Courtesy Photo | Maj. Gen. Guy C. Swan III, director of Combined Joint Operations, Multi-National...... read more read more
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By Capt. Jeffrey Tounge
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, escorted Maj. Gen. Guy C. Swan III to an economically prosperous market in the West Rashid District of Baghdad, Sept. 12, 2008, during a battlefield circulation for the incoming director of Combined Joint Operations, Multi-National Forces - Iraq.
The "Regulars" of 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt. were proud to showcase the improvements of the 84th Street Market in Hayy Aamel thanks to the microgrant program established by Capt. Drew Conover.
"The Aamel business plan is coming along very well," stated Conover, commander, Co. A, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div. "We have distributed more than $300,000 dollars in microgrants."
The microgrant program provides immediate assets to existing or startup business owners, helping local residents fulfill their aspirations of owning a business or expanding their current one.
"We are hoping this will jumpstart the economy in Aamel, furthering economic growth and expansion," said Conover, who hails from Marshall, Va.
Swan said that he was interested in the improved 84th Street Market in Hayy Aamel in West Rashid. As the new CJ3 for MNF-I, he will be responsible for maintaining situational awareness across all operations and significant events in theater and will promote information availability to key commanders and staff.
During this battlefield circulation, Swan gained firsthand knowledge of experiences, progress and difficulties in a particular unit's area of responsibility.
The Regulars of 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt. are proud that their success may be used as an example for other units throughout this campaign.
"Maj. Gen. Swan's arrival and assessment of the Aamel 84th Street Market substantiated 'Alpha' Co.'s clear success with their work in civil affairs projects throughout the community," said 2nd Lt. Chris Denning, Co. A, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
The general's exposure to a successful microgrant program in an urban market area provided him the opportunity to assess concurrent and follow-on projects at the theater-level.
"The newly bustling economy of the 84th Street Market sets the standard for other units to strive for," Denning said.
| Date Taken: | 09.12.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 09.14.2008 08:49 |
| Story ID: | 23632 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 214 |
| Downloads: | 202 |
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