|
Blackanthem Military News
|
Last Updated:
Feb 9, 2012 - 5:06:14 PM |
|
|
Blackanthem Military News
 |
| Capt. Joan Hollein, assistant intelligence officer for the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, verifies the Sha'baniyah intelligence collection plans with 30th Iraq Army Brigade intelligence officer, Lt. Col. Khalid, July 18 at Contingency Operating Site Kalsu. |
COS KALSU, Iraq - Nearly 20 Iraqi Army intelligence leaders and soldiers traveled to Contingency Operating Site Kalsu to meet intelligence leaders from the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division July 18.
The 8th Iraqi Army Division intelligence officer, Col. Khadim, and his 3rd HBCT counterpart, Maj. Charles Hiter, led the meeting, discussing current events in the area. The combined meeting gave 3rd HBCT intelligence Soldiers the opportunity to meet their counterparts and exchange information.
"These meetings have been beneficial because it allows both sides to form a more unified operational picture and identify potential enemy threats towards local nationals, (Iraqi Security Forces), (United States Forces), and the stability of Iraq," said Capt. Matthew Cooper, 3rd HBCT intelligence targeting officer.
The primary discussion was the Shi'a commemoration of Sha'baniyah. The birth of the 12th Imam is celebrated annually and is more commonly known as the Sha'baniyah festival.
Although the festival is celebrated by Shi'a Muslims throughout the world, the holy city of Karbala serves as a central location for the festival. Leaders of the 8th IA expect hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to travel through several Iraqi provinces in order to visit Karbala.
Historically, there have been a few targets of opportunity during this pilgrimage for terrorists. With an increased security posture, the Iraqi Army and their local Iraqi Police counterparts will secure the pilgrims. There is always a possibility of attack, but through intelligence gathering and security planning, attacks can be mitigated.
The Iraqis and U.S. Forces gathered around several maps to discuss the Sha'baniyah plans and marked the maps to indicate expected travel routes, security checkpoint locations, and potential high risk areas. These areas will be closely monitored as part of the intelligence collection plan.
"The 8th IA leadership has done an excellent job in establishing the security plan for the celebration of the 12th Imam's birth, in both Babil and Karbala Provinces," said Capt. Les Stanfield, intelligence officer for the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd HBCT.
"We look forward to assisting them in any way we can," Stanfield said.
The 3rd HBCT intelligence section has been able to continue the development and professionalization of the Iraqi Army intelligence soldiers through meetings such as this, Hiter said.
"As an (advise and assist brigade) our primary function is to partner with our Iraqi Army counterparts in the 8th IA Division. This meeting is the one way that we not only partner but learn from each other the mission and culture," Hiter said. "While most of our meetings are focused on targeting for arrest and prosecution, the meetings like this one, where we prepare for support to religious holidays or national elections, give our Soldiers the opportunity to see their impact on building the Iraqi Army and creating a secure and stable Iraq for the future."
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
 |
| Spc. George Faraj, a linguist assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and Capt. Matthew Cooper,3rd HBCT targeting officer, discuss the locations of security checkpoints with 30th Iraqi Army Brigade counterparts July 18 at Contingency Operating Site Kalsu. |
|
 |
| Maj. Charles Hiter, intelligence officer for the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and Col. Khadim, 8th Iraqi Army Division intelligence officer, discuss recent atmospherics in preparation for Sha'baniyah, July 18 at Contingency Operating Site Kalsu. |
|
 |
| Leaders of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division and the 8th Iraqi Army Division indicate areas of interest and surveillance on a map during a meeting July 18 at Contingency Operating Site Kalsu. |
|
 |
| Staff Sgt. Joseph Champion, linguist manager for the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, serves chai at the combined targeting meeting July 18 at Contingency Operating Site Kalsu. |
|
Comments
NO Soliciting.
Comments with links to websites or soliciting services will be removed.
Please read our Terms of use for more information.
DAVID LEWIS
08 Jan 2011, 08:41
A PLACE IS MEANINGLESS UNTIL YOU ARE STANDING THERE LOOKING AROUND, OR AS
IN MY CASE, A FATHER, NOW PRAYING FOR HIS SON AND HIS COMRADES. KEEP UP THE
GOOD WORK AND COME HOME SAFE
|
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
