Villagers receive food, shoes, clothes

U.S. Forces Iraq ^ | Sgt. Michael Carden, USA

[SandRat]

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE TAJI — U.S. Soldiers here recently conducted a two-dimensional operation; handing out food and clothing to local residents near this base while also gathering information about area security.

Sgt. Chelsie Kirkland, an intelligence analyst with Regimental Troop Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) and a Murfreesboro, Tenn., native, passes out donated shoes to an Iraqi boy during a humanitarian and intelligence gathering mission in Taji, Iraq, May 25, 2010. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael Carden.

The operation was organized and overseen by Master Sgt. Melvin Brown, an Iraqi Army liaison with Regimental Troop Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and a Whites Creek, Tenn., native.

"The humanitarian aid part of [the mission] speaks for itself … but it is also an information and counter-insurgency operation," Brown said. "It is an attempt to gather human intelligence for any potential emerging threats that we are unaware of and also to help plan and coordinate future humanitarian aid projects."

Sgt. Chelsie Kirkland, an intelligence analyst with RTS, 278th ACR and a Murfreesboro, Tenn., native, assisted with the mission by passing out supplies and speaking with citizens to determine their attitudes towards U.S. forces.

"We got to talk to some of the villagers about how they felt about how security goes in and around the area," Kirkland said. "To see if there are any direct threats, to try to learn things that support our intelligence mission."

Kirkland also stressed the importance of humanitarian missions like this, as they increase the likelihood that the populace would be more forthcoming with information in the future.

Hundreds of donated shoes and clothing items were sent to the U.S. Soldiers from organizations in the United States, while some Soldiers spent their own money to purchase school supplies. Pallets of nonperishable canned and dry goods were donated as well.

The village of Taji, which is located adjacent to COB Taji, is home to about 3,000 people.

"Back in the early years, [troops] interacted with them during insurgent raids, doing sweeps," Brown said. "Those are pretty negative encounters. Humanitarian missions, on the other hand, are pretty positive."

While such missions surely help the Iraqis, they are also positive for the U.S. Soldiers as well. The Soldiers with RTS, 278th ACR volunteered to be a part of the mission because they believed in its necessity and what it would accomplish; easing the hardship of poverty and improving the relationship between Iraqis and U.S. forces, Kirkland said.

"These types of mission are important because they aid people that are greatly in need," Brown said. "Beyond that, it gives them a better feeling about their interactions with [U.S. Soldiers] and the presence of American forces here."

Army doctrine now directs Soldiers to provide humanitarian aid whenever possible … to impress upon the Iraqi people that the U.S. forces are in place to help and provide a stabilizing force during the rebuilding, he said.

Brown coordinated with COB Taji's Quick Reaction Force to provide security for the operation, also giving the QRF an opportunity to check the perimeter of the Base for any potential breeches in the wire. The presence of the QRF was necessary for the success of the mission as well as conveying a sense of protection for the villagers receiving the aid, Brown said.

[SandRat]

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