Safwan meetings keep an eye on security

Courtesy Photo | Lt. Col. Mark A. Piterski, commander, 2-113th Infantry Battalion, 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey Army National Guard meets with the mayor of Safwan, Sabah Hassen Mohammed during a recent Safwan Security Council meeting in Safwan, Iraq.  

SAFWAN, IRAQ

03.31.2009

Story by Maj. Jason Fetterolf 

44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

SAFWAN, Iraq – A joint U.S military leadership team representing Forward Operating Base Bucca base defense meets with the officials in the town of Safwan on a regular basis to facilitate a variety of mutual benefits.

Continuing what FOB Bucca base defense leaders had started in years past, Lt. Col. Mark A. Piterski, FOB Bucca base defense commander, and U.S. Air Force Maj. Jason Beck, commander, 887th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, and various security staff and advisors hold a periodic security council meeting with the mayor of Safwan, Sabah Hassen Mohammed and other Iraqi officials in order to maintain the peace in this region. From time to time, officials from the Iraqi army, Iraqi police and Safwan Town Council also attend.

"[The intent of the meeting is to] talk about our [U.S.] security posture from a coalition forces perspective, and also listen to the mayor to understand his perspective on our [U.S.] security [operations]," said Piterski. "The meeting also gives the opportunity, in a forum, to coordinate our joint efforts and discuss any logistical challenges they [the Iraqis] may face."

"It [the security meeting] maintains open lines of communication," added regular attendee 1st Lt. Jason Cornwell, 2-113th Infantry Battalion.

Since Piterski and his unit, the 2-113th Infantry Battalion, 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey Army National Guard, arrived in September, very useful new information has been gathered from the security council meetings.

"There are new Iraqi security force entities in the area; if there was no meeting, we would not know who is in the area," he said.

Additionally, Piterski indicates a new Iraqi Emergency Response Battalion has been established which supports the Iraqi police and sometimes the Iraqi security forces.

In short, the Safwan Security Council meeting serves as a forum to share information, eliminate rumors and build friendships and trust. The meetings also facilitate tours of Camp Bucca so that Iraqi officials can know what happens by visiting, anytime.

"It is good to have an eye watching out for us," explained Louai Farhan, bilingual-bicultural advisor [BBA], in regards to how the meetings bring security to the region.

Always looking toward the future, the meetings also have paved the way for the continuing transition from coalition forces control to Iraqi control.

"The biggest benefit is, as we draw back, we give [the Iraqis] the forum to continue their coordination and this [helps] them to build that trust between each other," noted Piterski.

• Date Taken: 03.31.2009
• Date Posted: 03.31.2009 06:22
• Story ID: 31799
• Location: SAFWAN, IQ