Making Gains in Mahmudiyah Spc

Multi-National Division – Baghdad “First Team.....Team First” Friday, March 6, 2009 Making gains in Mahmudiyah Spc. Jamie Vernon 2nd BCT PAO, 1st Armd. Div. MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq — Leaders from the 2nd “Iron” Brigade Com- bat Team, 1st Armored Division met with nine Mahmudiyah sheiks at a residence here Feb. 25 to discuss security and infrastructure progress in the area. With Mahmudiyah being a largely agricultural area, the sheiks and military leaders focused much of their discussion on determining methods to create more jobs for locals by de- veloping agricultural and rural indus- tries, as well as refining the irrigation systems in their areas. Brigade commander, Col. Pat White and Lt. Col. Jim Bradford, commander, 1st Combined Arms Bat- talion, 63rd Armored Regiment, discussed what the recent Iraqi election results mean for the local community, By Spc. Jamie Vernon, 2nd BCT PAO, 1st Armd. Div. the continued transition of Sons of Lt. Col. Jim Bradford, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, Iraq security members and maintain- Multi-National Division- Baghdad, of Lynchburg, Tenn., shakes hands with Sheik ing security while also transitioning Hassan after a meeting with local Mahmudiyah sheiks in Mahmudiyah Feb. 25. Coalition focus to essential services, During the meeting, the sheiks said in order to foster successful reconstruction governance and economy. efforts in their area, the current and future focus should be on irrigation, agricul- “The meeting was designed to bring tural industry, financial industry and electricity to create more jobs. influential sheiks of Mahmudiyah to- gether to discuss the future and to ul- and to continue success with security. funded projects to develop the Mahmudi- timately prioritize how we can help citizens “Our road is long and we are only on yah area, some of the projects focus only of Mahmudiyah with the resources avail- the first step. All our energy and focus is on the urban centers, with more needing to able to the coalition without interfering with on the reconstruction of the Mahmudiyah be done for rural areas. Government of Iraq efforts,” said Bradford. area,” said Sheik Sadoon Mohsen Al Ajam In addition, the sheiks discussed their The sheiks said the current and future Al Kalabi, chairman and organizer of the plan to form an advisory council for the focus of reconstruction efforts should be on Sheik Advisory Council. Mahmudiyah area to assist Coalition Forc- irrigation, agricultural industry, financial The sheiks voiced concern that even es on what future projects are needed and industry and electricity to create more jobs though a lot of energy and money has where.

See 1st Cavalry Division, Multi-National Division — Baghdad news, broadcast and radio reports at www.cavcountry.net PAGE 2 March 6, 2009 Counting their chickens: Program assists Iraqi farmers Spc. Jamie Vernon 2nd BCT PAO, 1st Armd. Div. MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq — The U.S. State Department Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team participated in a project inoculating and delivering chickens to the Mahmudiyah Poultry Association Feb. 27. Charles Russell, an agricultural advisor for the EPRT traveled to the Poultry Agkardi Hatchery here to assist local Iraqi farmer spray 22,000 chicks — each of them 21-days old — with a vaccine to protect them from Gumboro disease. Gumboro disease (also known as infec- tious bursal disease) destroys a chicken’s immune system, leaving it susceptible to infections much like AIDS does in hu- mans. Untreated, the highly contagious disease can lead to high mortality rates among chickens. The chicks were taken from the hatchery to the Mahmudiyah Poultry Association where they will be raised for 40 days, long enough for them to grow to a weight of at least 2 kilograms. At that weight, they will be ready to be sold to local markets and the Iraqi populace as poultry. Prior to the program, insufficient breed- ing, care and condition of the chicks, it would take 60 days. Many times the chickens would only weigh 1.7-1.80 kilograms, not enough to be sold as poultry. This EPRT project helped reduce the amount of time needed to raise the chicks, consequently cuting back on feed costs, as well as the fuel used for the hatchery’s heaters. By Spc. Jamie Vernon, 2nd BCT PAO, 1st Armd. Div. “The profit is in the management. Charles Russell, a member of the U.S. State Department Embedded Pro- When the feed is not good, and the breed vincial Reconstruction Team and an agricultural advisor, sprays twenty-one of chicks is not good, the [outcome] is day old chicks with a vaccine to prevent Gambaro disease, which attacks not good,” said Sheik Labid Khalid, own- a chick’s immune system, at the Poultry Agkardi Hatchery during an EPRT er of the coops and a board of director event in Mahmudiyah, Feb. 27. member for the Mahmudiyah Poultry As- sociation. not have healthy chickens to sell. The lot of jobs for many different tribes and Expensive fuel costs compromised the farmers of Mahmudiyah could not rely helps the economy in the Mahmudiyah amount of warmth the chicks received for on having enough poultry as their source area. The money that went to cater to this successful survival and growth. This proj- of income. The EPRT funded this pro- project went to the right place,” said Mr. ect created the funds necessary to buy the gram to assist the Mahmudiyah Poultry Shakeir, owner of the Poultry Agkardi fuel needed to provide proper heat for the Association to create better management. Hatchery and a member of the board of hatchery’s incubators and coops. This, in turn, helps provide job stability directors for the Mahmudiyah Poultry “It is very important to control and pro- for the Iraqi people, and supports their Association. vide the right temperature for the chicks economy. More vaccines will be given to the and this makes it difficult,” said Sheik La- “This project, established with U.S. chicks in the coming weeks to help further bid. assistance, is going in a smooth way. prevent Gumboro and other diseases relat- In the past, the poultry association did This is a wonderful project that creates a ed to reduced egg production. PAGE 3 March 6, 2009

