MND-B Soldiers renovate 3 schools

[nastyleg]

BAGHDAD — The Shab, Yassamin and Monte Tenaybo Schools were officially re-opened here, Nov. 5, thanks to the efforts of Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers.

The schools were in shambles before they came to the attention of Army Civil Affairs (CA) Soldiers, according to Staff Sgt. Frank Halstead, from Brooklyn, N.Y.

"All three schools had to be completely redone because they were a mess," he said. "They had to be painted and cleaned, the wiring had to be redone and the walls on the outside needed repair. Basically they were just the shells of buildings."

So Halstead and his fellow CA Soldiers set up the contracts and started the work. They arranged for repairs to be made and periodically checked the work to make sure things were being done to their specifications.

"We had to make sure they were done up to standard," said Halstead. "Finally it all came together and the people have schools now."

On opening day, the students gathered to sing songs and perform skits for the Soldiers and officials who came to see the work come to fruition.

"It feels pretty good because today you actually get to see the kids' reactions – it's not just a bunch of older people standing around talking to each other," said Halstead. "The kids were happy, they looked like they wanted to be in school; to me that's a good thing."

For 1st Lt. Lacey Rector, from Willoughby Hills, Ohio, assigned 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, the girls at Shab Female School were a welcome sight.

"It's nice to see females because you don't see them very often over here," she said. "It's nice to see that they are being educated as well."

The project is another example of the continued commitment of U.S. forces to helping the Iraqi people, according to Halstead.

"We're there to help them not to hurt them," he said. "They know if their children are being educated then that's going to help them in the long run. They appreciate it."

With three more schools operational in the Baghdad area, more children are getting the chance to better themselves and their communities through education.

(By Sgt. Joshua Risner, Multi-National Division – Baghdad)

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28607&Itemid=224

[bobdina]

Ramadi students thank reconstruction team, brigade, for new classrooms

Nov 9, 2009

By 1st Lt. Michael Mueller
Ramadi students thank reconstruction team, brigade, for new schoolhouse

Photo credit U.S. Army




RAMADI, Iraq (Army News Service, Nov. 9, 2009) -- There is a crisp breeze on this overcast day, a reminder that, even in Iraq, fall is approaching. For U.S. forces here, that means a lot of things, but for the children of Ramadi, it means school is back in session.

Students of Al Andalous Primary School gathered Oct. 28, in the school courtyard, to thank members of an American Provincial Reconstruction Team for renovating their school. For the members of 2nd Platoon, Company D, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist Brigade), it was an opportunity to see the difference PRTs are making in the community.

The platoon's role was to escort Laura Wilkinson, Natalie Zia and Erol Yayboke, members of the PRT, to the school in downtown Ramadi.

The elementary school recently conducted renovations as a partnered project with the PRT and the local Coalition Humanitarian Fund representatives. The State Department will typically fund 50 percent of the PRT projects, with the other half coming from the local economy. The PRT spent $32,500 for the renovation of two classrooms, now bathed in a welcoming shade of pink.

"You can really see the quality of the work on this project. It may have cost thousands, but it looks like a million bucks," said Capt. Donald Dangler, the company commander.

"It's times like these that you can sense the importance of what we are doing here in Iraq," he said.

Members of the security detachment were amazed at how similarly this school in a poor Ramadi neighborhood reminded them of elementary schools in their hometowns, he said.

PRT members were brimming with pride as school administrators showed them the depth of the renovations.

In those 12 minutes, all of the PRT's hard work and the efforts of Company D providing security and escort were validated, said Dangler.

Several children were called upon to recite poetry and give a thank you note to the PRT. It was a touching ceremony, one that embodied the partnership between the Iraqi people, the U.S. Army, and the many organizations working for change in Iraq.

Before the Americans departed, the PRT met with school officials for a brief meeting on future projects, setting the stage for continued development.

"Working with the PRT is like nothing I've ever done in the Army," said 2nd Lt. Tom Dyer, the company's civil-military operations representative. "You really get to see how the community looks at [U.S. forces] on missions like these."

Dyer, who will accompany the PRT on all their missions with Company D, was really surprised by the level of professionalism of the PRT.

"I expected them to be articulate, knowledgeable and experienced; but they were just at a whole other level," he said.

As the convoy left the school, the paratroopers could not help but feel a sense of hope for the people of Iraq, said Dangler.