First Soi Payday from Iraqi Government
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What’s in the bag... • 4th “Tuskers” Bn., 64th Armor Regt., says goodbye to combat operations ... pg.4 • Iraqi, American cultural exchange VTC Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond ... pg. 6 4th Infantry Division and Multi-National Division - Baghdad Commander • EPRT: Building Iraq’s economic future Col. Ted Martin ... pg. 8 1st BCT Commander • Copperhead Co., increased AO, Command Sgt. Maj. Michael responsibility ... pg. 10 Bobb 1st BCT Command Sergeant Major • FRONT SIGHT POST ... pg. 12 Maj. Dave Olson 1st BCT Public Affairs Officer • Raiders oversee first SoI payday ... pg. 14 Sgt. 1st Class Brent Williams • Doura Art and Culture Show ... pg. 16 1st BCT Public Affairs NCOIC Sgt. David Hodge • ICE Team: Improving Iraqi qualtiy of life Staff Writer ... pg. 17 Staff Sgt. Vin Stevens • Raider Brigade on track to meet yearly re- Broadcast NCO tention goals after first 60 days ... pg. 18 Justin Carmack Media Facilitator • Raiders train Iraqi EOD technicians ... pg. 20 • Master Sgt. reflects on Desert Storm battle, third deployment to Iraq ... pg. 21 • Raider Soldier unites in Taji for son’s reen- listment ceremony ... pg. 22 The Rally Point is published monthly in the interest of the Families • Chief of Chaplains visits Soldiers at FOB and Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Ma- Falcon ... pg. 23 rines of the Armed Forces, deployed in support of Multi-National Division - • Combat Camera: SoI payday in West Rashid Baghdad and the 1st Brigade Combat ... pg. 24 Team, 4th Infantry Division. The Rally Point is a U.S. Army funded publication authorized for the members of the Armed Forces, under Staff Sgt. Herbert Smitley, mechanized the provision of AR 360-1. infantry platoon sergeant, assigned to The views in The Rally Point are Company C, 4th Battalion, 64th Armor not necessarily the official views of, Regiment, checks an identification nor endorsed by the U.S. Govern- card of an Iraqi citizen during a late ment, the Department of Defense, or night patrol Oct. 28 in the Risalah com- the Department of the Army. munity of southern Baghdad. Smitley, a To contribute to Raider Bri- native of Waynesburgh, Pa., deployed gade’s The Rally Point, contact the to Baghdad three times since the start 1st BCT Public Affairs Office or send of the war, and said the conditions on stories, photos and information to the ground now are the best yet. [email protected] or Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brent Williams, 1st BCT PAO, 4th [email protected]. Inf. Div., MND-B Happy Holidays from the Raider Brigade Combat Team Operation Iraqi Freedom 07-09 Raider Command Team visits Soldiers throughout Rashid for Thanksgiving holiday 4 - 64 Armor Soldiers finish 15-month15-month deploymentdeployment inin thethe leadlead Story by Sgt. 1st Class Brent Williams, 1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B n October 2007, the Soldiers Operations changed involving ISF,” he said. “The – a better appreciation for what of Company C, 4th Battalion, significantly since his first next thing we did is start they have done,” he said. I64th Armor Regiment, a mix deployment in 2003, through incorporating the Neighborhood The citizens of Risalah of armor and infantry, assumed his second tour in 2005, and Advisory Councils.” started reaping the benefits of responsibility for the majority now the conclusion of his third The new NAC Hall, co- the improving security situation of the Risalah community in deployment in support of OIF, located with two Iraqi National through the start of micro- southern Baghdad, an area said Berriman. Police battalions and Coalition power generation programs, comprised of 12 muhallahs and The armor officer from Forces at a joint security station which provide local power to home to approximately 250,000 Springfield, Mo., explained in the Risalah community, the neighborhoods, and micro- Iraqis. that he saw the focus of efforts opened Oct. 26 to provide grant funding, one-time grants The company’s third change from major kinetic local leaders a venue where for local Iraqi entrepreneurs deployment to Iraq took them to operations of past deployments they can meet with Iraqis in to help stimulate the local the Rashid district in Baghdad, to the tasks of increasing the a secure area and maintain businesses and economy, said and introduced the Soldiers to capabilities of the Iraqi Security direct coordination with their 2nd Lt. Daniel Gorczynski, fire an area recovering from the Forces and working to return community, said Berriman. support officer, Co. C, 4th Bn., violence and turmoil of Special normalcy to the daily lives of Berriman served more than 64th Armor Regt. Groups and militias trying to the Iraqi people. two years as the “Cyclone” Community events, such impose their will on the Iraqi “Our approach has always Company commander and his as school supply distributions