Generals Survey Progress Taking the ‘D’oh!’ out of OPSEC Spc. Howard Alperin MND-B PAO CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq — Homer Simp- son does not seem like the perfect picture for military policy. But, for a subject as important as operational security, “OPSEC” in military slang, he is the ideal example — of what not to do. Simpson’s tendency to let the cat out of the bag actually made him a poster boy for a recent OPSEC education product seen around Multi-National Divi- sion — Baghdad’s headquarters. “The principles of OPSEC haven’t changed much,” said Capt. Jeff Van Cleave, an information operations officer for MND- B. “Through all wars, the purpose is to deny Staff Sgt. Jessika Malott, 8th MP Bde. PAO vital intelligence to the enemy.” By Spc. Howard Alperin, MND-B PAO BAGHDAD — Brig Gen. “Word of mouth is the easiest way to Pfc. Rose Robinson, an orderly room John Murray (center), depu- leak information and for others to take that clerk, Division Special Troops Bat- information and make it into intelligence. ty commanding general for talion, 1st Cavalry Division, fills burn PSEC is an enduring principle of the com- maneuver,1st Cavalry Divi- barrels with shredded documents bat situation.” prior to setting them ablaze. sion and Multi-National Divi- Any form of communication that gives sion — Baghdad, walks with the enemy potential information on Soldiers’ four Veterans Affairs offices. Col. Byron Freeman (right), the movements or Soldiers’ lives in and out of a “It’s very easy to get a person’s last commander of the 8th Military combat zone is in violation of operational name and “Google” it on the Internet. Peo- Police Brigade, as they tour the security, said Master Sgt. Mario Dovalina, ple pick up information and download pic- grounds at al-Furat Iraqi Police the OPSEC manager for MND-B. tures from blogs, Myspace and Facebook Training Center March 3. Giving mission-related details and sensi- to get access to personal information that tive information to the enemy is the worst can lead to identity theft.” kind of error to make, said Dovolina, a Dal- Violating OPSEC has serious conse- las native. quences. Recently, Soldiers have been “Don’t be that guy. Don’t be the one who fined and received a reduction of rank for gives information to the enemy. People can blogging sensitive details and information, lose their lives, or people can get injured,” said Dovolina. said Dovolina. “No matter where you are; Maintaining OPSEC standards and you could be at the PX and someone could teamwork are a big part of mission success. be listening behind the other aisle, or at the Sgt. Eric Weaver, an MND-B intelligence mess hall, there’s someone who could be at analyst from Youngstown, Ohio, sees it as a nearby table listening.” an adjustment to the military lifestyle. It’s not just careless talk that Soldiers need “I’ve always been a free speaker, now; to watch. Another part of Dovolina’s mission I have to be more self-conscious. Work is is to spread the word what gets thrown out. something I don’t talk about.” “Shred and burn any and all documents: “We are all Army brothers and sisters, secret, unclassified and personal; including so why would you want to bring harm to sticky notes and mailing labels. If shred- your brother or sister,” emphasized Dovali- By Staff Sgt. Jason Kendrick, 36th Inf. Div. ding is not possible, than make sure to burn na. “Everybody needs to do their part and BAGHDAD — Col. Lee Henry documents.” said Dovolina. “This protects keep each other safe.” (left), commander of the 56th the Army and its mission and it protects a Homer Simpson, the Army’s poster boy Infantry Brigade Combat Team, person’s identity from identity theft.” for what not to do, got his reputation for Texas National Guard, greets According to a 2007 USA Today article, having “loose lips.” He brings back mem- Gen. Craig McKinley, Chief data thieves and con artists have begun to ories of the World War II military term, of the National Guard Bureau increasingly target military personnel. In “Loose lips sink ships.” It is a reminder of during a visit to Victory Base May 2006, thieves stole computers con- how talking out of turn can compromise Complex Mar. 1. taining sensitive data for nearly 30 million missions, destroy equipment, or even cause active and retired service members from loss of life. PAGE 4 March 6, 2009

