President Recognizes MP for Hispanic Heritage Month
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Multi-National Division - North www.1ad.army.mil Volume 2 Issue 07 Page 1 oct. 20, 2008 President recognizes MP for Hispanic Heritage Month Photo by Donald Wagner in Cuba. I came to this country with Reserve unit from Bethlehem, Pa., he Story by Maj. Edward R. McCray my parents and my sister when I was Photos by Donald Wagner is also currently the theater internment seven months old," Guerra said after facility commander of Remembrance the ceremony, adding that he feels a II at Camp Cropper, Iraq. strong sense of American patriotism ola! Bienvenidos a la Casa Blanca," Maj. Gen. Adolph McQueen Jr., and commitment to country. President George W. Bush opened commander of the 200th Military H "Enrique has always had a sense his White House Hispanic Heritage Police Command at Fort Meade, Md., of patriotism," said Karen Guerra, Lt. Month address Oct. 9 in which he and former Joint Task Force Detainee Col. Guerra's wife. "It's in his blood. As recognized a deployed citizen-warrior. Operations Group commander at a child, he was always playing Army. Lt. Col. Enrique M. Guerra, commander Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, walked He always wanted to be a Soldier. He of the 744th Military Police Battalion at the grounds of Camp Cropper with loves doing what he does." Camp Cropper, Iraq, was invited to fly Guerra in July. Camp Cropper is a Mrs. Guerra stood proudly by her back from theater especially to attend large internment facility in southern husband as the President shook his the ceremony on the South Lawn of the Iraq and McQueen noted that Guerra hand, thanked him for his service White House. is the right man for the job. and presented him with a presidential "It was an honor to meet the Guerra is a Political Science coin. president," Guerra said. "I am humbled graduate of Rutgers University. He Lt. Col. Guerra not only commands to be selected to be here." the 744th MP Battalion, an Army "As you may be aware, I was born Heritage Continued on Page 3 Page 2 oct. 20, 2008 IA and CF execute another ‘good neighbor’ mission to help the people, while also facing the enemy,” said Iraqi Army Sgt. Maj. Chapok, with 3-5-2 IA. Right now, a lot of the enemy activity that’s going on is because a lot of people are poor, so they’re supporting insurgency, Chapok said. “But I think that once Mosul starts more projects and provides more services for the people, the enemy activity will decrease,” he continued. The battalion has been quick to act and try to fix things, knowing what the problem is. Eager hands of Iraqi children, as well as Iraqi women, reach out and try to grab onto something that the Jundi with “We also have other projects on 3rd Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division, toss at them during a food and supply drop on the southeastern hand,” said Rahman. “For example, region of Mosul, Iraq on Oct. 17. we’re working to have water well built in a neighborhood that needs water, a the Iraqi Security Forces and the local soccer field and such.” Story and photo by populace, said Arcand, a native of And so, 3-5-2 IA will continue By Spc. Karla Elliott White Bear Lake, Minn. executing good neighbor missions to 11th Public Affairs Detachment Forty bags of humanitarian help the people of their area and let assistance was coordinated through them know that they are there to help. “The next step is for the local civilian ilitary leaders and Jundi with 3rd 1st Battalion, 8th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, were distributed; along with leadership to form and start acting,” MBattalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi concluded Arcand. Army Division along with 3-5-2 Military clothes and beanie babies provided by Transition Team, executed another the 18th Combat Sustainment Support humanitarian assistance drop in the Battalion. southeastern region of Mosul, Iraq, “Today was very good because on Oct. 17. all this that we do shows that we, the This has been one of the many Army, are here to help the people” said good-neighbor missions the 3-5-2 IA Iraqi Army Col. Ahmed Abdul Rahman, has accomplished over an eight-month commander of 3-5-2 IA. period with the help of 3-5-2 MiTT. Even though they average three “We try to go out on these good good neighbor missions a month, this neighbor missions at least three times month, the 3-5-2 IA, along with their a month,” said Maj. Chad Arcand, team counterparts, achieved 10 of these chief for 3-5-2 MiTT. missions within the battalion’s area of Col. Ahmed Abdul Rahman, commander of 3rd Battalion, The overall mission is to build responsibility. 