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PORT HUENEME, Calif. (NNS) -- For the first time in the global war on terrorism, a reserve Seabee regiment is scheduled to relieve its active-duty counterpart in Iraq about mid-spring. Following the completion of Seabee readiness training at Naval Base Ventura County, the 9th Naval Construction Regiment (NCR) is slated to take the job of providing construction engineering support to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Forward (MEF) from the 30th NCR in Western Iraq. Cmdr. Mark Bellis, operations officer for the 9th NCR, said the reserve regiment is preparing to manage joint coalition construction assets over an area about the...

Iraqi, U.S. Soldiers Conduct Health Outreach In addition to providing medical care to local Iraqis, the program provided an ideal way for Iraqi troops to interact with the locals. By U.S. Army Maj. David Olson 1st Brigade Combat Team 4th Infantry Division TAJI, Iraq, March 1, 2006 — Iraqi soldiers from 1st Mechanized Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division, along with U.S. soldiers from elements of 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment and 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducted a combined operation to provide much needed medical care to a local Iraqi Sunni community north of...

Iraqi tanks deployed in Baghdad to pacify the city after an eruption of sectarian violence, but the bombing of a Sunni mosque shattered the relative calm. Four people were killed and 15 wounded in the attack outside a Sunni mosque in eastern Baghdad as the faithful were leaving evening prayers, security officials said. The attack was the latest strike against Iraq's ousted Sunni elite since Shiite mobs unleashed a wave of vengeance against the embittered minority after a revered Shiite shrine was blown up north of Baghdad last Wednesday. Before Monday's mosque bombing, the main Sunni political bloc, the National...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2006 – U.S. and Iraqi troops have stepped up their patrols in Iraq's Baghdad and Babil provinces, and thanks to assistance from ordinary Iraqis, they've found and defused numerous roadside bombs, mine fields, and weapons caches, U.S. military officials in Iraq reported. The stepped-up patrols are designed to provide a safe environment for ordinary Iraqis, officials said. Iraq has been wracked with demonstrations and violence because of the recent terrorist bombing of the Askariya shrine in Samarra. The Iraqi government responded to this violence by imposing a temporary evening curfew, followed by a daytime curfew, in...

In addition to their graduation certificates, students leave with a starter kit of supplies or tools needed to work in their respective fields. QALAT, Afghanistan, Feb. 24, 2006 — More than 30 students graduated from a basic computer class at a new vocational school Jan. 18 at the Qalat Provincial Reconstruction Team base in Zabul Province. "The Qalat [Provincial Reconstruction Team] believes this vocational school is moving the Afghan work force forward. There is a … willingness from the youth of Zabul Province (to take) a substantial interest in the future of themselves as well as Afghanistan." U.S. Army Lt....

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2006 – Iraqi security forces are leaning forward to provide security in areas of sectarian strife prompted by this week's terrorist bombing of a prominent Shiite religious shrine, a U.S. military official said here today. "Iraqis are in the lead; coalition forces are prepared to support as required," DoD spokesman Army Lt. Col. Barry Venable said. The world-famed Golden Mosque, a Shiite religious shrine located in Samarra, Iraq, was bombed Feb. 22. The mosque's golden dome was blown off in the explosion, which touched off a round of Sunni-Shiite discord across the country. Some Shiites have accused...

Afghan National Police Lt. Gen. Mohammed Haroon Asefi (third from left) meets with U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Robert Durbin (fourth from right) during Durbin’s visit to an Afghan National Police border-control point in Torkham, Afghanistan, Feb. 12, 2006. Asefi is chief of the Afghan National Police Border Patrol. Durbin is commander of the Office of Security Cooperation–Afghanistan. Office of Security Cooperation-Afghanistan photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Matthew Bates Commander Meets With Afghan Army, Police Leaders During a visit with Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police leaders, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Robert Durbin emphasized the importance of...

Bulgarian Parliament OKs Iraq Troops ASSOCIATED PRESS SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) - Bulgaria's parliament on Wednesday endorsed a government decision to send a 120-member non-combat unit to Iraq. The resolution opens the way for Bulgaria's return to the multinational forces in Iraq after the withdrawal of its troops in December. Lawmakers voted 151-14 to adopt the decision, under which Bulgaria will send 120 servicemen and a supporting team of 35 people on a one-year assignment in Iraq. The unit will be under U.S. command and will help guard the Ashraf refugee camp, situated some 45 miles north of Baghdad. The unit...

TIKRIT, Iraq, Feb. 21, 2006 — Much has been said about the importance of top-tier military medicine to the survival of soldiers in combat. Regardless of which country a soldier serves, quality medics are valued by the troops. Studies show that if critically wounded soldiers receive quality health care within the first hour after the incident, they will have the best probability of survival. “[The Iraqi medics are] always excited about learning, and they know a lot more than you think.” U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Robert Stevens Medics from 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division and 3rd...

Armor soldiers assembled and delivered the wheelchair, provided by a California-based non-profit group, to an Iraq girl suffering from cerebral palsy. BAGHDAD, Feb. 17, 2006 — Life in a war-torn country can be hard. The life of a disabled child living in a war-torn country is even harder. Multinational Division–Baghdad soldiers made life a little easier Feb. 8 for a young Iraqi girl who suffers from cerebral palsy when they delivered a free wheelchair in Baladiat, Iraq. “The family expressed gratitude for the new wheelchair and said they look forward to seeing more of Troop B in the future.” U.S....

