Rock Soldiers Provides Stability to Citizens of Mushada
By 1st Lt. Jesse Ozbat
2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Prior to the arrival of Company C “Rock,” 1st
Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment “Golden Dragons,” 2nd Stryker Brigade
Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad,
Soldiers to the area of Mushada, northwest of Baghdad, there were few
shops open and with very limited hours.
Many of the residents remained in their homes, and the local government
was unable to function as it should. It became the goal of the Soldiers
of Co. C to change the previous state of the area and make it safe for
everyone that lives in Mushada.
“Our goal is to provide a secure environment so the Iraqi government
can take control and we can transition home,” said Spc. Justin Scully,
a native of Cincinnati.
The first step to changing Mushada for the better was to provide
lasting security for the area. The Sons of Iraq (Abna al-Iraq) were
established to secure their individual neighborhoods.
The Soldiers of Co. C began daily security patrols throughout the area.
With the combined security efforts of the SoI and Co. C Soldiers,
attacks decreased, the residents began leaving their homes and shops
began to reopen. As the shops began to open the Soldiers began to
address shop owners’ concerns to gain a better understanding of what
they needed for improvement.
The Soldiers began providing micro grants to select business owners as
a way for them to take the next step toward maintaining a consistent
business. With the help of the grants, more and more shops began to
open and the markets began to rapidly expand.
The improved security also allowed the leaders of Co. C to attend the
Mushada City Council meeting and build a solid working relationship
with the members.
Working closely with the Mushada Nahia, the Iraqi equivalent of a
county seat, was an important goal for Co. C. Initially U.S. Soldiers
took the lead, conducting assessments on schools, water treatment
units, roads and various other potential projects as a show of good
will. Now the Nahia council members have taken more control of local
governance, and established their own priorities and methods of
assessing progress within Mushada.
“The council has come a long way,” said Lt. Daniel Laakso, a native of
South Bend, Ind., and platoon leader, Co. C, 1st Bn. 14th Inf. Regt.,
“It is encouraging to see them take care of their people.”
The local village leaders now go to the Mushada Nahia council members when they want projects in their village areas.
The combined efforts of Co. C and the Nahia has made immediate impacts
as well as lasting impacts, and it is the hope of the Rock Soldiers
that Mushada will be self sufficient by the time they reach the end of
their time in the area.
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