GoI makes initial payments to SoI

By Staff Sgt. Matt Meadows

4th BCT PAO, 10th Mtn. Div. (L), MND-B

A Sons of Iraq member places his inked thumb next to his name for positive thumbprint identification as another signs his name before they receive salary payments for the first time as Government of Iraq employees at Joint Security Station Beladiyat. The GoI accepted responsibility for paying SoI when they integrated them into government service. Officials from 1st Battalion, 8th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division, and leaders from 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, facilitated the payments.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq - More than 100 Sons of Iraq (Abna al Iraq) members received a total of nearly $40,000 in wages from their new employer, the Government of Iraq, at Joint Security Station Beladiyat.

A representative of the Iraqi prime minister's office and a GoI paymaster were on hand to help pay 110 SoI members and assist leaders from 1st Battalion, 8th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division, in verifying identification and recording payments. In addition, leaders from 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, took part in the process.

The GoI integrated SoI members into Iraqi Security Forces and other government positions Oct. 1 and became responsible for paying SoI salaries at that time. Before Oct. 1, Coalition Force officials paid SoI members, who provided protection to the public as a neighborhood security force in their local communities.

A National Policeman from 1st Battalion, 8th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division, stamps a Sons of Iraq member's arm as proof the SoI member received his salary from the Government of Iraq at Joint Security Station Beladiyat.

Making these initial wage payments to SoI members is significant for the Iraqi government because the SoI now supports the government directly, commented Abdul Zahara, a representative of Prime Minister of Iraq Nouri Al-Maliki's office. Zahara pledged the government will continue to pay their new employees regularly, and he thanked Coalition Forces for helping make the payment arrangements happen, which increased security in Iraq.

"The Sons of Iraq … get transferred into different branches of security," explained Zahara. "It (the GoI) is strong, and it will get stronger with the effort of all the Iraqi people."

A Sons of Iraq member places his inked thumb next to his signature for positive thumbprint identification before receiving his salary for the first time as a Government of Iraq employee at Joint Security Station Beladiyat.

Qusay Samir is one of the SoI members who received his first salary from the GoI, Nov. 13. He said he registered for the SoI with hopes of being able to join the National Police or local Iraqi Police.

"In the past, the security situation was really dangerous and there were a lot of displaced families," said Samir. He also thanked the Coalition for their past support of the SoI, to include paying them before the GoI took over last month.

Abdul Zahara (right), Iraqi prime minister office representative, passes an identification card to Iraqi Col. Rasuul, battalion commander of 1st Battalion, 8th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division, as they verify the identity of a Sons of Iraq member receiving his salary for the first time as a Government of Iraq employee at Joint Security Station Beladiyat.

Iraqi Col. Rasuul, battalion commander of 1st Battalion, 8th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division, expressed that the Iraqi government paying the SoI marked an important day locally and for all of Iraq. He called it a new and a unifying experience.

"It was a success, and this united all Iraq. It (Iraq) became one, no Shia, no Sunni. It is all one Iraqi Nation … one Iraq united, serving all under one law," commented Rasuul. "I hope this will continue and will bring prosperity, unity and peace to this area and all throughout Iraq, (and) our coalition friends, their help made it happen."

Sons of Iraq members stand in line to receive salaries for the first time as Government of Iraq employees at Joint Security Station Beladiyat. Written on the sign behind the line is the sentiment that the transition is a good step in the right direction for the Sons of Iraq.

A female Sons of Iraq member receives a salary payment for the first time as a Government of Iraq employee at Joint Security Station Beladiyat.

   _   _