The Al Basrah Oil Terminal as seen from the roof of the platform. The terminal produces approximately two million barrels of oil each day. On Feb. 7, 2006, the Iraqi navy’s marine unit took the lead in platform security. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class John J. Pistone Iraqi Navy Protects Country’s Oil Platforms The Iraqi navy consists of two squadrons, a patrol boat squadron and an assault boat squadron, and also includes one marine battalion. By U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class John J. Pistone Multinational Security Transition Command—Iraq UM QASR, Iraq, Feb. 13, 2006 —...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2006 – Iraqi and U.S. soldiers killed two terrorists and captured 16 in the Tikrit area, and Iraqi police and American troops captured eight suspected terrorists and destroyed two weapons caches in the Baghdad area, officials reported today. Stacks totaling 502 82mm mortar rounds lay behind rows of 26 cases of 50 caliber ammunition, just part of a large weapons cache discovered by soldiers from 1st Battalion, 67th Armor, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, in Babil province Feb. 13. Army photo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Iraq's National Police working with Multinational...

Title: CHANGE OF COMMAND IN MNDCS Release Date: 2/5/2006 Release Number: A060205d Description: CAMP ECHO, Iraq -- Maj. Gen. Piotr Czerwinski relinquished command of Multinational-Division Central-South to Maj. Gen. Edward Gruszka in a ceremony at Camp Echo in Diwaniah Feb. 4. Commanding General, Multinational Forces – Iraq Gen. George W. Casey attended the transfer of authority along with the Polish Ambassador to Iraq Ryszard Krystosik. Commanding General, Multinational Corps – Iraq Lt. Gen. Peter W. Ciarelli also attended. Distinguished guests included Commanding General of Iraqi Land Forces Lt. Gen. Abdul Qadir, Commander of 8th Iraqi Army Division, Maj Gen Othman...

Title: IRAQI WARRIORS READY TO TRAIN THEIR OWN Release Date: 2/5/2006 Release Number: 06-02-05P Description: AL HILLAH, Iraq -- More than 20 Iraqi Soldiers graduated from the Advanced Warrior Skills Training Program Jan. 30 in al Hillah. Iraqi Army soldiers, under the tutelage of Coalition Forces, are learning advanced warrior skills equivalent to those taught in the U.S. Army’s Primary Leadership Development Course. In the previous Iraqi regime, only army officers received military training while noncommissioned officers and their soldiers received no formal training. The program equips Iraqi NCOs with tools to further train their soldiers, said Sgt. 1st Class...

Title: IRAQI, US TROOPS AID FLOOD VICTIMS Release Date: 2/5/2006 Release Number: A060205b Description: TIKRIT, Iraq – Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers rescued dozens of people southeast of Mosul Feb. 4 after powerful storms swept through northern Iraq, causing flooding along a Tigris River tributary. Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division used small boats and braved strong currents to rescue nearly 100 people stranded on small islands in the rain-swollen Great Zab River. Two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the 542nd Medical Company (Air Ambulance) responded to the Ninevah Governor’s request for assistance and transported two men...

Title: 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, 4TH INFANTRY DIVISION SOLDIERS DETAIN SUSPECTED TERRORISTS Release Date: 2/5/2006 Release Number: 06-02-05PR Description: BAGHDAD, Iraq – Multi-National Division-Baghdad’s 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, detained a suspected terrorist Feb. 2 south of Baghdad. Acting on a tip from a local national, a patrol searched the suspect’s house and found a mortar sight and possible bomb-making materials. In a separate incident, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Soldiers detained two suspects in connection with the detonation of two roadside bombs southeast of Baghdad Feb. 2. The suspects had...

January 20, 2006: American troops in Iraq are seeing increasing evidence of professional training being provided to the terrorists and anti-government forces they face. Some ambushes are carried out with precision and planning that is very uncharacteristic of the Iraqis, even the elite professional troops that used to serve Saddam. Enemy snipers are becoming more effective, by using discipline and professional techniques. For over a year, there have been rumors of secret al Qaeda training camps in Iraq. Some evidence of this was found during the sweeps of western Iraq over the last six months. But interrogations of thousands of...

Haider Ajina sends what sounds like great news from Anbar province in Iraq, a part of the Sunni triangle which has been one of the main centers of the "insurgency." This is a portion of Haider's translation of an article from the Arabic newspaper Dar Alhayat: Dar Alhayat newspaper has learned that Iraqi Prime Minster Aljaafery has agreed to replace U.S. forces spread throughout Anbar province with locally enlisted forces. This agreement was drafted in a meeting between tribal leaders, Aljaafery, the U.S. Ambassador Khalil Zad and commander of the multi national forces General George Casey. The agreement was reached...

Both Iraqi Lt. Col. Salam (left) and Col. Adel (right) get soaked with water by Iraqi Brigadier Sata after their historic solo flight in Bell Jet Ranger helicopter at Taji late December 2005. Photos courtesy of Multinational Security Transition Command-Iraq Coalition Air Force Transition Team Iraqi Helicopter Pilots Make Iraqi Air Force History Before making their historic flight, the Iraqi pilots were required to complete classroom hours and instructor-pilot guided flight time. By U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Mark Woodbury Multinational Security Transition Command-Iraq TAJI, Iraq, Jan. 17, 2006 — Two Iraqi pilots made Iraqi Air Force history when...

ARLINGTON, Va. (Army News Service, Jan. 17, 2006) -- Iraqi civilians are tiring of terrorist activity and many are providing useful tips identifying terrorists and their weapons caches, and some are even attacking the terrorists, say leaders of the coalition forces. Mosul tips net shooter Iraqi civilians in Mosul led Iraqi police and a patrol from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team to the house of an anti-Iraqi forces man wanted for a drive-by shooting Jan. 15. Iraqi police reported that a vehicle approached and began to fire at them Sunday with an automatic rifle. The car sped away and...