CERP Helps Compensate Iraqis

Iraqis can depend on U.S. troops to do the right thing, and Paratroopers use the Commander's Emergency Response Program here to prove it.

Paratroopers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division Brigade Operational Law Team often use the program to compensate Iraqi citizens for unintentional damages caused by U.S. forces during operations in the area.

"The idea for the program is to compensate local Iraqis for damage or destruction to personal items caused by our unit's operations," said Capt. Cory Young, claims officer, 4th BCT (A), 25th ID from Milwaukee, Oregon.

"When operations we conduct cause damage or injuries to local people in the area we can compensate these folks for the sake of good relations," he continued.

Payments non-combat related incidents are called claims - requests for monetary restitution, said Young.

"The Commander's Emergency Response Program, or CERP, is used when combat operations are involved", he added.

Young has seen Iraqis ask for claim assistance due to vehicle accidents, damages to local farmland from mortar fire, and accidental death due to unavoidable escalation of force incidents.

"CERP at the brigade level can pay up to $2,500, while claims can compensate for up to $15,000. Higher level commanders can compensate with larger total amounts of money", he said.

It is not given out automatically. The claims must be supported by official statements, bills, military reports, court documents, or eye witnesses, he continued.

It's like finding the silver lining in dark cloud, Young said. "We try to make good result from a bad situation. A commander can learn from the incident."

The concept of revenge is mitigated and important relations with the local community may continue.

Spc. Adam Welch, 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment paralegal and claims specialist for the BOLT from Stafford County, Virginia, agreed with Young.

"Today we were ready to pay out 15 claims", said Welch. "It's a great program."

Welch understands that many of those who are here making claims traveled a long way and usually don't have their own means to travel. He knows that, unlike most Americans, having insurance in Iraq is a rare occurrence.

"It is apparent that the people making these claims are very supportive of our forces, because in most cases we did something to them or their property that was not intended," he said.

Source: Multi-National Force-Iraq

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