On This Day In Military History Arabic Phrase of the Day: On this day, March 6, in military history, a Navy Can you show me on a map? sailor’s courageous actions in Vietnam earned him the Medal of Honor. Defined: Seaman David G. Ouellet of Newton, Mass., was serving as a machine gunner on River Patrol Boat 124 on the Mekong River on the mumkin tshawwifni al- morning of March 6, 1967, when he observed suspicious activity khariita? near the river bank. Seaman ىلع يل اهرهظت نأ عيطتست له Ouellet alerted his Boat Captain ؟ ةطيرخلا and recommended movement of the boat to investigate. While the PBR was making a high-speed run along the river bank, Seaman Ouellet spotted an incoming Ouellet David Letterman’s Top Ten Things enemy grenade falling toward the boat. Seaman Ouellet ran aft for U2 Has Learned Over The Years the full length of the boat, shouting to his fellow crew mates to take cover. Observing the Boat Captain standing 10. “A lot of people think I’m the guy who sang unprotected, Seaman Oullet bounded onto the engine with Cher.” (Bono) cover, pushed the Boat Captain to safety and placed 9. “I suck at ‘Guitar Hero’ ” (The Edge) himself between the grenade and his fellow sailors. When 8. “Dumb people send us videos all the time. the grenade exploded, Seaman Oullet’s body absorbed the blast, saving the lives of his shipmates. They think we’re YouTube.” (Adam) The Knox-class frigate USS Ouellet was 7. “Even my family asks, ‘Are you Adam or commissioned in 1970 and named for the Medal of Honor Larry?’” (Larry) recipient. 6. “There’s always quite a stir at Applebee’s when they call, ‘U2 — party of four.” (Bono) 5. “Cool name: The Edge, Uncool name: The Itch” Iraq (The Edge) 4. “Melted cheese tastes good on practically 3-Day everything” (Adam) Weather 3. “Sometimes, when we shout, ‘Are you ready Today Tomorrow Saturday to rock?’ I don’t care if you are ready to rock.” Report 73° F | 53° F 82 F | 64° F 91° F | 77° F (Larry) 2. “It’s never too soon to start working on a phony Irish accent.” (All) SFC Paul R. Smith 1. “Up close, you can totally see Letterman’s hairpiece.” (Bono) Memorial Run Pre-registration for the Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith Memorial Run will be held through March 31. The run will be held on April 5, in remembrance of the sixth annivesary of his Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith’s death. The 11.46 km race will be held at the Paul R. Smith Courtyard. Send names to michael.stinnett@ mnd-b.army.mil. Sergeant 1st Class Smith won the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 4, 2003, when he manned a .50 caliber machine gun under withering fire and ex- posed himself in order to engage the enemy. PAGE 5 March 6, 2009

Pvt. Murphy by Mark Baker Quote For Today “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.” — Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826 Principal author of the Declaration of Independence, American president, 1801-1809

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Trigger’s Teasers The objective of the game is to fill all the blank squares in a game with the correct numbers. There are three very simple constraints to follow: Every row of 9 numbers must include all Yesterday’s Answers digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9. Every Sudoku game begins with a number of squares already filled in, and the difficulty of each game is largely a function of how many squares are filled in. The more squares that are known, the easier it is to figure out which numbers go in the open squares. As you fill in squares correctly, options for the remaining squares are narrowed and it becomes easier to fill them in.

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