Concerned Citizens Lead To Cache Discovery

Soldiers seized mortar rounds, small arms ammunition and military paraphernalia east of Baghdad Oct. 2 as a result of a tip provided by Concerned Citizens. (Photo by 3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div.)

Concerned Citizens provided a tip that led Soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry, to a large weapons cache east of Baghdad Oct 3.

Company D Soldiers seized 49 mortar rounds, 200 7.62 mm rounds, four propellant tubes and various military paraphernalia. One individual was detained as a result of the operation.

“Concerned Citizens know their neighborhoods the best,” said Maj. Rhett Griner, Jonesboro, Ga., effects coordinator for the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team. “They have a vested interest in eradicating thugs and criminals from their communities.”

Griner said the citizens help Coalition Forces pinpoint destabilizing elements. “Concerned Citizen tips have led us to eight caches, eleven improvised explosive devices and resulted in 90 detentions, since early July.”

The Iraqi army, Iraqi police and the Concerned Citizens groups are formed by local volunteers who commit to cooperate with Coalition Forces to decrease violence in their communities. Soldiers from Company D have been working to establish Concerned Citizens groups in Jisr Diyala, east of Baghdad, since July. Currently, two groups roughly totaling 300 volunteers, work with Company D Soldiers in the vicinity of Jisr Diyala.

The 1-15 Inf. Regt. is assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March 2007.