Irak must have the social infrastructure required to sustain the progress made
Soldiers Invest in Iraq’s Next Generation
COB ADDER, Dec. 7, 2009 – Educating children might not be the first thing Americans discuss when the subject of Iraq comes up, but for the soldiers of TF Pathfinder, helping the next generation of Iraqis obtain a basic education is a critical part of their mission.
For Iraq to be safe and stable when U.S. soldiers depart, it must have the social infrastructure required to sustain the progress made. The soldiers of the 1st AR Div’s 4th BCT now provide military support to civil-capacity ops, combining their movement and security expertise with a broader understanding of economic and social development, as part of the Army’s first “advise and assist” bde.
Supporting civil capacity is an important component of the advise-and-assist mission. In southern Iraq, this means working alongside the State Dept’s PRTs, assisting efforts that range from providing clean drinking water to repairing damaged hospitals.
Among these many efforts, educating the children of Iraq is an important facet. “We’ve made great progress in this country,” said Lt. Col. Michael Eastman, cmdr of TF Pathfinder. “Sustaining those gains beyond an American presence here requires that the next generation of Iraqi leaders have access to a basic education.”
More than simply delivering school books and supplies, the soldiers’ efforts include improving and expanding the existing infrastructure by renovating damaged buildings, building new schools in remote locations, providing electrical access, and equipping them with supplies and furniture. In Muthanna prov. alone, the soldiers of “Able” Co, an inf unit assigned to the TF, provided project oversight and security for the construction of 2 new 4-room schools, one school renovation, and 3 corresponding electrical extensions. By adding electricity to the schools, the soldiers created a learning environment safe from the elements, and capable of bringing increasing exposure to outside info.
Staff Sgt. Danillo Martinez added that the soldiers’ efforts don’t just provide “big-picture” benefits. “Positively affecting the life of one child is what makes it all worth it,” he said.
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