United States Marine Corps

Press Release
Public Affairs Office
1st MARINE DIVISION
1stLt Eric M. Knapp

Contact: KnappEM@1mardivdm.usmc.mil

Release # 0507-04-1236

Marines Pump Up Security Forces, Civil Affairs Throughout Al Anbar
May 05, 2004

AR RAMADI, IRAQ --
THE WAY AHEAD:

The 1st Marine Division is currently focused on destroying Anti-Iraqi Forces in the Al Anbar province. Simultaneously, the Marines are establishing patient, persistent presence in the key areas throughout the province while supporting the development of competent, trustworthy, Iraqi Security Forces and conducting civil military operations.

SECURITY:

FALLUJAH – Marines are continuing to help train, equip and organize the Fallujah security forces, which include the police, ICDC and Fallujah Brigade. Weapons, 15 trucks and radio equipment arrived in Fallujah today designated for the Fallujah Brigade.

“We anticipate that Iraqi operations in Fallujah will show that various security force organizations can work together, with the support of coalition forces, to address the security needs of the Iraqi people,” said Lt. Col. Rick Jackson, 46, Iraqi Security Forces coordinator for the 1st Marine Division, from Allendale, NJ today.

NUKHAYB – Iraqi Civil Defense Corps soldiers in Nukhayb have shown an increasing ability to take on security missions in the region for themselves. In the last month, ICDC soldiers successfully ran effective vehicle checkpoints and patrols, even interrupting a hijacking in one instance. They arrested three and returned money and a vehicle stolen from the victim.

SAUDI BORDER – Civil Affairs officials signed contracts for the Ar-Ar Iraqi Border Patrol. Approximately $40,000 was spent on a four-wheel drive vehicle, a fuel tanker, computers, water tanks, digital cameras to collect evidence and other equipment.

CIVIL MILITARY OPERATIONS:

SYRIAN BORDER – Marines in western Al Anbar Province also checked on projects to repair two mosques in Mahummadi. The projects are 70 percent complete and final payments were made.


FALLUJAH – Marines in Fallujah also came to the aid of a woman who claimed to have been severely beaten by foreign fighters. Marines provided emergency medical care. The woman told Marines that terrorists accused her of providing information to Coalition Forces, despite the fact she was homeless and had only sought shelter in the city’s train station during the fighting.

Also in Fallujah, Marines are aiding Iraqi technicians in repairing power lines, contracting cleanup of debris and assisting a fuel re-supply to Fallujah’s fueling station.

Marines made a total payment of $133,134 for the Al Anbar Adult Literacy Program. The Adult Literacy Program employs 48 teachers instructing 1,080 men and women ages 15 and older. The course focuses on basic reading, writing and arithmetic. New textbooks were also purchased for the classes, scheduled to arrive in the next few weeks.

KHARMA – Marines came to the aid of an Iraqi man who was suffering a heart attack near Kharma today. A Civil Affairs team was in the city to speak with local leaders when they discovered the man. The team gave the man medical attention and quickly medically evacuated him to the nearby Jordanian Hospital.

RAMADI – Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, assigned to 1st Marine Division, received a $3.5 million bid for the Al Jezeera Water Project. The bid included a 15-year guarantee on pipes and 10-year guarantee on the facility. The bid also included 17 skilled labor positions and another 30 unskilled positions. The bid relies upon heavy equipment to dig ditches. Soldiers are attempting to obtain a similarly priced bid that relies on human labor for the work, which will boost employment significantly.

NUKHAYB – Marines and soldiers also met with the Mayor of Nukhayb to sign over approximately $62,000 for beautification projects, including a trash compactor to help clean up the town, a city park, a parking lot paving project and masonry entrance signs for each end of the road leading into the city.

“We are pursuing long-term job employment through the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and short-term employment through local construction projects,” said Lt. Col. Keil Gentry, 40, a Civil Military Operations officer for the 1st Marine Division who hails from Carlsbad, Calif. today. “We plan and execute high-impact, follow-on civil affairs projects immediately after every combat operation. This has a double impact of improving the quality of life for Iraqis and stimulating the economy.”


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