Multi-National Division – Baghdad “First Team.....Team First” Saturday, August 29, 2009 Iraqis learn computer, sewing skills By Sgt. Dustin Roberts “These classes are beneficial 2nd HBCT PAO because it gives women and com- BAGHDAD — The relation- puter users the skills necessary ship among citizens of the Jamiya to obtain jobs and to succeed in neighborhood and their local the economy,” said Capt. Paul leaders took a step forward at the Nieves, a native of Puerto Rico, Jamiya Tribal Support Council in with the 422nd Civil Affairs Bat- northwest Baghdad, Aug 25. talion. “Dr. Amal, the head of the The council worked with Sol- Thagalaya Strategic Study Center diers from 5th Squadron, 4th Cav- Islamic Foundation for Women alry Regiment, 2nd Heavy Bri- and Children, conceived this idea gade Combat Team, 1st Infantry in order to help advance women Division, Multi-National Division in the local community.” – Baghdad and the 422nd Civil The TSSCIFWC understood Photo by 1st Lt. Charles Donley, 2nd HBCT Iraqi women learn to professionally sew at the Jamia Tribal Affairs Battalion to open up the that Iraqis with more education Support Council Aug. 25. Members of the council worked with council hall to train young Iraqis have less of a chance to turn to Soldiers from the 5th Squadron, 4th Cav. Regt., 2nd HBCT, basic computer and sewing skills. insurgency. 1st Inf. Div., to set up classes that teach computer technology and professional sewing. “These classes are a great ceed in college.” chance to help women, especially The project is intended to be the widowed and less fortunate,” 10 weeks long and educate 200 said Sheik Majid of the Jamiya women on sewing and 100 young Tribal Support Council. people in computer technology. Women who showed up to the The Soldiers and the commu- course learned professional sew- nity leaders plan on expanding ing skills, which could help start the program to better ben- a business. efit the people of northwest “The sewing classes last two Baghdad. hours every day for a two week “This project was a great course and accommodate 40 local opportunity to work jointly women. After the graduation, the with the community leaders women are given a sewing ma- of Jamiya. Both U.S. forces chine to help them get started.” and the Jamiya Tribal Sup- To help Iraqi computer users port Council desire to expand get started, the Soldiers and the the project in order to posi- council put together a computer tively affect more people,” class that focuses on Microsoft said Capt. Thomas Wilson, a products. native of LeClaire, Iowa, 5th “The computer classes accom- Sqdn., 4th Cav. Regt. “Sheikh modate 20 people per class. In Majid, the Tribal Support Photo by 1st Lt. Charles Donley, 2nd HBCT these classes, young people learn Council, and other commu- An Iraqi student learns basic computer skills at the Jamia Trib- the basics of Windows and Mi- nity leaders took the lead on al Support Council in northwest Baghdad Aug. 25. Soldiers crosoft Office, focusing on Word this project and are a perfect from the 5th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Heavy Bri- and PowerPoint,” said Majid. example of Iraqis unselfishly gade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, helped set up the “These computer classes are key working together in order to course, which teaches about 20 people per class. in preparing young people to suc- make Iraq a better place.” PAGE 2 August 29, 2009 Pro golfers chip in for Soldiers morale Photos by Staff Sgt. Robert Jordan, MND-B PAO Head down, ball up. Staff Sgt. Orsce Moore from Hope Mills, N.C., a medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 252nd Combined Arms Battalion, 30th Heavy Golf pros, from left, Becky Lucidi, Carl Paulson and Mike Brigade Combat Team of Fayetteville, N.C, practices his Sposa show off their skills to Soldiers of the 30th HBCT at chip shot under the instruction of professional golfer Becky FOB Falcon, Iraq, Aug. 19. The three, along with LPGA Lucidi at Forward Operating Base Falcon, Iraq, Aug. 19. golfer Jill McGill, visited the base as part of their “Fairways Lucidi and golfers Jill McGill, Mike Sposa and Carl Paulson 2 Greens” tour in Iraq. were in Iraq as part of the “Fairways 2 Greens” tour. BAGHDAD — Spc. Cassie Lemacas, of Southern Pines, N.C., a personal security detail Soldier with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, chips towards a 6-inch target nearly 20 yards away at For- ward Operating Base Falcon, Iraq, Aug. 19, making a hole-in-one. Lemacas took part in a visit by professional golfers Becky Lucidi, Jill McGill, Mike Sposa and Carl Paulson as part of their “Fairways 2 Greens” tour. PAGE 3 August 29, 2009 Memphis Egypt High School friends reunite By Sgt. Rebekah Malone