Soldiers provide school supplies to Iraqi children

Photo By Staff Sgt. Karl Johnson | FOB MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq - Pfc. Cheri Johnson, Company E, 526 Brigade Support Battalion, hands out school supplies at the Al Anwar girls secondary school in southern Baghdad. (U.S. Army photo courtesy of Spc. Karl Johnson, 363rd MPAD)  

MAHMUDIYAH, IRAQ

03.16.2006

Courtesy Story

363rd Public Affairs Detachment

By Spc. Karl Johnson
363rd MPAD

MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq - With bags full of pencils, notebooks and a few small toys, six female Soldiers from the 526th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, teamed up with a civil affairs unit to deliver supplies March 2 to an all-girls secondary school in southern Baghdad.

"When we work with Iraqi females, it's more culturally accepted to have a female Soldier there to interact with them, and it gives the young Iraqi girls someone to look up to," said Sgt. 1st Class Alan Certain, Company C, 490th Civil Affairs Bn.

With smiles all around, the Soldiers who normally work as mechanics, cooks or in some other support field, passed out much needed learning materials to an ever growing crowd of excited children.

"I think they were just as excited to see the females in uniform as they were to get the school supplies," said Pfc. Tiffany Reid, Company E, 526th Spt. Bn.

Serving as both a cultural bridge and as role models to the young Iraqi children during their mission to the Al Anwar Girls Secondary School proved to be a positive experience for all involved.

"It felt good to know the girls appreciated what we were doing for them," said Pfc. Shanna Adams, Co. E.

Helping the children of Iraq has been an ongoing mission of civil affairs teams in the Baghdad area.

"I think we're going to be successful in Iraq based on the effect we have on the kids," said Certain.

He said he hopes gestures like these, and the countless others taking place throughout the area, are the building blocks for a new generation of Iraqi citizens who trust and respect the efforts made by Coalition members to ensure their safety and freedom.

And although it is too early to predict the long term effects of the missions, perhaps the reactions of children throughout Iraq as convoys of troops drive by is an indicator of success.

"When we pull into a neighborhood, the kids all start waving and smiling," said Pfc. Antoinette Kent, Co. E. "It just feels good to get out into the community and see the reactions of the children as we drive through. When we handed out the school supplies, they ran off smiling and showing everyone in the area what we had given them."

From turning wrenches to preparing meals, the troops work tirelessly to complete whatever task is necessary to keep their fellow Soldiers ready to roll out. Their day with the girls of Al Anwar school proved to be a positive distraction from their day-to-day routines.

"I love being around kids," said Kent. "This gave me an opportunity to spend some time with them. I think I'll remember most all " the kids smiling."

And for all those involved, it is hoped that the kids remember that too.

• Date Taken: 03.16.2006
• Date Posted: 03.16.2006 15:27
• Story ID: 5758
• Location: MAHMUDIYAH, IQ