Increased Security Brings New Commerce to Hawijah, Iraq

MNF-Iraq – A young man beginning a business to support his new family is not necessarily headline news. However, for Kusai, 24, his dream would be realized in the heart of what was once considered an extremists’ stronghold only six months prior – Hawijah, Iraq. Hawijah, located approximately 60 miles south of Kirkuk City in the Kirkuk province, historically held center stage to the region’s worst violence against civilians, Iraq security forces, and coalition forces by extremists.

The residents here faced anywhere from 10 to 15 attacks per day, according to military records. Soldiers report that day-time patrols were targeted with small arms fire throughout the city and routinely upon exiting the confines of Forward Operating Base McHenry where Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division are located.

Mahmudiyah School Renovations Underway

MNF-Iraq – In conjunction with Operation Marne Piledriver, two Mahmudiyah schools are being refurbished with the help of U.S. Soldiers. The Red Knight Rakkasans of 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), coordinated the funding needed to improve the schools. The Uthman School in High al-Jaza’ir and the Omah al-Mukhtar Girls’ School in the Qadasiyah Apartments were selected for refurbishment.

“These are the schools identified by the Iraqi Ministry of Education and the Mayor of Mahmudiyah as most in need for improvements,” said Capt. David Howald, Commander’s Emergency Response Program project manager for 3-320th FA. Improving the schools shows that education has once again become a priority for the people in the area, said Capt. Benjamin Torpy, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3-320th FA.

Renovations are expected to be complete within two months and will include fresh paint jobs, refurbished classrooms, new desks, windows and exterior walls to provide more space in each classroom. The changes will eliminate overcrowding that led to unsanitary conditions for students and teachers. “The people involved with the schools are very excited about the new opportunities in education for the younger generation of Iraqis in the area,” Torpy said. Marne Piledriver is an Iraqi Army-led operation largely focused on capacity-building projects throughout the Rakkasans’ operating environment.