “If they can take care of themselves, then they obviously won’t need us anymore.”
However, Iraqi self-sufficiency is a long term goal, said Stivers. But the most important part in ensuring it happens is making sure that all Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces are working together to achieve it, he added.
Part of achieving that goal is up to the troops on the streets, said Stivers. The way Marines work the cities, whether they’re violent and aggressive or open and friendly, will change how the “local people work with us and themselves to rebuild their communities,” he added.
“All the Marines on the streets are civilian affairs Marines,” said Stivers. “When they’re out there, whatever they do impacts how people will work with us here.”
So far, they’re doing a pretty great job, said Redman.
Ellie