linked up with an individual I be surprised if in a few years “It’s like a brother I never 225th Eng. Bde., PAO went to high school with and we are in business suits com- hand,” Rhodes explained. “If BAGHDAD — Travel- we were able to work togeth- pleting construction deals to- you are having a bad day, you ing two very different roads er in the same atmosphere,” gether back in Memphis.” can lean on each other for a after high school led to the Rhodes said. “So it was a For the two Memphi- smile each and every day. same place, thousands of great feeling, especially now, tes, they have found an unex- This is setting the ground- miles away from home, for being over at the 277th as the pected friendship and stress work for a long lasting rela- Memphis Egypt High School first sergeant. I get to work outlet in each other that has tionship. It’s just amazing, graduates 1st Lt. Cameron hand-in-hand with the com- made their time in Iraq easi- it’s a one in a million shot Burrell, Class of 1994 and 1st pany’s [executive officer].” er. and here he is.” Sgt. Antwann Rhodes, Class Both men talked exten- of 1993. sively about performing As members of not only their mission with someone different units, but even dif- from the same background, ferent Army components, the upbringing and network of two Soldiers received quite a friends and family. surprise in March 2009 after “Knowing our area, coming arriving here. from the same background, Burrell’s Reserve unit, the we related to each other very 277th Engineer Company well. The work atmosphere is from San Antonio, Texas, had great,” said Rhodes. just arrived at Camp Liberty Not only has Burrell and and was receiving a briefing Rhodes’ friendship grown, it from their higher command, has had a ripple effect on mu- the 46th Engineer Combat tual friends and family mem- Battalion, (Heavy), 225th En- bers learning of each other gineer Brigade, when Burrell and their common connec- saw a face he remembered tion. from 15 years ago. “We’ve caught up on a lot “When we touched ground of things. Our families don’t over here in March, he was know each other that well but giving one of our in-briefs. we know a lot of the same He looked familiar so I people. I’ve told my parents walked up and asked who he about him, he has done the was,” said Burrell. “I hadn’t same. Our relationship has seen him since ’93.” definitely grown,” Burrell Since that time, the two said. have not only had the chance For 15 years, the roads to catch up on mutual friends traveled by both Soldiers from high school, but after a were very different, but each turn of events, the two actu- led to becoming engineers. ally got the chance to work Now, after meeting up and very closely together. working with each other, the Rhodes was the opera- two have talked about going tions noncommissioned offi- into business with each oth- cer, but was moved into the er after the military back in first sergeant position in the Memphis. 277th Eng. Co., where Bur- “We’ve talked about link- rell served as the executive ing up in the next couple of Photo by Sgt. Rebekah Malone, 225th Eng. Bde. PAO officer. years and maybe completing 1st Lt. Cameron Burrell (left) and 1st Sgt. Antwann Rhodes Now, the two work with some business construction (right), both originally from Memphis, Tenn., reunited after 15 each other running the engi- work together since we are in years in Camp Liberty, Iraq. The 277th Engineer Company, neer company. the same hometown,” Burrell 46th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), 225th Engineer Bri- “It was basically a shock said. gade Soldiers attended Memphis Egypt High School, but had (seeing Burrell) because for Rhodes added, “We are in not seen each other since 1993 when Rhodes left for active the first time in my career, I uniform now, but I wouldn’t duty. PAGE 4 August 29, 2009 On This Day In Military History 1990 — A defiant Iraqi MND-B Pic of the day! President Saddam Hussein declared in a television interview that America could not defeat Iraq, saying, “I do not beg before anyone.” 1991 — In a stunning blow to the Soviet Communist HUSSEIN Party, the Supreme Soviet legislature voted to suspend the activities of the organization and freeze its bank accounts because of the party’s role in the failed coup. 1992 — The U.N. Security Council agreed to Photo by Albino Mendoza, 55th Combat Camera Co send 3,000 more relief troops to Somalia to guard food shipments. SALMAN PAK, Iraq — Lt. Gen. Charles 2003 — Six nations trying to defuse a standoff Jacoby (left), the commanding general of over North Korea’s nuclear program ended Multi-National Corps – Iraq, speaks to an their talks in Beijing with an agreement to keep Iraqi army officer during a visit to the Arch talking.