JASG-C helps local school; attends graduation

Courtesy Photo | Children at the Al-Watan elementary school take turns shooting baskets in the school's play area. The basketball goals where purchased and installed by the Joint Area Support Group-Central's department of public works.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

04.18.2008

Courtesy Story

45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

By Cpt. Geoff Legler
Joint Area Support Group-Central Office of Public Affairs

BAGHDAD – On the morning of March 22, the Al-Watan elementary school located near the Al-Qadisiyah area of Baghdad held its annual celebration for their sixth grade graduates. This year's attendees differed from past years as members of the government of Iraq and the Joint Area Support Group-Central sat in the front row as honored guests of the Al-Watan elementary school and its principal.

Among the guests were Gen. Salih Sarhan, the chief of staff for the minister of defense, as well as, members of the JASG-C to include Brig. Gen. Myles Deering, commander of the JASG-C, Lt. Col. Michael Thompson, executive officer for the JASG-C and Lt. Col. Warren Griffis, the deputy director for installations.

The school graduated more than two dozen students during the hour and 15 minute celebration. A number of the students wore costumes and recited Arabic poems from memory. The students also performed several songs in Arabic.

The JASG-C and its subordinate directorates have given a great deal of support to the school in recent months. The Department of Public Works has administered and supervised a Commander's Emergency Response Fund contract that authorized the JASG-C to purchase air conditioners, back-up generators, educational equipment, materials, basic school supplies and perform limited maintenance for the staff and students.

Col. William Phillips, the previous commander of the JASG-C, authorized the use of CERP funds on Nov. 3, 2007, and the JASG-C began work at the school in early February of this year.

The program was originally administered by Staff Sgt. Duane Wolfe, of Stratton, Va., who was the senior enlisted project officer for the previous JASG-C. He began the initial coordination for the project in July 2007. In August 2007, Staff Sgt. Tara Winder, of Justin, Texas, joined the DPW team and began to assist Wolfe with the school project. In February, Wolfe and his unit returned to the States and Winder took over the project.

"It's really great to provide all of these services and educational materials for the children and to have made their educational experience a little better," said Winder. "I am amazed at how many students attend the school. We are really helping a lot of children."

Winder has visited the school nearly everyday for the past six months and has overseen the installation of the air conditioners, back-up generators, white boards and the delivery of numerous school supplies. She was recently joined by Chief Warrant Officer Doug Izer, of Edmond, Okla., who assumed Wolfe's duties as the project developer in early February when the 45th IBCT took over the JASG-C mission.

Izer, who is a controls project engineer back in Oklahoma, brought a great deal of engineering expertise to the project. It is his job to ensure that the contractors follow the statement of work and don't cut corners.

"It's good to see the return on investment we get with projects like this one," said Izer. I think the JASG is helping these children get a good education and at the same time creating a lot of goodwill between the Iraqis and the coalition forces."

The principal of the Al-Watan school is very appreciative for everything the JASG-C has done for her and her staff, but most of all for what they have done for the school's students.

"I am very thankful for all of the help the JASG has provided (to the school)," said the principal. "That help has allowed our students to improve in their school work. Whenever a member of the JASG visits the school, all of the students are very happy to see them and the students always thank them for making their school a better place."

As of Apr. 15, the Al-Watan school project is more than 70 percent complete and is scheduled to be fully completed by mid-May of this year.

• Date Taken: 04.18.2008
• Date Posted: 04.18.2008 15:57
• Story ID: 18574
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