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WASHINGTON, Aug. 27, 2009 – Several years ago, tens of thousands of Sunni fighters considered themselves enemies of the Iraqi government and its U.S. conspirators, but after switching allegiances, these former insurgents now are filling the ranks of Iraq’s ministries and armed forces. Thousands of these “Sons of Iraq” -- the moniker given to those Sunni combatants who defected from insurgent groups to fight alongside U.S. and Iraqi security forces -- recently gained employment as government workers in Baghdad. Another 13,000 have jobs as Iraqi policemen or soldiers. Though once part of the al-Qaida-aligned resistance in Iraq, these fighters left...

BAGHDAD, May 21, 2009 – Iraqi government representatives gathered with leaders of the “Sons of Iraq” civilian security group in a packed theater here May 19 to field questions from the men and respond to their concerns about the program's progress. A “Sons of Iraq” civilian security group leader asks government representatives a question at a conference sponsored by the Iraqi government in Baghdad, May 19, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Attila Fazekas  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. About 400 sheiks and respected elders from around the country took helicopters or vehicle convoys into the International...

BAGHDAD — The Government of Iraq (GoI) is on schedule to assume responsibility for paying all Sons of Iraq (SoI) security volunteers, and is working to pay back-wages to members of the group who are owed money due to a legislative oversight, Coalition authorities said. “Time and again, the Government of Iraq and the Coalition have demonstrated a commitment to the Sons of Iraq through their actions, and that’s borne out here,” said Maj. Gen. John Johnson, deputy commanding general for operations, Multi-National Corps – Iraq. Once SoI pay is on track, GoI and Coalition authorities will shift attention to...

BAGHDAD — The Sons of Iraq, security volunteers credited with helping reduce violent attacks and terrorist influence across the country, marked two major milestones Wednesday. Coalition forces completed the final transfer of Sons of Iraq members to Iraqi control, and the Government of Iraq secured the funds to pay back-wages to Sons of Iraq in four provinces. “These are big wins, and they affirm the Government of Iraq’s commitment to the Sons of Iraq,” said Col. Jeffrey Kulmayer, chief of reconciliation, Multi-National Corps – Iraq. The Sons of Iraq, numbering about 92,000 in nine provinces across Iraq, began in 2006...

Former Sons of Iraq members work on a solar-powered device used to heat water while attending a Demobilization, Demilitarization and Reintegration Center course in western Adhamiyah, March 12. This machine will enable Iraqi families to have hot water in their homes. Photo by 1st Lt. Scott Lewis, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs. BAGHDAD — The classrooms bustle with activity as former Sons of Iraq members attend a Demobilization, Demilitarization and Reintegration (DDR) Center here to learn the skills necessary to make a living and support their families.This DDR Center in western Adhamiyah offers courses in surveying, electricity, mechanics, generator repair...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, Iraq, March 12, 2009 – The U.S. military made its last payment to “Sons of Iraq” civilian security group members March 2 in Kirkuk province’s city of Sudayra. The Iraqi government will assume full responsibility of payments April 1. "This is one of the many milestones that the [Iraqi government] is hitting day by day," Army Capt. Justin Michel, commander of 1st Cavalry Division’s Company A, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. "This transfer is a necessary step that the [Iraqi government] is taking to show its citizens that it is taking the...

More than 90 Sons of Iraq from the Tikrit region registered to stay in the program, March 1, as it transitions to the Iraqi government, May 1. Photo by Jazz Burney, 25th Infantry Division Public Affairs. TIKRIT — In Saddam Hussein’s former horse stables, now a central operation center at Forward Operating Base Remagen, more than 90 Sons of Iraq from this region registered to remain in the Sons of Iraq program and received payment March 1, as the program transitions from U.S.- to Iraqi-funding and management.“This has been my wish to join the Sons of Iraq program because it...

BAGHDAD, Feb. 27, 2009 – As the Iraqi government and coalition forces finish transferring all “Sons of Iraq” civilian security group volunteers to Iraqi control by April, the focus now is on their transition into jobs and educational programs, officials said. “We're all working together for the same purpose: to bring these young men back to the government, back to their country, and to continue to build a stable and secure Iraq. What you see is a result of this partnership. Things are falling into place,” Army Maj. Gen. Michael Ferriter, deputy commanding general for operations, Multinational Corps Iraq, said....

BAGHDAD — The Government of Iraq (GoI) and Coalition forces will complete the transfer of the Sons of Iraq (SoI) security volunteers to Iraqi control by April, and officials say they now are focused on transitioning the men into jobs and educational programs. “We're all working together for the same purpose: to bring these young men back to the government, back to their country, and to continue to build a stable and secure Iraq,” said Maj. Gen. Michael Ferriter, deputy commanding general for operations, Multi-National Corps – Iraq. “What you see is a result of this partnership. Things are falling...

DIWANIYA — Iraqi military and government leaders met with Coalition forces to coordinate the Government of Iraq’s (GoI) plans for the Sons of Iraq (SoI) program at the headquarters of the 8th Iraqi Army (IA) Division here, Jan. 21. Lt. Gen. Ali Salih Farhood Oothman, 8th IA Div. commander and host of the meeting, discussed the importance of the transition and his confidence in the 8th IA Div. and the local government to take control of the program, which is scheduled to be entirely under GoI control in March. “This is one more thing where we can step back, and...

