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Soldiers Use New Explosive Detection Equipment
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition forces are using a new hand-carried device called Vapor Tracer 2 that detects and identifies vapors and particles produced by numerous forms of explosives and narcotics.
Vapor Tracer 2 uses an atmospheric sampling technique that is extremely sensitive and fast. Its average detection time is four to 10 seconds per sample.
The Vapor Tracer 2 is being used at all of the checkpoints around the green zone to help make them more secure.
Soldiers from Troop F, 9th Cavalry Regiment, used the Vapor Tracer 2 earlier in May on a mission to find a suspected cache of explosives. Though the cache was not the explosive material it was reported to be, the Vapor Tracer 2 did positively identify a substance that could be used in explosives.
The detection system is currently being used in civilian airports throughout the United States to check people, baggage, vehicles and cargo for explosive substances.
Release #040531i |
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Soldiers Help with Town Hall Meeting
BAGHDAD, Iraq — Most Baghdad neighborhoods, like Al Saidiyah, are represented by a neighborhood advisory council. This NAC works with 1st Battalion, 21st Regiment Field Artillery of the 1st Cavalry Division, to increase the quality of life in Al Saidiyah. After holding several council meetings, the NAC and 1-21 FA decided to call the neighborhood’s first open forum town-hall meeting at the Al Rashid district council center.
According to Capt. Michael Levy, the 1-21 FA civil affairs officer, it was time to give the community a taste of democracy, and a sense of ownership of their local NAC.
Having an open public forum is a new concept to the people of Al Saidiyah. Previous meetings in the neighborhood have revolved around the tribal and religious leadership who represent the people.
“This was open to everybody across the board, regardless of social status, or what they do,” said 2nd Lt. Justin Richardson, the 2nd platoon leader for Alpha battery, 1-21 FA.
Having a publicly open meeting, and advertising it heavily, created the need for extra security precautions, according to Richardson. So the 1-21 FA brought extra troops along. The First Team troops, Iraqi Civil Defense Corp soldiers and Facility Protection Service were present at the meeting.
“I think it makes the Iraqis feel a little more comfortable when they come,” Richardson said. “It provides a more comfortable situation for Iraqis people to interact with their own people.”
More than 70 people attended the meeting. This was a successful first attempt, Richardson said.
With the June 30 transfer of authority only five weeks away, the 1-21 FA hopes that town hall meetings will empower the NAC and help the Iraqis govern themselves. NAC members are voted into their positions on a local ballot, and are considered official representatives of the people.
Release #040531h |
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Soldiers Get Tons of Weapons from Rewards Program
BAGHDAD, Iraq - More than three tons of ordnance was turned into Coalition forces during a weapons rewards program in the Thawra district. The program, which began May 15, was aimed to disarm the local populace while infusing money into the economy.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment provided security for the weapons turn-in sites while the 1st Brigade Combat Team was inundated with thousands of weapons and tons of explosives and munitions.
The task of handling, sorting, transporting, and destroying the large amount of ordnance was shouldered by five specialized explosive ordnance disposal teams and the soldiers of the 20th Engineer Battalion "Lumberjacks."
Ordinarily, the 1st Brigade Combat Team is allocated two Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams. However, for this undertaking, the brigade requested assistance from the Air Force and Navy.
The EOD teams disposed of most of the weapons turned in; however, the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps redistributed a large number of the weapons for their use.
Release #040531g |
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Seabees Award Soccer Stadium, Training Center Contracts
RAMADI, Iraq - The 1st Marine Expeditionary Force awarded two contracts with a combined value of more than $240,000 here May 23.
The first contract, valued at nearly $200,000 calls for a major renovation of an existing soccer stadium, including installation of generator, electrical and plumbing systems.
The second contract calls for renovation of an Iraq's Ministry of Labor training center and is valued at more than $40,000.
Release #040531e |
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Italians Provide Water Purification Kits Near An Nasiriyah
AN NASIRIYAH , Iraq - The Italian joint task force recently distributed 600 water purification kits, other equipment and food to Iraqis in the Dhi Gar province.
The purification kits, 160 10-liter cans for carrying water, and 70 crates of milk went to three villages north of An Nasiriyah. Italian soldiers also gave clothing to children living in the villages.
Officials for the Italian contingent said they are trying to increase the availability of drinkable water near the villages of Abd Al Ali, Ajil, Tarbush and as Salahiyah, where nearby swamps make the water too salty to drink.
Officials said the local population was very appreciative of the water purification kits and other equipment and supplies. They said the goodwill gestures can only serve to strengthen the ties between the Coalition and the people in the area.
Release #040531d |
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Soldiers, Iraqis Fix Faulty Sewage Facilities
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Over the next 12 to 18 months, the 5th Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division plans to help the people of Al Rashid solve their sewage problems.
At a ground breaking ceremony to replace a faulty sewage pumping station in Al Rashid May 26, Maj. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the 1st Cavalry Division commander, explained the plan for overhauling the district's neglected sewage system.
With $40 million from the Coalition Provisional Authority approved for the project, Iraqi contractors will do most of the work with oversight from the 5th BCT and an American contractor.
Capt. Matthew McCulley, the Company B commander, 8th Engineer Battalion, explained that Al Rashid's sewage problem is largely a result of the district's trash problem.
McCulley said "the biggest problem is just the trash getting into the system and people throwing trash in the manholes, causing the system to block up and backlog."
To fix the broken system, 5th BCT is working on projects to solve the area's lack of trash-collection facilities.
The 5th BCT will contract local Iraqi companies to clean manholes, fix broken lines and get substations running at 100 percent capacity.
In addition to fixing the existing system, the plan calls for building new lines to areas that never had sewer service. In these areas, raw sewage currently runs from homes into open canals that run through the center of town.
Release #040601b |
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