Soldiers Bring Needed Supplies to Iraqi Schools

Sgt. Charlie Jones from Troop B, 3-1 Cavalry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, talks to Iraqi children during a school drop in Sabah Nissan, Iraq, Oct. 4. Soldiers from Troop B were at the school to give 200 new backpacks to the principal for distribution to the children.

A young Iraqi boy helps Sgt. Lucas Walrod (left) and 2nd Lt. Perry Richard from Troop B, 3-1 Cavalry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, unload bags of new backpacks off the back of a truck during a school drop in Sabah Nissan, Iraq, Oct. 4. Soldiers from Troop B were at the school to give 200 new backpacks to the principle for distribution to the children.

A young Iraqi boy helps Sgt. Charlie Jones from Troop B, 3-1 Cavalry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, unload bags of new backpacks off the back of a truck during a school drop in Narhwan, Iraq, Oct. 4. Soldiers from Troop B were at the school to give 200 new backpacks to the principle for distribution to the children.

By Spc. Ben Hutto
3rd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Soldiers from Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, helped schools in Sabah Nissan, Narhwan and Hollendia by providing supplies for the children, Oct. 4.

Soldiers unloaded backpacks, notebooks, pens and pencils over the weekend, and children from each neighborhood showed up to help unload supplies and see Soldiers.

“It’s going great,” said 1st Sgt. Miguel Rivera, New York, the first sergeant of Troop B. “Hopefully these schools can help teach these kids right from wrong and give them a better future. It won’t happen over night, but in a few years this will be an entirely new and better nation.”

The Soldiers delivered supplies to help 26,000 students.

“It’s tough,” said Capt. Jared Albright, Lancaster, Pa., the commander of Troop B. “In Narhwan alone, there are 20,000 to 30,000 students we are trying to take care of. We’ll be back to meet with the local council to make sure that the students are getting what they need.”

The first stop on the mission was Sabah Nissan, a small village south of Narhwan.

“Right now the kids here in Sabah Nissan have next to no supplies,” Albright said. “The Ministry of Education is doing what it can, but there is such a need that any help we can give is appreciated.”

The boys and girls schools in Sabah Nissan opened on Oct. 1. Troop B had previously delivered 300 backpacks, but brought 800 more this mission to accommodate the 1,100 students that attend both schools.

“We are glad we got to complete this project in preparation for the school opening,” said 1st Lt. Chris Sweitzer of Morgansville, Tenn., a civil affairs officer in the 489th Civil Affairs Battalion from Knoxville, Tenn., currently attached to 3-1 Cav. Regt.

The Soldiers continued their mission unloading supplies for the 5,000 students that attend the school in Hollendia, another village to the south of Nahrwan.

“This area has been relatively quiet, but we are trying to help each school as much as possible so no one in the area feels neglected,” Albright said.

As the Soldiers unloaded supplies to lines of students who came out to help at the last stop in Nahrwan, Albright talked with school officials.

“We’ve arrested a lot of insurgents in operations out here,” Albright said. “Now we are trying to come back in and help the community. I think they feel much better about us when we come out here like this.”

The 3-1 Cav. Regt. is part of the 3rd BCT, 3rd Inf. Div. out of Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March 2007.