BAGHDAD, Jan. 15, 2009 – Nearly 900 former members of the “Sons of Iraq” civilian security group officially joined the ranks of the Iraqi police at a graduation ceremony here yesterday. Former “Sons of Iraq” civilian security group members demonstrate tactical movements that they will incorporate in their duties as police officers as part of their graduation ceremony at Al Furat Iraqi Police Training Center in Baghdad, Jan. 14, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jessika Malott  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Numbering 894 men and three women, they are the second class drawn from former Sons...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2009 – The coalition will follow through with its commitment to place “Sons of Iraq” civilian security group members into permanent jobs as they are transferred under Iraqi government control, Multinational Corps Iraq’s chief of reconciliation said yesterday. “We don’t intend to transfer [the Sons of Iraq] and abandon them,” Army Lt. Col. Jeffrey Kulmayer said in a teleconference with military bloggers. “We intend to transfer them and ensure that they are provided meaningful employment in the future.” The Iraqi government has assumed responsibility for some 94,000 Sons of Iraq volunteers since the coalition began transferring the...

BAGHDAD — Along with a new year, Iraq is ringing in an important step toward national reconciliation Jan. 1 when the nation’s government takes over control of the “Sons of Iraq” (SoI) citizen security groups from Coalition forces in four key provinces across the country, including Diyala. In all, 76 percent of the nation’s SoI members will be under Iraqi government responsibility by New Year’s Day. “We are beyond the tipping point with the Sons of Iraq,” Army Lt. Col. Jeffrey Kulmayer, chief of reconciliation and engagement for Multi-National Corps - Iraq, said. “They have invested in the future of...

Retired Iraqi Army Maj. Gen. Muzhir al-Mawla, left, representative of Iraq’s Implementation and Follow-Up Committee for National Reconciliation, speaks with the director general of the Iraqi Police at a meeting in Iraq’s Anbar province to discuss the transfer of “Sons of Iraq” citizen security group control from Coalition forces to the Iraqi government, Dec. 20, 2008. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Eric J. Martinez. BAGHDAD — The once-restless and violent western Iraqi province of Anbar produced a grassroots security movement in June 2007 that came to be known as the “Awakening.” The movement grew rapidly throughout the country with coalition...

BAGHDAD, Dec. 29, 2008 – Instructors from the Jihad Civil Services Department are teaching job skills to former “Sons of Iraq” citizen security group members in southern Baghdad's Rashid district. An instructor teaches students how to interpret gauges on a generator during a hands-on portion of an electrical engineering class at the Jihad Civil Services Department in southern Baghdad, Dec. 24, 2008. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. David Hodge   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. About 400 students attend the six-month vocational school, said Wissam al-Kinani, CSD principal, adding that about 100 of the students are former Sons...

Calvin, a Sons of Iraq member, watches a highway from the checkpoint he mans in Diwaniya with two other SoI members, Dec. 15, 2008. Photo by Staff Sgt. Carlos Burger, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs. DIWANIYA — Coalition forces conducted status check patrols on highway checkpoints controlled by the Sons of Iraq (SoI) here, Dec. 15. Soldiers from Company D, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division conducted the patrol and found citizens working diligently to maintain the safety of their city.“I have midday duty. I watch the highways and search the areas...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2008 – Coalition forces in Iraq apprehended an alleged key member of the Kataib Hezbollah network and two other suspects during an operation early today in Baghdad's Adhamiyah district. Officials believe Kataib Hezbollah is a surrogate group for the Quds Force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Acting on intelligence information, coalition forces targeted an alleged Kataib Hezbollah bombing cell leader believed to be responsible for recent attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces and Iraqi citizens. Coalition forces approached a residence in search of the suspected terrorist. The wanted man identified himself to forces, and was apprehended without incident,...

DIYALA — Local Iraqi men lined up to become registered members of the Sons of Iraq here at Forward Operating Base Gabe, Dec. 4. More than 300 Iraqis showed up for the registration, put together by Coalition forces and the Iraqi Army. “It’s been a great turn out,” said Col. Burt Thompson, brigade commander, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. “And it’s really good to see both U.S. forces and the Iraqi Army working together as a joint force to ensure the registration of as many local Iraqi nationals to become registered members of the Sons of Iraq.”...

BAGHDAD — In early November, as U.S. Soldiers looked on, Baghdad-based members of the Sons of Iraq got their monthly paychecks from a new boss: the Iraqi government. “It was a critical step in the turnover of the mostly Sunni volunteers from Coalition to Iraqi control,” said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Kulmayer, the chief of Reconciliation and Engagement for Multi-National Corps - Iraq. “And the Baghdad transfer has become a model for similar moves in four other key provinces,” Kulmayer continued. “The government is doing the right thing. Baghdad has gone quite well, and we expect that the rest of the...

BAGHDAD — The Sons of Iraq in the West Rashid District of southern Baghdad received their first Government of Iraq paycheck at Joint Security Station Jihad Nov. 10, 2008. This is the first large-scale SoI payday conducted by the Government of Iraq and marks a landmark achievement in the SoI transition from Coalition forces control to GoI control. “Today is really the next critical step in the transfer that began on Oct. 1,” said Lt. Col. Mike Runey, plans officer with 4th Infantry Division and Multi-National Division – Baghdad, about the SoI payday. “Effectively, the transfer has happened. The critical...