Iraqi Army, U.S. Troops Deliver Backpacks to School Children

American Forces Press Service ^ | Sgt. James P. Hunter, USA

[SandRat]

ADIL, Iraq, Dec. 26, 2007 – The troops who provide a security situation that allows Iraqi children to attend school are helping those same children here get the most of that experience.

Iraqi soldiers pass out backpacks to children at the Kawaryzmi Primary School in Adil, Iraq, Dec. 13, 2007. Photo by Sgt. James P. Hunter, USA  
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

“I have always been a believer that when you are in school the only thing you should worry about is learning, and all teachers should be worried about is teaching,” said Army 1st Lt. Reimund G. Manneck Jr., fire support officer with Company A, 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment.

“I think especially in a safe place like Adil, where kids and teachers can go to school on their own without any fear, they should be at least afforded a good building and plenty of supplies so they can focus on learning and not worry that they will run out of notebooks and pencils and that their building is falling apart,” Manneck added.

Iraqi army soldiers and Company A troops, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), delivered backpacks to school children at the Kawaryzmi Primary School in Adil earlier this month.

The headmasters at the school were complaining they didn’t receive enough school supplies for their students for the entirety of the school year, said Hartsdale, N.Y., native Manneck. This was the second school they delivered supplies to, with the first being Al Khullud Secondary School for Girls.

So working with the Iraqi army, the U.S. soldiers gathered the supplies and delivered them to very enthusiastic, but well-mannered students.

In charge of delivering these supplies were the soldiers of 3rd Company of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division.

Their company commander, Capt. Hyder, according to Manneck, “is very willing to help the people.”

“Of all Iraqi army officers we have met, he is the best in helping the community,” and is very understanding of the needs of the Iraqi people, he said.

“He understands that in order to pull the population away from the insurgents you need to work with and help people,” continued Manneck. “He is always planning humanitarian assistance and medical-type drops.”

Sometimes pulling these supplies in can be difficult for the Iraqi army, Manneck said. So, this is where the U.S. troops step in to help by providing the supplies. But it is still the Iraqi army up front, providing for their people.

“We learn about the schools who need supplies through the Iraqi army,” said 1st Lt. Robert Behrman, with Company B, 492nd Civil Affairs Battalion, attached to 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment. “If it weren’t for the Iraqi army, school supply missions wouldn’t happen. These are things that are motivated, initiated and driven by the Iraqi army.”

With the Iraqi army out interacting with the people, finding out their needs can only mean immediate change, said Behrman. With the Iraqi army enjoying the trust of local citizens, the soldiers can continue to reach out and conduct their security mission.

“It builds people’s confidence and trust in them, something that used to lack here in Adil but has been getting better since we have been doing these joint operations,” Manneck said.

(Army Sgt. James P. Hunter serves with 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Public Affairs.)

Related Sites:
Multinational Corps Iraq

	Children hold up their new backpacks at the Kawaryzmi Primary School in Adil, Iraq, Dec. 13, 2007. Iraqi and U.S. soldiers dropped off backpacks to nearly 400 school children. Photo by Sgt. James P. Hunter, USA   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution
	An Iraqi soldier stands near children at the Kawaryzmi Primary School in Adil, Iraq, Dec. 13, 2007. Iraqi and U.S. soldiers passed out nearly 400 backpacks to students. Photo by Sgt. James P. Hunter, USA   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

[SandRat]

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[Dixie Yooper]

I have a Jewish friend who grew up in Jerusalem back when the British controlled the region. He used to transport weapons in his knapsack when he was a child to get them through check points for the cause. This backpack idea might come back to haunt us.

[ElectricStrawberry]

Unfortunately, this is putting targets on their backs. Now these kids are seen as the enemy by “them.”

[SolidWood]

I understand your anxiety, but why do some have to be so overly pessimistic, even when confronted with stories of success.
US troops have for years handed out so many backpacks to Iraqi and Afghan children, you can’t even count it. It’s not going to haunt us. It’s winning over the kids hearts. We are dealing with an enemy that stuffes IEDs in dead dogs, donkeys and trash bins.

Of course we can ultimately deny the Iraqis everything you can hide something in, so the terrorists can’t use it.

[SolidWood]

These are pacified and safe areas. Coalition troops have been distributing school supplies, sports wear etc. to kids for years in huge quantities. I don’t think that we are putting those kids in harms way knowingly.

[Aut Pax Aut Bellum]

Cool. Now they don’t have to carry all those explosives on their chest!

[ElectricStrawberry]

...and when Muhammad Jihadi walks into town to see what’s up because he’s been chased out of his last haven.....he’ll see the pink American backpacks and those cute little harmless children will reap the wrath.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t be doing this....just that, UNFORTUNATELY, the side effect is that they are now viable targets for Muhammad.....just like anyone thought to be collaberating with us....or even their own freakin’ countrymen looking for job. Do I really need to provide a “’X-number’ of kids were blown up today as a reprisal statement against the local people for smiling at American troops” headline?

We’re gonna start seeing Muhammad Jihadi doing crazier and crazier things as they figure out they’re on the losing end...even with their own People.

There is no “safe” over there so long as Muhammad Jihadi is relatively undetectable....only “this place is safER than this other place...or safER than it used to be.”