Adhamiyah Residents Screened for Security Positions

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Randy Randolph | Residents of Baghdad's Adhamiyah District apply for positions with the Critical Infrastructure Guard Force. The guards will provide security at facilities such as hospitals and schools throughout the eastern Baghdad Adhamiyah District.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

08.09.2007

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Randy Randolph 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

By Staff Sgt. Randy Randolph
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs

BAGHDAD – To help improve security in the Adhamiyah District, Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, with the support of local leaders, conducted a screening of residents of the eastern Baghdad district to fill security positions for the Critical Infrastructure Guard Force Aug. 4-5.

The CIGF is a project that is being coordinated between Soldiers from the 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment and Iraqi security forces to train residents for security positions to protect strategic buildings throughout Adhamiyah neighborhoods.

Once they pass the initial screening process and complete a rigorous five-day training program hosted by Iraqi security forces, residents will be qualified to fill more than 300 security positions designed to guard area schools, hospitals, fuel stations and government buildings.

"Through such efforts, a lot of the pressure that falls on the Iraqi army to serve as security guards in protecting neighborhood buildings will be relieved," said Erie, Pa., native 1st Lt. Chadwick Knight, a targeting officer with 3-7th Cavalry. "This will allow the IA to focus more on their duties as soldiers, leaving them available for military missions such as clearing operations and responding as a quick-reactionary force."

Knight said that the Iraqi army is more than qualified to provide training for security personnel, and is confident that after the five-day course, graduates will understand the tasks and fundamentals that will be required of them as security forces.

According to 2nd Lt. James Breaker, a squadron fire support officer, Adhamiyah residents are happy about the CIGF program. He said that this gives citizens a chance to provide security for their neighborhoods, and provides them jobs, as well.

"This is an opportunity for the people of Adhamiyah to stand up and protect their rights and property while earning money to provide for their families at the same time." Breaker said. "The purpose of this project is to stimulate economic growth within the community, provide additional security to the district and develop a sense of local pride amongst the people and their community."

Soldiers from the Fort Stewart, Ga.-based 3-7th Cavalry and their Iraqi army counterparts, have screened more than 145 applicants to date, and will continue to interview residents until all of the positions are filled.

• Date Taken: 08.09.2007
• Date Posted: 08.09.2007 09:16
• Story ID: 11707
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