Courtesy Photo | A Soldier with 4th Platoon, B Company 5-20th Inf. Reg., 3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat...... read more read more
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by Sgt. Antonieta Rico
5th Mobile Public Affairs Det.
MOSUL, Iraq— Soldiers with the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3-2 SBCT, out of Fort Lewis, Wash., took to the streets Sept. 28, along side Iraqi Police and Iraqi Army Forces, greeting and meeting residents in a community engagement effort meant to encourage the familiarity and trust of residents in Mosul.
Iraqis took the lead during the patrol, with the American Soldiers only pulling security and observing.
"We are trying to help build up the goodwill of the people," said 1st Lt. Phillip D. Schneider, "That is how we are going to defeat the insurgency."
Schneider, a native of Falmouth, Mass., is the 4th Platoon leader with Company B, 5-20 Inf. 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. His Soldiers walked the Mosul neighborhoods of Al-Thawra, Siha and Zangilli.
Stryker Soldiers are doing their part to ensure Iraqi forces, both police and army, are self-sustaining. Part of the self-sustaining process includes inspiring faith in Iraqis in their own police and security forces, said Schneider.
The presence of the 5-20th Inf. Soldiers in the background also allows Iraqi soldiers to learn from the Stryker Soldier's tactical posture and hopefully incorporate those lessons into their procedures, said Spc. Blake Poole, 4th Platoon radio tactical operator.
"The intent today was to show a positive face, and reinforce the community, and let them know they are safe," said Poole, originally from Stockbridge, Ga., "and that the Iraqi government has provided a good army and good police force that can be counted on."
But getting the people of Iraq to believe that is a continuing effort.
"The worst part is frustration," Poole said, the Iraqi people see "that we have been here for years and there has not been a lot of change."
And although Poole said he understands their perspective, he believes the IP and the IAF are making progress.
"They are doing relatively well considering what they have to work with, their resources," he said.
Getting IPs and IAF out on community engagement also serves as a deterrent to terrorists, letting them know that there are people out patrolling the streets of Mosul, trying to keep residents safe from their attacks.
During the patrol Schneider stopped at a house of a council member of the neighborhood of Zangilli. The council member brought up concerns about the sewage system in his neighborhood. With the rainy season coming soon, he said he was concerned about backed up sewage water.
Schneider promised to look into it, but he said Soldiers cannot just go in and fix their problems.
Iraqis have to go through their own city government channels, a process that can be slow in yielding results, yet necessary for Iraq to be self-sustaining, Schneider said.
And although that stance might not have won over the council member completely, there was one group of Iraqis who fully embraced the forces patrolling their neighborhood; the children.
Groups of them poured into the streets, following the Soldiers in a procession. Trustingly, they gathered around, gleefully grabbing Frisbees, tennis balls and various toys from the Soldiers.
"They are a positive reinforcement for me," said Poole, "It's good to see them, I sort of look at them as being a little bit more
untainted, they don't really have the negative mindset that a lot of the elders do."
This particular patrol came two weeks to the day that the 4th Platoon Soldiers were hit by a suicide vehicle borne improvised explosive device.
Poole said that although the attack affected him and the other Soldiers in his platoon, it only served to further heighten their awareness during patrols. It did not deter them from continuing to support Iraq or its forces.
"The best part is letting people know that we are there," he said, "...maybe some of them will understand that we are trying to help."
| Date Taken: | 09.28.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 10.20.2006 09:56 |
| Story ID: | 8081 |
| Location: | MOSUL, IQ |
| Web Views: | 171 |
| Downloads: | 75 |
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