By Jennifer McCowin
555 Engineer Brigade
DIYALA, Iraq - It was a clear sunny Friday afternoon in Diyala province, trucks and people were milling around and there were even two Apache helicopters circling overhead, it was a perfect day for a soccer game in Iraq.
Soldiers from the 5th Iraqi Army Engineer Regiment, 5th Iraqi Army Division based out of Diyala province, Iraq, arrived in the back of a truck wearing brightly colored soccer jerseys and socks covering their shins. They immediately began warming up, but it wasn't just your average Soldier physical training style warm-up. The 15 tall and lanky Iraqi soldiers did wind sprints, jumping jacks, high skips and many flexibility moves across the width of the dirt field. Then they circled up and began kicking, kneeing, and heading the ball back and forth amongst the team. They were ready to play. The Iraqi soldiers had come to Forward Operating Base Warhorse to accept a soccer challenge posed from the 5th Engineer Battalion, deployed to Iraq from Fort Leonard Wood, M.O.
Soldiers of the 5th Engineer Battalion even momentarily considered proposing a new sport competition as a "better" way to build their partnership and have some fun with our new found brothers in arms when they saw the Iraqi army soldiers warming up.
As part of the growing partnership between the 5th EN BN and the 5th IAE, the two units agreed to play a Soccer match as an enjoyable way to build cohesion and esprit de corps between the units. The two units have worked side by side the past six months conducting engineer operations in support of both US and Iraqi forces across the province. Over 60 Soldiers from the 5th Engineer Battalion traveled to FOB Warhorse for the match and they all got a chance to try their skills against the 5th IAE. "We knew the Iraqi army soldiers would be good, but when they showed up and starting warming-up and showing us their true skills, we knew we definitely had a challenge on our hands," says Navy Lt. Cameron Brooks of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th EN BN.
And a challenge it was. Within the first 10 minutes of the game the Iraqi army soldiers had already scored 2 goals against defending goalie Sgt. Hawkins of the 561st Engineer Company. Coach Chaplain Emmanuel Woods was screaming commands, directions and pointers to his team while also simultaneously rotating Soldiers in and out of the game. The match had even gathered a crowd of Soldiers from within the Battalion and from other units on FOB Warhorse. The match was intense and there were lots of commands and shouting on the field. Maj. Tamim, the executive officer of the 5th Iraqi Army Engineer Regiment even took off his army uniform, put on his soccer jersey and got on the field to assist his team. Although, the score would prove that additional talent on the part of the Iraqi engineer regiment was probably not required.
At the end of the 40 minute match the Soldiers of the 5th EN BN were covered in dirt and sweat and had played valiantly, however, not too surprisingly the score was five to zero, Iraqi army engineers. Though the 5th Engineer Battalion lost the game, the event was a win for all. Everyone had a good time and enjoyed the friendly competition, something that several years ago would have been thought impossible. Smiles and high fives were exchanged all around. The teams lined up after the match for final handshakes and over 100 pictures of the Soldiers and teams were taken.
At the end of the day the teams left the field stronger than when they had arrived, confident in the support and commitment of both sides to this critical partnership focused on achieving sustainable peace and security in the volatile Diyala province. Additionally, 5th EN BN coach, Chaplain Woods was more determined than ever to get the Battalion on the practice field over the next couple of months in preparation for the next game.
| Date Taken: | 11.03.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 11.03.2008 15:14 |
| Story ID: | 25869 |
| Location: | DIYALA PROVINCE, IQ |
| Web Views: | 486 |
| Downloads: | 447 |
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