5th Brigade, 2nd Division of the Iraqi Army, shakes the rapport and relationships between “The biggest challenge during hand of a local national who lives in the southeastern these missions is that we are trying region of Mosul, Iraq. Commanding General: Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling Contributing Writers: Sgt.1st Class Kevin Doheny Sgt. Rick Rzepka Public Affairs Officer: Maj. Margaret Kageleiry Layout and Design: Spc. Ryan Elliott, 14th PAD Public Affairs NCOIC: Master Sgt. Nancy Morrison Editor: Staff Sgt. Mark Albright, 14th Public Affairs Detachment Contact the Iron Strong at VOIP: 242-1190, DSN: 318-849-0089 or email [email protected] The “Iron Strong” is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of the “Iron Strong” are not necessarily official veiws of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the Task Force Iron. All editorial content of this publication is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the Task Force Iron Public Affairs Office. Page 3 oct. 20, 2008 general theme of the response I received that freedom is available to all. Enrique, Heritage from Page 1 was that unit has a good reputation among bienvenidos. Thank you for coming." also earned a Master of Science degree in the troops and the Soldiers feel that they Management from Thomas Edison State have leaders that they trust," Guerra said, College, in New Jersey. He is a graduate noting that he went on to fill his ranks with of the Army Command and General Staff subject-matter experts. College and the Multifunction Logisticians In the President's Hispanic Heritage Course. address on the South Lawn of the White Guerra attributes much of his military House, he recognized Guerra with these success and the confidence that his leaders remarks: "I ' m especially proud to be the have expressed in him to the fact that he is commander-in-chief of a military in which a good listener. there's 225,000 Hispanic men and women. "I love being around Soldiers. I talk with One of these Hispanos is an Army lieutenant them. I listen". "Many of my young Soldiers colonel named Enrique Guerra. Listen to are volunteering for a second or third tour," his story." said Guerra. "Our morale is high." President Bush briefly recounted the In his 2007 departure ceremony speech, narrative of Lt. Col. Guerra's arrival to Guerra noted that a large number of Soldiers America and his current military service. were volunteering to deploy with the 744th. The president concluded his He said he surveyed his young Soldiers and acknowledgments by saying "And today I ' asked why they were volunteering. "The m proud to honor his service, and the service of all Hispanic Americans, who ensure Iraqi pilots graduate, flight training wing opens Story and photo by Iraqi counterparts to create and reestablish a clinical communications. By Spc. Cynthia Teears successful flight program for Iraqi airmen who “It was difficult because we were the first. 11th Public Affairs Detachment want to be pilots for the Iraq military. Every first class…there is a challenge for “As we train up this new generation and every starting class,” Habeeb said. “I joined give them the ability and the tools they need the Air Force in 2007 as an engineer, then he Iraqi Air Force Flying Training Wing to take over their own security, they will I passed the medical test, plus the English graduated three pilots and opened a new T enable U.S. forces to gradually draw down exam, then they accepted me as a pilot. training facility at the Kirkuk Air Field in Kirkuk our presence here,” Brauner stated. Maybe I will be a test pilot in the future.” City, Iraq, Oct. 13. The pilots are trained in many areas The events began in the late morning with including intelligence, surveillance and a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new training reconnaissance missions. “Currently, we have facility, which will accommodate better training 42 students in training and we expect to get and more students in the future. The guests another class of approximately 14 students in then watched a traditional military ceremony November. We are also currently training six where the flight students of the training wing instructor pilots who will take more control and demonstrated the passing of their guidon to provide an Iraqi face to the training,” Brauner the next class of students to take on their said. “We are training pilots and maintainers in educational endeavors at the school. both flying fixed wing aircraft, and soon rotary “This is the first class to graduate since the wing aircraft in the future.” fall of Saddam Hussein. So, these are the first The three pilots who graduated received three pilots to be trained in this decade in Iraq,” gifts and diplomas from senior air force officers said Lt.