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New School Partnership Program Strengthens Ties Between Us, Iraq

By Staff Sgt. Michael Molinaro

BAGHDAD - Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division and Multi-National Division-Baghdad continue to make great strides on the ground with their Iraqi counterparts, partnering with the Iraqi Security Forces to sustain a sense of normalcy in Baghdad. As attacks are at an all-time low since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the division moves to support the securing of Iraq's future.

A new partnership is pairing schools and educators in the U.S. with their brethren here in Baghdad to expand that alliance beyond fighting an enemy and to investing in Baghdad's future.

"Our military leaders are reaching out to schools here and back in the U.S. so that educators can exchange information about the latest techniques and instructional methods," said Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond, commanding general of MND-B and 4th Inf. Div.

Spc. Daniel Tweit, a native of Ely, Minn., who serves as an infantryman with 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armored Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, chats with a boy during a visit to the Al Murooa School for Girls on May 12. The Soldiers are helping the school headmaster in finding ways to receive additional help from the Iraqi government and neighborhood councils for the more than 800 students who attend the school. The school serves the residents of Ur as well as the surrounding neighborhoods.(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Joseph Rivera Rebolledo, 3rd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B)

Sgt. Aaron Simmons, a native of Texas City, Texas, talks with a group of boys about the backpack he is holding during a visit to the Al Murooa School for Girls May 12. Simmons serves as a squad leader with 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armored Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad. The Silver Lions Soldiers are helping the school headmaster in finding ways to receive additional help from the Iraqi government and neighborhood councils for the more than 800 students who attend the school through various programs offered by the Iraqi government.(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Joseph Rivera Rebolledo, 3rd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B)

Spc. Daniel Tweit, a native of Ely, Minn., who serves as an infantryman with 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armored Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National-Division - Baghdad, watches as a group of girls go to their homes with new backpacks given to them by the Soldiers during a visit to the Al Murooa school for girls May 12 in the northern Baghdad neighborhood of Ur.(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Joseph Rivera Rebolledo, 3rd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B)

The program was initiated by leaders of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), MND-B. Hammond endorsed the initiative and called for an MND-B-wide program Sept. 24. Its focus is pairing Iraqi schools in Baghdad with schools in the U.S. to share information teaching techniques and to develop pen pals between students. Right now 19 schools have partnered up.

"Children are no different in any country," said Lt. Col. Gerry Messmer, MND-B civil military operations officer and native of Interlaken, N.Y. "They want a good education and to grow up to be successful. At MND-B we understand this and believe children of all ages can benefit from a partnership to enhance their educational experience. We have so many things to learn from each other about education, techniques and policies, as well as culturally."

Pvt. Joshua Pinson, a native of Burleson, Texas, who serves as a combat medic with 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armored Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, looks at a residents' waist during a visit paid to the Al Murooa School for Girls on May 12. The man asked Pinson if he had some medicines for a rash.(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Joseph Rivera Rebolledo, 3rd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B)

Sgt. Aaron Simmons, a native of Texas City, Texas, who serves as a squad leader with 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armored Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National-Division - Baghdad, pounds fists with a group of boys that showed up during a visit to the Al Murooa school for girls May 12 in the northern Baghdad neighborhood of Ur.(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Joseph Rivera Rebolledo, 3rd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B)

The Ministry of Education supported the idea and assisted MND-B in determining schools to get the program up-and-running. Members of the Killeen Independent School District have been very receptive to the program, said Hammond, a Hattiesburg, Miss. native. A similar program exists between 4th Inf. Div. units and schools in and around Colorado Springs. Now the program wants to expand on a much grander scale.

"The goals are to share information, help each other understand the others country culturally and to help U.S. schools get supplies to Baghdad schools that need supplies," said Messmer.

Ministry of Education personnel let it be known that there is a lack of books in English available for students to learn English. As word began to spread about the program, an English training aide and supply donation drive was conducted in Nebraska, Wisconsin and Virginia. English, math and science books were collected and shipped from Fort Campbell, Ky., to Camp Liberty for distribution to students in the partnered schools.

Sgt. Aaron Simmons, a native of Texas City, Texas, who serves as a squad leader with 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armored Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, talks with a group of boys about a backpack design during a visit to the Al Murooa School for Girls May 12. The Soldiers are helping the school headmaster in finding ways to receive additional help from the Iraqi government and neighborhood councils for the more than 800 students who attend the school. The school serves the residents of Ur as well as the surrounding neighborhoods.(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Joseph Rivera Rebolledo, 3rd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B)

Incoming commander for Troop C, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, Capt. Seannery Tennimon, speaks with a group of kids before the opening of the newly refurbished al Nahreen Primary School and Muath bin Jabal Secondary School in the Abu T'shir community in southern Baghdad's Rashid district. Tennimon and the Soldiers 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, are currently serving a 15-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. David Hodge, 1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B)

Pvt. Joshua Pinson, a native of Burleson, Texas, who serves as a combat medic with 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armored Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, provides some medicines to an Ur neighborhood resident during a visit paid to the Al Murooa School for Girls May 12.(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Joseph Rivera Rebolledo, 3rd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B)

While citizens all across the country are beginning to believe in the program, Soldiers from MND-B and the 4th Inf. Div. have been hard at work ensuring the children of Baghdad have good schools they can attend.

MND-B has assisted the MoE in building or remodeling more than 350 school projects since December at a cost of more than $47 million, Messmer said. They share dialogue to ensure Iraqi standards are met and the qualities of the schools are as good as any you will find in the U.S.

Coalition Forces rebuild schools and enhance the education opportunities for Iraqi children since the start of the war. Through this partnership, MND-B is now taking it another step further to make certain that children and educators of the two countries are linked forever.

"I have two teenage children, so education is big with me," Hammond remarked. "These new relationships will encourage children to share ideas and experiences which are common to all children everywhere. These new friendships will last through time and strengthen the bonds between our people and our nations."

For those interested in establishing a linkage with a school, email school@mnd-b.army.mil for more information on how to be part of something special.

A Soldier from Troop C, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, inspects new desks awaiting transfer into the al Nahreen Primary School in the Abu T'shir community of southern Baghdad. Two different schools within the compound were refurbished with new furniture, electrical wiring, and a sewage system during a 45-day project. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. David Hodge, 1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B)

Capt. Kris Howell, the commander of Troop C, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, speaks with a local leader before the opening of the newly refurbished al Nahreen Primary School and Muath bin Jabal Secondary School in the Abu T'shir community of southern Baghdad's Rashid district. Both schools received new furniture, electrical wiring, and a sewage system during the 45-day project. The 7th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Regt., is currently serving a 15-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. David Hodge, 1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B)

Lt. Col. Troy Smith, commander of the 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, speaks with community leaders during a walkthrough of two newly refurbished schools in the Abu T'shir community of southern Baghdad. The two schools received new air conditioners, desks, and electrical wiring during the 45-day makeover. The Soldiers of the 7th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Regt., are currently serving a 15-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. David Hodge, 1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B)