Posted on 10/01/2008 5:35:39 PM PDT by SandRat
BAGHDAD — Iraqi and Coalition officials gathered in the Adnon Palace here, Sept. 24, to discuss the upcoming transition of the Sons of Iraq.
The SoI have been an essential element to the current status of security in Iraq. Since the inception of the SoI, the United States has provided the financial means for its existence.
As Iraq’s governmental infrastructure has strengthened, it has become more capable of employing the members and will soon take over full control of the SoI.
“Most of them are young, unemployed men who want to help their local areas and be a part of the future of Iraq,” said Brig. Gen. William Grimsley, a native of Charleston, S.C., who serves as a deputy commanding general for the 4th Infantry Division and Multi-National Division – Baghdad. “They stepped forward to be a part of a solution by providing local security – like a neighborhood watch for example, or a home guard – and have just continued to grow, so we have contracted them through local leaders.”
The SoI transition to GoI control was inevitable and was initiated by the Iraqi government. Through the continued employment of SoI veterans on a national scale, the citizens who stepped forward to serve will be given the opportunity to find employment.
“The Prime Minister of Iraq directed, after coordination with the Coalition forces, the transition of the Sons of Iraq over to Iraqi government control so that they would take over the payment of contracts,” Grimsley said. “More importantly though is the eventual transition of these Iraqi patriots into long-term employment for a more stable, secure future.
“The government has committed to accepting about 20 percent of them into the Iraqi security forces: that’s the Army, the Iraqi Police and the National Police. We, of course, would like to see more, as would they, but we’ll continue to negotiate that.”
The GoI has said that those who don’t get a job with the ISF will acquire employment on a civilian level, backed by the government, such as a ministry job or one from the education projects committed to vocational and technical education, Grimsley explained.
Iraqi and coalition forces are making tremendous progress with the transition and are training the government of Iraq on an effective payroll system verified through a biometrics registration system, which stores innately unique characteristics about an individual like retinal scans and fingerprints, Grimsley explained. To further ensure that the plan succeeds, Coalition forces have, at the request of the GoI, put together individual registration packets which parallel job applications.
“It’s about 99,000 young men who have stepped forward,” Grimsley said. “It’s time to get them back into the folds of a normal society, to move forward. This is of great strategic importance for both respective forces. That’s why we’ve started it in Baghdad, so we know we’ll do it right.”
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