Citizens Assist Soldiers to Decrease Violence

MAJ. JOE SOWERS
3RD HBCT, 3RD INF. DIV.
FOB HAMMER — Concerned citizens brought a large cache to a 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment combat outpost east of Baghdad Oct. 5.

Local citizens brought a cache consisting of 21 mortar rounds, one 57mm projectile, two 100mm projectiles, one 122mm rocket warhead, three PG-7Ms, four PG-7s, and one rocket propelled grenade to Combat Outpost Cashe and turned the items in to Soldiers of Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, currently attached to 3-1st Cav.Regt.

The cavalry regiment officials estimated that more than 1,000 rounds of small arms ammunition and 60 pounds of TNT were turned in, as well.

Concerned Citizens groups are local volunteers that commit to cooperate with Coalition Forces to decrease violence in their communities, much like a neighborhood watch program. Soldiers from Company D have been working to establish Concerned Citizens groups in Jisr Diyala, a town southeast of Baghdad, since July. Currently, two Concerned Citizens groups total approximately 300 volunteers.

Also in the 3-1st Cav. Regt. area of operation on the same day, local citizens informed Iraqi police of a potential improvised explosive device along a major road. Iraqi police were able to remove the road side bomb and Soldiers from the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team secured the explosive for proper disposal.

The 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment is assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning, Ga.