people. been that it is going to be a joint career, like many of the Soldiers and community medical Currently attached to the effort,” said Berriman. “The in his company, spanned the engagements, are critical 1st Brigade Combat Team, company has always included many phases of Operation Iraqi opportunities to get local 4th Infantry Division, Multi- the Iraqi Security Forces as Freedom, working through leadership, ISF and the people National Division – Baghdad, my goal was to get the ISF major combat operations to involved, he added. the Soldiers of “Cyclone” involved, because I knew that providing stability and support “The NAC has the biggest Company recently took a huge they would take ownership.” for the people of Baghdad. potential for development, step in the right direction, During the past seven “It has been a very especially with civil operations said Capt. Michael Berriman, months, the ISF took ownership interesting deployment, very in Risalah, because they are commander of Co. C, 4th Bn., of their communities and are challenging, and I think the knowledgeable of the area,” 64th Armor Regt., 1st BCT, 4th good at it, he said. Soldiers of this company can Gorczynski said. “The power Inf. Div. “We got past that part walk away with a good feeling lines, generators, micro- generators, and (essential services) in the area all belong to the NAC.” The Soldiers of Cyclone Co. recently started working with the NAC to gain Ministry of Education support to refurbish the schools in the area, said Gorczynski, a native of Basking Ridge, N.J. The NAC also played an essential role in assisting with resettlement in Risalah, said Gorczynski, adding that the new governance building in the ISF compound provides a haven for Iraqis to bring their problems. The unit’s relationship with the NAC and the Rashid District Council helped to improve the security situation on the ground, said Staff Sgt. Herbert Smitley, mechanized infantry platoon sergeant, Co. C., 4th Bn., 64th Armor Regt. Soldiers from Company C, 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, enter In fact, said Smitley, a an Iraqi house during an early morning raid Oct. 30 in the Risalah native of Waynesburgh, Pa., community of southern Baghdad’s Rashid district. Co. C, or “Cyclone,” it is the best he has seen in his deployed to Baghdad three separate occasions since the start of the three deployments to Baghdad. war. “We have a good U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brent Williams, 1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B relationship with the NACs, and that plays an important part in getting the Iraqi people to work with the U.S. Forces and work with the people to get the (Special Groups) out and build trust,” he said. Conditions in Risalah and Saydiyah changed drastically from the heavy fighting at the beginning of 2008, said Smitley, who re-enlisted during the deployment. “I think that we’re closer than we ever have been in building a functioning government,” he said. “This year has been a complete success.” Taking ISF out on every mission, the focus of the company was to push the ISF to do their job and work to their maximum potential, said Smitley, who credited the Iraqi National Police with taking responsibility for their area of operations. “We are taking a step back with the ISF, letting them work to meet the needs of their people. A lot of our focus is to step out, step back and watch to U.S. Army photo by Sgt. David Hodge, 1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B make sure that they are doing the right thing, he said. “Over Lt. Col. Johnnie Johnson and Command Sgt. Maj. Rodney Greene, leaders watch for us means using their of the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, attached to the 1st Brigade leaders. If they have one good Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, furl leader per platoon, then we the battalion colors during a casing ceremony Nov. 28 at Forward Operat- focus that leader, mainly the ing Base Falcon in southern Baghdad’s Rashid district. The 4th “Tuskers” lieutenants and high ranking Bn., 64th Armor Regt., recently finished a 15-month deployment in support noncommissioned officers, of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Johnson is a native of Tampa, Fla., and Green forcing them to do more of the hails from Richmond, Va. job.” Staff Sgt. William Bailey, Vehicles, now works primarily said. “We have to continue to strides and progress in their mechanized infantry squad from humvees and conducts work and use the ISF to help security forces,” Mager said. leader assigned to Co. C, 4th dismounted patrols through the accomplish the mission.” “The aggression of the NP and Bn., 64th Armor Regt., said area, which is another indicator The Iraqi National Police the aggression of the American he saw a drastic change in of the continuing progress in made great accomplishments Forces pushing the ISF to conditions and quality of life the area, said Bailey.